Recently a music friend of mine made a statement on facebook that really got my attention. She said "why is it that everybody wants to charge outrageous prices to sing on an event now even if they don't have a cd?" She recieved many comments about it, but I had to write a blog about this because it does concern me as well.
I have had the opportunity to plan events and book different "Independent Arstist" for these events as well. Every artist is different. However, there is a consistant trend with independent artist charging more than they are worth. Now....before anyone gets offended please let me clarify that statement. You cannot expect anyone to invest more in your ministry than you are willing to invest. Independent artist have a habit of recording a cd with the assumption thats their ticket to fame and fortune. Recording a cd is just the begining. After that its time to market and promote your music...the real work.
I see it like this...whatever you charge you should be able to draw. If you charge $600 you should be able to draw $600 worth of people or sell $600 worth of tickets. If you can't I have just decided to have a benefit program for you. Not gonna happen. I hear the artist now..."I have expenses." That is true, but what are you doing to make sure you help the promoter sell the event? Look at it this way...if your music is not being played in a particular area, if you have not sent your press kit to the pastors and churches in that area, if you have not added facebook friends from that area, and if you don't have a website your drawing power in low. That doesn't mean you are a bad artist it just means you have work to do as it relates to marketing and promotions. I think independent artist charge because thats what we think its suppose to look like. News flash....we can't operate like major artist because they have a machine behind them. We must be creative in our approach to marketing and promoting our music. Sometimes it takes something as small as putting some gas in your car, driving to the city the week before the engagement, spend all day passing out flyers about who you are with your website on it, sing on the street corner, etc. Do what you have to do to go to the next level.
P.S. The artist who charge big bucks and do no work sit at home most weekends.
