DIY Booking and Promotion for Musicians
Music can be a powerful tool for social change and community building, but in order to have a sustained impact, progressive musicians must be able to make a living and find alternatives to the corporate record industry. This workshop will go over some of the basic skills involved in getting yourself or your band booked at venues, activist spaces, colleges, conferences, and basements across the country, as well as the work it takes to promote tours, shows, and new albums without relying on a label. We will focus on the intersections between music and activism, and discuss ways that musicians and social movements can support each other financially, emotionally, and logistically.
details
- when: sunday, april 19th, 2009, from 10:45 am - 12:15 pm
- to attend: Please see the info page for more information on attending any of the workshops at the 2009 Boston Skillshare.
- facilitated by: Evan Greer
lesson plan
The workshop is taught in circle-format.
Intro to the Workshop
Go-Round: self intros
-names, music, what hoping to get out of the workshop?
Background on Riot-Folk
-alternatives to record industry
-decentralized distribution
-sharing web resources and contacts
-co-operative booking
-longterm vision: network
Hands-on General Booking
(examples will be shown)
-generating contacts: e-mail lists, myspace, facebook, website, etc.
-using google-docs to organize your contacts
-designing a press-kit
EXERCISE: writing nice things about yourself!
Recording and CD Packaging
-how diy is too diy?
-why shrinkwrap sucks.
-supporting worker-coops, etc.
College Booking
-how to ask for money
-who to ask
-how much to ask for?
-cold calling
-walking students through the process
-using this to fund activism in your community
Internet Promotion
-myspace sucks, but use it anyway
-free downloads are your friend
-electronic press kits
-mass e-mails
Performer Privilege
-gaining skills of humility
-self-promotion feels funny
-creating alternatives to alternatives
Using Music as a Tool
-workshops, literature, and banter
-fundraising by selling stuff on tour
-encouraging empowering spaces
Q & A / Discussion
facilitator experience
Evan Greer is a full-time touring musician and community organizer from Boston. He is a member of the Riot-Folk! Collective, a group of 9 young musicians who work together to use their music as a tool for social change and build co-operative alternatives to the record industry. He tours internationally and plays hundreds of shows a year in a variety of different venues. He also offers interactive workshops on social and environmental justice issues in high schools, colleges, and activist spaces while he travels. He recently returned from a 6-week 1,600 mile tour of Florida done entirely on bicycle called the Respect Yer Mama Bicycle Tour.
intended audience
This workshop is intended for songwriters, bands, musicians, activists, people who book shows, and anyone who has ever dreamed of quitting their job and hitting the road to sing for the rebellion.