“Keep the faith and it will happen." That's what I keep telling myself. I am in the entertainment business and like many other businesses; mine has been in the toilet. I am going to try and stay upbeat in this blog because basically, I am an optimist. However as I think about planning a 2011- '12 season, I see nothing upbeat to write about.
I have done on the average 10 dates a season in this area for many years as a producer of celebrity events. As an entertainer, I've done eight to 10 concerts a year with my various performing ensembles.
Keep in mind as you read this, a season begins in October and ends in April of the following year. So for the 2011-'12 season, using the averages I quote above, I will do five Benefit Concerts, meaning freebies. No income from the events and with expenses that I write off my taxes as charity work.
There are other music producers in the area. I think they are smarter then me. They are not using their money. They are using other people’s money. Bands they bring in are supported and/or sponsored by local associations or a community (city). There is not cost to the producer. They receive a fee for booking the group. I choose not to do that because as you can imagine, the politics and committees you deal with are not worth the small amount of money you receive as a fee.
The entertainment industry like other industries is in a predicament. Travel expenses with gas prices for bands are going out of sight. The prices mid-level or what we call nostalgia B bands have to charge as a performance, a fee that is not worth the ticket price the producer has to charge the consumer. The big concert acts are having trouble filling concert venues and cancelling tours. Small local bands are working for nothing or splitting the door with club owners or producers.
Record labels are not signing new acts. When an artist gets a record deal, in most instances it also includes a tour to support the new release. Venues are drying up all over the nation. Casinos on Indian reservations and Las Vegas, which for years have been the main attractions for both A and B acts, are having money problems of their own. Unfortunately, the first thing that is cut back is entertainment.
Big acts like Cher, Elton John and Barry Manilow, are still getting full price for tickets. But the smaller club rooms in casinos are cutting back on entertainment.
Musicians want to play music. For many local players, music is a sideline. They are not dependent entirely on their earnings playing in local night clubs or doing club dates. Consequently, they are not very demanding concerning the amount of money they will do for a date. Club owners are not the most generous people in the business. The musician wants to play and if he or she is given the opportunity to play to an audience, they will work for little money -- fften just the cover charges (if any) at the door.
A lot of older secular musicians I know now are taking church jobs in deference to working night club dates. One reason is the money is getting better and the other reason is that night club work is drying up fast. Think about how many clubs that were using live music are now using DJ’s, Karaoke or no music at all.
Getting back to my season, think about this: For my 2007-2008 season, I did 27 events here in New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Orlando and Jacksonville.
I had a sound company that provided sound and lighting for my acts that I paid $8,000. He was a small business man that used three employees for my events. He has no work from me this year so that is lost revenue for him.
I spent over $20,000 on advertising with three different publications last year. That is lost commissions for the sales representatives from those publications.
I spent over $5,000 on hospitality, rooms and travel allowances for the acts I brought in. Those businesses lost my business.
I employed over 25 musicians with dates for which I needed their services. I haven’t used any players this year.
I paid venues including our own Brannon Center over $9,000 in 2008. That is loss income to the city of New Smyrna Beach.
I am a small producer. What kind of impact is our current society having on the big guys? Millions!
It will get better. When? I don’t know.
Will I be as active in the business as I have been? It Depends on how long the recovery period will take.
I look through life with rose colored glasses. so yes, I am waiting with great expectation for things to get better. When they do, look for me to bring some wonderful talent to our area.
“Keep the faith and it will happen.” That is scripture according to Rick.