Open Question for Catters

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: CraigS
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 07:14 PM

I've got to point out that, in the UK, being an agent for folk musicians is rarely a full-time occupation, and rarely repays the effort put into it. I've been watching the scene for over thirty years, and it is currently very difficult for a lot of very good performers to make a living. Those people acting as agents are mainly just friends who are better at promoting than the performers themselves are. I know a couple of people who have tried to do it for the money, and they've packed it in because there are easier ways to make a living. The fact that it is the agent who is asking in the example given doesn't mean the whole thing is commercial.

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: Mudlark
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 03:14 PM

In rural areas I think BJ has exposed one problem. Trying to provide a financially viable venue, especially on short notice, would be difficult to impossible. Whereas getting a few people together at a house concert for a pass the hat and buy a CD party would be possible.

I agree completely with Leeneia that the life of a musician is hard and can use all the help going. But I find I am vaguely uncomfortable with the idea, not from the "closed community" aspect but because long familiarity breeds not only interest, a sense of fitness, but also the issue of safety, if one is offering a home, for concert or overnight.

Hanging out on Mudcat for nearly 2 years now, I feel I "know" a lot of people here that I will probably never meet in person, but for many, if they needed a place to stay or play I'd be happy to accomodate. Not so with strangers, rightly or wrongly. Nor might I feel comfortable about urging someone else in my community to provide for them. Of course, this is more of a problem also, in rural areas, where there are not a lot of commercial venues on tap.

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 04:51 AM

If your info includes U.S. artists touring Britain I'd be interested. The chances of getting a headlining gig in front of a paying audience are slim, but a support slot with the chance to sell some c.d.'s and maybe pass the hat seems possible.
BJ

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 10:41 AM

I do understand Joe's concern, and I share it, or I would not have asked first what people think about it. My style is to listen to all the input, and I am still listening.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 02:33 AM

Joe, I don't get the connection with old maps. I don't think WYSIWYG is talking about soliciting, just dispersing information. She's not "pushing" or "exploiting" anyone.

Plus, there are plenty of folks here "pushing" their new CDs (and, to a lesser extent, publishing tour info.) If that's OK, why not Susan's idea?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 02:58 PM

No one is soliciting. I am the Mudcatter who is aware of the openings.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 01:08 PM

I don't really think I like the idea of soliciting information or funds or whatnot outside our community. It's kind of like the old maps that said Here Be Dragons.

If Mudcatters know of information like this or if Mudcatter musicians need gigs, that's one thing. If we go out and solicit information and contact agents and such, it can get us into a can of worms.

At least, that's what I think.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 12:53 PM

I think it's a good idea. The posts could have a heading such as "Band passing through Maryland." If MTed's not interested, he can skip reading them.

Life is hard enough for traditional musicians as it is, without lumping them in with every mercenery element in the world.

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 11:49 AM

Can you see how this "issue" is related to THIS? Do you see music as a closed community within which we must all comptete? Have you grown that cynical about it all? Or do you see that there can be open sharing and more music for everyone?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 09:34 AM

M. Ted, I'm not exploiting anything. If you have a problem with this, fine, but I meant what I said in my opening post and there ARE places where people would be only too glad to know a performer was passing through that could do a quick house concert. Maybe you live in an urban environment where there is more music than you can get to, and more musicians than there are places to play in-- but I don't. And neither does everybody else.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 12:39 AM

Spam, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM SPAM SPAM

No matter how you cloak it, it is SPAM

But on the the other hand, it is MUSICAL SPAM...and that is one heck of a lot better than 80% of the postings to MudCat.

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: M.Ted
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 12:18 AM

Well, you are exploiting Mudcat for the gain of whichever group and agent you happen to be pushing--furthermore,I don't think you can find gigs for everyone who might want one, and then the people who don't get them will start to ask,"Why them and not me?" That will start the "inner clique" discussions again, but with something tangible to through around--

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 08:44 PM

I think supporting more music to be heard is a good thing. I don't think a post like this exploits anything. I think it offers US an opportunity.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: M.Ted
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 08:25 PM

I don't think the forum should be exploited commercially, and that is just what this is--agents fishing for gigs are no different from people advertising to sell CD's, books, grand pianos, or heavy equipment--they may be nice and all, but this place is intended to be non-commercial--let's keep it that way--

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 01:29 AM

Here is the current one. Yes, I know more would see it if I put it in a new thread. This is just an example for purposes of discussion.

~S~

============================================================

Hi folks
My name is Ros Gilchrist, music agent based in Scotland UK. (http://members.aol.com/oscarsfolk)
I am visiting the US next week with one of my bands "Real Time", a three piece folk band. Our Saturday Oct 5th gig has just been
cancelled as the venue (Hardware Cafe, Marion MA) has closed. If anyone can help with a gig for that evening or afternoon
I'd be very pleased to hear from you. Anywhere between MA, CT, RI, and Rock Hall MD where we end our tour on Sunday 6th - possibly a house concert, coffeehouse/cafe, opener etc. Real Time (www.realtime.uk.net) are Kenny Speirs and Joe Wright (ex John Wright Band) and Judy Dinning (previously of Jez Lowe & the Bad Pennies) Material is a mix of their own songs, cont/trad songs, jigs and reels from the Northumberland/Scottish border area. Instruments guitars, fiddle, mandolin and bodhran.
If you can help please e mail me direct.
Thanks
Ros Gilchrist
Oscar Music Agency
Glasgow, Scotland
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: maire-aine
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 11:49 PM

Oh, sure. I doubt we could fill a 400-seat auditorium, but we could probably round up a few score folks who'd like to check out somebody new. Try it for a while and ask folks for feedback; evaluate it again in a few months.

M.

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 10:16 PM

Kevin, well YEAH?!!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 09:15 PM

Sorry, Suze, I don't know of anyone near here who would be interested. The only thing we really have is the grant supported Arts Council and they book 2 yrs in advance. If an act cancels, we are just SOL; nobody can scramble fast enough to take advantage of anything.

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:55 PM

Might be a good idea to stick an indication of region and country in the heading.

Subject: RE: Open Question for Catters
From: michaelr
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:39 PM

I like that idea, Susan. In my area (NorCal) I know several promoters and venue owners, and this kind of info would be welcome.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: Open Question for Catters
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:13 PM

I am on several music-biz e-mail lists. From time to time, the list is notified that this or that artist has suddenly got a tour date open when a venue cancels out or goes out of business, and so forth. Is that the kind of thing Catters would want to know about-- possibly to take advantage of an opportunity to host a house concert in your area that you might not otherwise be able to land? These usually come with links to sound clips, and so forth.

If these are of interest I will post a few next time I get them and see what occurs. Yes, I know I could suggest that the sender just come here and post, but I am concerned that would net us a lot of spam in badly-titled threads. At least I could title them properly.

My idea is not so much to help the artists, or their booking agents, altho that would be nice too, but to help Catters bring new artists to places where it may be hard to get some from out of town.

Feedback, please.

~Susan