Indy Folk Concert Promoters. Risky stuff

Subject: RE: Indy Folk Concert Promoters. Risky stuff
From: GUEST,Phil Cooper
Date: 13 Nov 00 - 07:35 PM

Dear Rick,

I fully approve of independent productions, if that's the only way to get an artist to your area. When Margaret and I are going to an area where someone is very enthusiastic about bringing us, we tend to do much better than if we're one of many acts, and no one seems to know much about us. We've done better playing in someone's living room for a house concert than we have at some prestigious folk clubs. There are several artist I've told that I would help set up a house concert in my area if they were passing through, and those have been well received. Though on the presenting end I've found that it's a crap shoot: sending promo stuff to the local press and hoping they print something (sometimes they do, sometimes they don't), and you can only twist your friends' arms so many times. Anyway, I was impressed by your opening comments.

--Phil Cooper

Subject: RE: Indy Folk Concert Promoters. Risky stuff
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 07:43 PM

Well actually Dave, I WAS thinking of booking the Indy 500 in my local church this year.

Ya caught me though guy! I'm one of the folks who always wonders why people don't proof-read their headers....and of course I meant "Indie". Shame on me!

Another artist I've wanted to bring to Toronto was Eric Darling....but same problem. Can't get enough local interest.

Rick

Subject: RE: Indy Folk Concert Promoters. Risky stuff
From: DougR
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 05:30 PM

If I were a guessing guy, Dave, I'd think it stands for Independent.

DougR

Subject: RE: Indy Folk Concert Promoters. Risky stuff
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 05:19 PM

I'm not understanding. What's this got to do with Indy?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: Indy Folk Concert Promoters. Risky stuff
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 01:51 PM

Several times this has come up in Mudcat. Folks ask about what the process is for bringing folk musicians to their town, and what the risks are.

I've done this a few times, and I thought I might share a bit of info, and open the floor for any other Mudcatters' experiences.

About 5 years ago, I wanted to bring Sandy and Caroline Paton (who live in Connecticut) to Toronto. In a nutshell, this was my process.

#1. Find out from the artists what their avalable dates were and settle on the guarantee. (what their minimum financial requirements would be for a concert out of town)

#2. Locate a venue that would hold about a 100 people. My guess was that Sandy and Caroline's audience would not need booze to get them out, so I found a local church, with a "folk friendly" Minister.

#3. Made myself the "opening act" so as to get some folks out that might not have been familiar with The Patons' music but liked mine...and would trust that someone I liked would be worth seeing.

#4. Started mailing, phoning, and talking it up. Kept doing that til the night of the concert.

#5. It worked. Great concert, good turnout, and the beginnings of a wonderful Scarborough Folk Concert series. "Acoustic Harvest"

#6. Several hard-working folkies got involved (a few Mudcatters actually) and I bowed out, 'cause of lack of time. No problem though, 'cause it's VERY well run. A great club.

It's not always so cut and dried though. I've been wanting to bring John Herald in for years but simply can't get enough folks interested. I've talked to John and his demands are very reasonable considering his vast resume and talents. I'll keep trying though.

Perhaps if someone REALLY loves the music of an artist, and can't get the local support needed it's best to just check their itinerary on the net....and take a weekend off to travel to THEM rather than sweat out a concert that you may take a bath on. But I know what it's like to really WANT all your friends to hear someone you love.

Rick