By Frankie Shayne
Reports from the Scene
I’ve decided to use this month’s article to help guide any artists in our local scene who are struggling to find venues and opportunities to play in our area. There are a few different steps to this process that can be intimidating or sometimes tricky to navigate, so let your boy Frankie Shayne give you a few tips. I will warn you, some of this is gonna seem like it’s veering off topic, but it all comes together in the end. Trust me.
I struggled in the beginning to know what to do to get a chance to break into the local music scene. I mean, it can be intimidating asking for a show or trying to find out who the “booker” is at a local venue. Playing festivals and outdoor events seems a little “safer” but tracking down the person who books talent for those events can sometimes feel like a wild goose chase. Here’s the kicker, though: once you’re in you’ll ask yourself, “How could I not know?” because the scene can be a truly open and inviting community, and they are always willing to help out. That brings me to one of my first discoveries into the way in: Collaborations.
As you go to local shows and events, networking with other artists can be an invaluable resource and a genuine way to help each other out on the journey. Local artists are very approachable and open to talk about their music, their process and how they got started. You can often find a kindred spirit that can develop not only into show opportunities and information on where to book—and where not to book—but I’ve found many times a collaboration that leads to shared shows and even song collaborations. There’s never a better person to help you along a journey than the one walking it already.
From here, it takes a little bit of intestinal fortitude on your part as a budding artist. Sometimes you gotta take it on the chin and face the awkwardness and sometimes rejection of asking for a show date at the venue of your choice. Now, keep in mind, this is to those musicians just getting their feet wet and trying to get out there. Those who have been at it a while have already taken our lumps, and we’ve learned what it takes to navigate the system. However, those new to this process, this is for you. I used to get so anxious asking for a show at a venue that didn’t know me from Adam, and I used to think the word “no,” would crush me.
But it turns out no doesn’t really hurt like I thought it would; it actually doesn’t hurt at all. Why not? Because in this scenario, it is very rarely about you. More times than not, it is scheduling, money or you are just not the right fit for that venue or event. Again, none of those are a rejection of you specifically. However, it gives you the chance to move on to the next venue and move closer to that “yes.”
So, now you’ve gotten a yes from a venue, and the next question freezes a lotof new artists. How much do you charge to play for two or four hours or whatever the time slot requires? Hmm? Honestly, a lot of new artists don’t think that far ahead. There are several factors to consider in these scenarios, and a lot of new artists always fear pricing themselves out and losing the show altogether. So, here are some things to take into account when faced within this question. Are you providing your own sound? How long are you playing? Are you a solo act? Or a band? How far away is the venue? Are tips and tip jars allowed? Or is what you are paid the only money? Can you sell merch? Is food being provided, or do you have to pay or eat before or after? All of these things factor into what you should ask. In other words, these are things to consider to know your worth. Coming to a fair price for both parties relies on all of these factors. Now, I get that you wanna play, and because of that you will probably do several free shows to start out, but when it gets serious, these things have to be considered.
So, to sum it all up, know your value as an artist. You don’t have to give your art and talent away, and venues that truly love music and want to see live music live on will have no problem being fair. This is your boy Frankie Shayne and I. Am. Out!
Frankie Shayne is a radio show host, a local singer/songwriter, and an advocate for local artists and musicians. He can be reached at fsp7774@gmail.com.