People ask, and even expect me, fairly regularly, to play shows for the pleasure of it.
There is no shortage of craigslist ads asking me if I would like to play for "tips and exposure."
That is perfectly okay with me. I like what I do, love it, in fact. I would also love it if:
- My landlord provided a place to live for me, becuase he loves landlording so much
- My grocer, farmers, delivery drivers, cooks, chefs, etc, fed me because they love growing, farming, driving, etc.
- the 76 station would fill my tank so I can get to gigs, becuase they love making fuel so much.
- my doctors would provide medical care for me becuase they love doctoring so much
And so on... Things cost money! The real question is whether or not the general public considers music to be a profession or a hobby. This, I believe, is tied in to whether or not it is considered a service.
The following distinction has been helpful for me:
Playing whatever music I want in my own house for as long as I want is pleasure. I have no responsibility, and the ratio of music to schlepping is quite high. I can experiment, jam, start and stop whenever I want.
However, playing a show is different.
The balance shifts to a high degree of responsibility and schlepping versus music: I have to pack up, load out, and carry my equipment (which, at various times, could mean a tuba, many drums, basses and amps, etc.,) drive to the show, set up my equipment, and provide high-quality music for a specific duration starting at a specific time.
The music I provide changes the atmosphere of the venue considerably, hopefully for the better, and, although I am not a musical genius, I have been playing for over 25 years, and people seem to enjoy what I do. I bring people to the venues I play.
The music part of it is fun, but it's still a service.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
How much time does it take to put on a show?
We believe that part of the reason for current conditions is that the general public sees musicians performing, which is generally enjoyable.
Although it's probably common knowledge that musicians do practice, rehearse, and learn and write material, very few understand not only how much time that invovles, but also some of the other things involved in putting on a show. Here are a few off the top of my head. I've done my best to figure out how long it would take to do them.
INSTRUMENT:
Learn to play. Take lessons. Pay for lessons. Take out loans to go to music school (I pay about $350 a month on music school loans)
Practice at least 1/2 hour a day (this varies a lot...)
BAND:
rehearse Roughly 3-4 hours per week (this also varies)
DEVELOP PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL: all this pretty much needs to happen before the first show. It's possible to do without, but it's hard to do well.
Write blurb/bio - 1
create web page - 5
create facebook, myspace, twitter, blogger accounts - 2
invite friends to all -3
Develop email list - .5
Develop or procure press list - .5
Get photo taken - 1
Develop press/promo materials - 2 (varies)
Record demo - 3 (varies)
Total: 17 hours, roughly, in promotional startup. Frequently, this is an ongoing thing; people start out with a few hours up front, and just keep nibbling at it over time.
Still, we're 17 hours into it, and not a note has been played, not even in rehearsal!
GET A SHOW:
Network with related bands - 1
Develop club list - .5
Contact clubs - .5
Follow up with clubs - .5
Get a date - .5
Get musicians availabillity and follow up - .5
Find opener - .5
4 hours
SHOW PROMOTION:
Write and press release to media list - 1
Design flyer and handbill- 1
Create small, electronic copy of flyer (secof)
Send flyer and handbill to printer's, pick up 1/2 (+ money)
Add show to myspace 'upcoming'
Create facebook event; invite friends
Send myspace bulletin
post link to facebook event
Make 'secof' default image on both facebook & myspace
send secof and modified press release to email list - .5
All of the above - 1.5
Hang and distribute flyers - 2
Day-of text messages and phone calls - 1
Total promotion: 7 hours
GETTING TO THE SHOW:
Break down, pack up, and load out equipment: .5
Travel to: .5
Load in, setup .5
29 1/2 hours later,not counting practice:
*Play the show.*
Break down, pack up, load out equipment .5
Travel .5
Re-set up equipment in practice space: .5
Thirty one hours, not including rehearsal.
I'll admit readily that these estimates are rough, but not unreasonably so.
Some of the up-front time in promotion would be spread out over time, and not have to be done for each and every show.
The promotion, however, has to be done each time! I'll also admit that it's possible to cut corners, and not do everything on here. I'm just estimating how long it would take to do this kind of thing right.
Let's say you could do all of this in 1/4 of the time. That's still almost eight hours of prep, not counting rehearsal, for a 1-4 hour show.
Although it's probably common knowledge that musicians do practice, rehearse, and learn and write material, very few understand not only how much time that invovles, but also some of the other things involved in putting on a show. Here are a few off the top of my head. I've done my best to figure out how long it would take to do them.
INSTRUMENT:
Learn to play. Take lessons. Pay for lessons. Take out loans to go to music school (I pay about $350 a month on music school loans)
Practice at least 1/2 hour a day (this varies a lot...)
BAND:
rehearse Roughly 3-4 hours per week (this also varies)
DEVELOP PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL: all this pretty much needs to happen before the first show. It's possible to do without, but it's hard to do well.
Write blurb/bio - 1
create web page - 5
create facebook, myspace, twitter, blogger accounts - 2
invite friends to all -3
Develop email list - .5
Develop or procure press list - .5
Get photo taken - 1
Develop press/promo materials - 2 (varies)
Record demo - 3 (varies)
Total: 17 hours, roughly, in promotional startup. Frequently, this is an ongoing thing; people start out with a few hours up front, and just keep nibbling at it over time.
Still, we're 17 hours into it, and not a note has been played, not even in rehearsal!
GET A SHOW:
Network with related bands - 1
Develop club list - .5
Contact clubs - .5
Follow up with clubs - .5
Get a date - .5
Get musicians availabillity and follow up - .5
Find opener - .5
4 hours
SHOW PROMOTION:
Write and press release to media list - 1
Design flyer and handbill- 1
Create small, electronic copy of flyer (secof)
Send flyer and handbill to printer's, pick up 1/2 (+ money)
Add show to myspace 'upcoming'
Create facebook event; invite friends
Send myspace bulletin
post link to facebook event
Make 'secof' default image on both facebook & myspace
send secof and modified press release to email list - .5
All of the above - 1.5
Hang and distribute flyers - 2
Day-of text messages and phone calls - 1
Total promotion: 7 hours
GETTING TO THE SHOW:
Break down, pack up, and load out equipment: .5
Travel to: .5
Load in, setup .5
29 1/2 hours later,not counting practice:
*Play the show.*
Break down, pack up, load out equipment .5
Travel .5
Re-set up equipment in practice space: .5
Thirty one hours, not including rehearsal.
I'll admit readily that these estimates are rough, but not unreasonably so.
Some of the up-front time in promotion would be spread out over time, and not have to be done for each and every show.
The promotion, however, has to be done each time! I'll also admit that it's possible to cut corners, and not do everything on here. I'm just estimating how long it would take to do this kind of thing right.
Let's say you could do all of this in 1/4 of the time. That's still almost eight hours of prep, not counting rehearsal, for a 1-4 hour show.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Survey
I just launched a survey to help us find a great slogan:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wjUug7ng_2bEgw_2f_2f_2bSBL_2f97A_3d_3d
Please take a few minutes to help out. Thanks!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wjUug7ng_2bEgw_2f_2f_2bSBL_2f97A_3d_3d
Please take a few minutes to help out. Thanks!
Welcome to a new era for musicians.
Here's a quick note to get things started!
[I'm actually on my way to the regular, Wednesday night steering committee meeting, but felt like this blog was a little lonely]
A QUICK INTRO
A long time ago - until the late seventies - a musician could play seven club dates a month and cover all of their expenses for the month. Musicians were employees of the venue, which took care of the promotions. Clubs built their reputations and clientele on great music and great house bands.
A bizarre loophole in legislation changed all that: Despite providing a service, musicians were now exempt from minimum wage laws of any kind.
Fast forward thirty years. Imagine that service providers in a club - bartender, server, janitor, dishwasher, etc - would be expected to:
- bring their own equipment
- do a majority of the venue's advertising with their own resources
- bring the venue a majority of its customers.
- assume a majority of the financial risk
- go home without pay if the venue isn't well attended
It would be considered unreasonable, even ludicrous for any service provider - except for a musician. In that case, it's not only okay, it's not only expected, but some people, even musicians, adamantly oppose it being any different.
We are going to change that. Musicians are contracted to provide high-quality music for a specific duration: that's a service like any other in a club.
There's far more information at our main web site:
http://www.fairpaytoplay.com
[I'm actually on my way to the regular, Wednesday night steering committee meeting, but felt like this blog was a little lonely]
A QUICK INTRO
A long time ago - until the late seventies - a musician could play seven club dates a month and cover all of their expenses for the month. Musicians were employees of the venue, which took care of the promotions. Clubs built their reputations and clientele on great music and great house bands.
A bizarre loophole in legislation changed all that: Despite providing a service, musicians were now exempt from minimum wage laws of any kind.
Fast forward thirty years. Imagine that service providers in a club - bartender, server, janitor, dishwasher, etc - would be expected to:
- bring their own equipment
- do a majority of the venue's advertising with their own resources
- bring the venue a majority of its customers.
- assume a majority of the financial risk
- go home without pay if the venue isn't well attended
It would be considered unreasonable, even ludicrous for any service provider - except for a musician. In that case, it's not only okay, it's not only expected, but some people, even musicians, adamantly oppose it being any different.
We are going to change that. Musicians are contracted to provide high-quality music for a specific duration: that's a service like any other in a club.
There's far more information at our main web site:
http://www.fairpaytoplay.com
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