Do you promote yourself at shows ?

Richard Tipple · From: Ohio, USA

Over the years I have been fortunate enough to play with & for some well known artist and CD sales are no small part of thier performance sales at thier shows.
The last artist I worked for made major $$ during the shows selling everything from T shirts to Ball Caps ,CDs Etc.
To make a long story short, last year before a show, I had some CDs I had recorded of some classic songs ,sleel instrumentals I had done over the winter months off the road,on my home PC recording studio. Even though these CDs were not recorded in a big studio, they were decent , not junk.
As I rambled up to the sales table ,I asked the lady if I could add them to the Items being sold by the artist & she said she would keep track of any sales of these CDs for me. After the show I was astonished to learn all CDs were sold, about a dozen or so. I had priced them at only $4.00 ea, just to cover the cost of the CD itself & my time.
Some artist frown on side players selling anything at thier shows, takes away from thier sales.
My question here is, if one can promote ones self and make a little extra $, should we ?
Im not saying one should draw attention to ones self at a gig, but is it ethical to promote yourself by selling CDs while playing with a band, & do you sell your recordings ?

John Poston · From: Albuquerque, NM, USA

I would always run this by the bandleader who hired you. They could be cool with it or they could see it taking away from their own sales. That's the only criteria I would care about when making the decision.

Kenny Burford · From: Independence, Missouri USA

I don't know the performer you work for, but it doesn't noticeably affect Kenmore's sales just because Sears offers other manufacturer's appliances to their customers. This may not be the best comparison, but it was the one that came to mind first.

I don't believe I would price my recordings less than the artist's I was working for and I would make it a point to pay both the booth operator and the artist a fair rate of profit on each unit sold at shows. It is probably reasonable to presume that your sales at the shows are influenced by the artist's popularity and fan base, so it is reasonable to presume they are entitled to a percentage of the total sale. Plus, the artist is more than likely paying your living and traveling expenses while you are on the road, so consider the following: If you were marketing your recordings through a record shops more than likely you would have distributor costs included in the final sale price of each unit. Isn't reasonable to consider the entertainer in this instance is the distributor who is enabling you to get your recordings to the public for resale at multiple locations?

I am sure that other players on the SGF who have first hand experience touring with name artist have the skinny on how it normally works, but that's how I would approach the issue.

But the first step is exactly per the response above, get the artist's approval before putting your recordings in his booth.

[This message was edited by Kenny Burford on 16 June 2005 at 11:18 AM.]

[This message was edited by Kenny Burford on 16 June 2005 at 11:22 AM.]

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Kenny's got a good point: cut the bandleader in on the sales and he/she'll probably be more receptive to the idea. But don't EVER do it without getting their prior approval. It's their show, not yours.

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

I figured out long ago that nobody's gonna blow your horn for you - you gotta do it yourself. That's why I never miss an opportunity to shamelessly promote myself as much as I can possibly get away with.
Bull$h!+ is as much a primal force in the universe as cosmic rays and gravity so let's learn to harness it's awesome potential.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've toured with several "name" Nashville singers here in Florida the last couple of years including Tommy Cash and George Hamilton IV.

When Tommy found out some of the band members had CD's (Bernie Waldon the bass picker and me) he said "put them on my table". We did that for the 2003 and 2004 tour with Tommy. He would even promote them along with his "product" right before intermission.

This year I toured with George Hamilton IV who also allowed and promoted the band members CD's, along with promoting his own. Near the end of the tour, George was running low on his CD's so he pushed the band members more.

I doubt that all peformers will do that, but these two do.

I seriously doubt that Bernie or my CD sales affected Tommy or George's sales.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Johnny Bush always announces that my CDs are available on his product table. I do occasionally sell a couple at his shows.

Now at the Western Swing festivals, I do much better with my product, but people come to those things expecting to spend money.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

There are selfish, stingy and paranioid folks all around in this old world, surprisingly, some of them are even performers! I have worked with bandleaders who fired the backup guitarist for playing too good on the one allotted nightly solo.

That being said, every great artist I have ever worked with,on stage or off, understood that the open-handed are never empty-handed -- as the stories of Tommy and Johhny actively promoting their bandmembers' product demonstrate, the truly wise among us understand that when the lowliest of our brothers and sisters do well, we all prosper.

Richard Tipple · From: Ohio, USA

Ok, the general responce here is to get permission first then offer a % of sales.
So what would be a good % offer ?

Yes, the popularity of the artist does sell the CDs.
I think I could have sold dirty underware of the last artist I worked with

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

The ones I worked with didn't want any cut. I would never expect to pay a percentage to sell CD's.

We've worked shows at Silver Springs Park (Ocala, Fl) both as opening act and as The act and Silver Springs gets a cut of everything sold. We don't sell product at Silver Springs for that reason. That includes the featured singer or any band members that have CD's.

Dave Boothroyd · From: Staffordshire Moorlands

A small percentage cut for the venue, from merchandise sold, is often on the contract that the Artist has with the Venue.
You could cause a lot of problems for the headliner if you don't ask.

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Cheers!
Dave

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

yup, the most common situation I see is a cut to the house, according to the merchandise rider of the show contract and you keep the rest. I never had a headliner ask for a cut for themselves.

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

They probably won't ask, but if you offer, they might look a little kindlier on the deal...

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