How to Organise a Gig or a Live Music Event - the Budget
Three times in the last month I've been asked the question, "what do I need to do to organise a gig?" In reality, when this question is asked it can mean several things: How do I find a venue? How do I sort out the PA? How do I get an audience? And so on.
But there is a stage before all of this: the budget. I would suggest that the moment you start thinking about organising an event you should write a budget. This budget spreadsheet informs you of most things that you will need to consider and will also show you the risk, projected profit and the breakeven point. A sample spreadshhet is available to download from this address http://www.josaka.com/features/2005/Organise-A-Gig/Event-PandL.pdf
If the budget numbers don't look like they are working perhaps the event is not the right thing to be running. If you don't like the level of risk, perhaps you aren't cut out to be a promoter.
So the start point is a spreadsheet. This should include all costs and all incomes. The key headings for costs should include: performer cost, PA, lighting, venue hire, marketing, box office costs etc. The income is likely to be largely ticket sales but don't forget the opportunity to add a sponsor to the event.
The spreadsheet will help you work out the breakeven point for the event i.e. how many tickets you need to sell to cover all costs. Every sale beyond breakeven is of course profit (exluding any box office commision). The added bonus of creating an event spreadsheet is that helps define all the key tasks to be performed.
The realisation of the forecasted numbers becoming actual figures suggests that all parties have got the deal they were looking for or agreed to. The sample speadsheet also illustrates that everyone else involved in the gig is largely earning a fixed fee and therefore the only person taking a financial risk is the promoter.
So if you are thinking of organising a live event I coomed you to work on the numbers first. This will help ensure you deliver a great show and have control over the money.
Kevin Harrington is the founder of josaka http://www.josaka.com the site that supports live music in Berkshire, UK. He is also director of marketing for Arkade http://www.arkade.com the mp3 distribution business.
 Google News Updated : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:51:42 GMT Bloomberg, Gates pledge $375 mln against tobacco - Reuters
Reuters - By Christine Kearney NEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) co-founder Bill Gates pledged $375 million on Wednesday to fight what they called a global tobacco ... Video: Gates, Bloomberg Pool Riches to Fight Smoking Bloomberg and Gates fight smoking Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:11:25 GMT 'Dark Knight' Christian Bale's lady sidekick: Sibi Bale - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - Like the Dark Knight/Bruce Wayne, Christian Bale is a real-life man of mystery. Averse to personal publicity, he is well-known for not wanting to discuss his private life. Christian Bale, Wife "Solid" at Knight's Spain Premiere Bale attends 'Dark Knight' premiere in Spain Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:54:18 GMT Red alert! The cellphone warning has been issued - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - Now he's done it. Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, has said what no one else would -- no cancer experts anyway. Pittsburgh Cancer Center Warns of Cell Phone Risks Cancer researcher warns about cell phone use Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:07:36 GMT Report: Eagles call Packers about Favre - SportingNews.com
SportingNews.com - While the Philadelphia Eagles are taking it easy with Donovan McNabb in training camp as he works his way back from a shoulder injury, that hasn't stopped them from going after some potential insurance. Winfield a Favre fan AP Source: Goodell monitoring Favre situation Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:26:08 GMT Hurricane Dolly Makes Landfall in Southern Texas (Update2) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Demian McLean July 23 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Dolly was downgraded to a Category 1 storm as it made landfall today in southern Texas, where coastal residents weathered their first direct hit by a hurricane in almost a decade. Video: Dolly Pummels Texas Gulf Coast Dolly forces refining cuts, hits gas output Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:36:26 GMT The night Karadzic rocked the Madhouse - guardian.co.uk
guardian.co.uk - A man plays a gusle in a bar called Madhouse in Belgrade, where war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic is now known to have frequented. Video: Karadzic's arrest sparks clashes - 23 Jul 08 Arrest of Radovan Karadzic: Why Now and Who's Next? Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:35:43 GMT Review: 'Step Brothers' - 40-year-old goobers - San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Chronicle - Step Brothers: Comedy. Starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Directed by Adam McKay. (R. 95 minutes. At Bay Area theaters. For complete movie listings and show times, and to buy tickets for select theaters, go to sfgate. Video: The Stars of 'Step Brothers' `Step Brothers' Ferrell, Reilly reunite as duo Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:39:58 GMT asdfasfd |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... I met New York jazzman Tim Armacost in college almost... Read More Michael Jackson was born Michael Joseph Jackson on August 29,... Read More When you read music you are deciphering the printed page... Read More Curious about MIDI? Want to find out what tools are... Read More Will listening to music make you smarter? Will learning to... Read More All through the age's music and spirituality as served hand... Read More Is your heart in the music? If so, it won't... Read More OK, say you've got one thousand of your favorite MP3... Read More This lesson can open for you a secret of high-speed... Read More John Lennon wasn't always my favorite Beatle; at first it... Read More Bringing Bagpipe Tuition to Everyone, Everywhere.I have been teaching music... Read More Most of us like to use what we learn right... Read More We all want to be in the moment. That's where... Read More A while back I was driving along the Jerusalem highway... Read More What is it with these performers and their politics? Do... Read More The idea that studying music improves the social development of... Read More When I first set out to write this article about... Read More A student wrote me an email about the lesson "Ocean... Read More Introduced in 1982, the compact disc was intended to provide... Read More SoundEdit Pro http://www.deprice.com/soundeditpro.htmSoundEdit Pro is a digital audio editor for... Read More Piano lessons for adults is generally LOTS more fun than... Read More Yowza! Did you hear that hideous noise? It sounded like... Read More Controlling the images of the mind through image projection has... Read More Marshall Mathers, was born October 17, 72, and could be... Read More Interviewed by Scott G (The G-Man)G-Man: When people think of... Read More
Adsense
websites
Jazzing Up Your Leadership Style
Born into musical family, Michael Jackson is as big as ever today
Does Reading Make Music?
These MIDI Tools Are Music To My Ears
Music & Intelligence: Will Listening to Music Make You Smarter?
Music, the Spiritual Connection
Piano Music, Perfectionism, and Self-Expression
5 Ways to Enjoy Your Music Files
Right Hand Guitar Playing Tip
JOHN LENNON - The Man and His Times
Bagpipe Lessons In Your Own Home !
Piano Teachers - Whats Wrong with Them?
Zen and the Art of New Age Piano
Its Jewish Music, But Is The Music Jewish?
Shut Up And Sing
Win Friends & Influence People Through Music -- Is It Possible?
Ouch, It Hurts When I Sing!
Just 3 Chords? No Way!
Interested in Improving the Sound of Your Stereo? Consider Records
Be Your Own DJ - Digital Audio Processing Tools Overview
Piano Lessons For Adults: More Fun, Easier, & Faster Than Piano Lessons For Kids
Turn It Up: Plugging Into The Perfect Guitar And Amp Settings
Visualization Techniques for the Pianist
All About Eminem
Art of the Recording Engineer: From Michael Jackson to Mutant Radio, Matt Forger Speaks Out
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Learn to Read Music Online
If you or anyone you know wants to learn to... Read More
Managing Your Time, when Music isnt Your Day Job
You CAN do everything.Repeat.You CAN do everything. What you cannot... Read More
Where To Download Music On The Internet
Virtually all of you have probably heard of the RIAA's... Read More
Zen and the Art of New Age Piano
We all want to be in the moment. That's where... Read More
How to Create a Multi-artistic Piece - Part II
In the last article, the creation of a theme, its... Read More
RIAA Files Second Wave of Lawsuits
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has launched a... Read More
How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano
What in the world is "naked music?"You know it when... Read More
Downloading MP3s Made Easy
The MP3 movement started out with a huge audience of... Read More
10 Ways for Unknown Musicians to Get the Word Out
When Clear Channel controls the radio and the monopoly newspaper... Read More
Taps; Piping Military Honors: A Ceremonial Guide for Highland Bagpipers
It has become increasingly popular for U.S. military veterans and... Read More
Silent Discos!
The press have reported this week that silent disco's are... Read More
Soul Band for a Party
Was the request six months ago, a sixtieth birthday party,... Read More
Piano Playing For Adults: More Fun Than Sex And Not Nearly As Dangerous!
OK, so I lied about the fun part.Maybe piano playing... Read More
Music Downloads: Free & Low Cost Ways For Musicians To Get Their Music Known All Over The World
Music downloads are highly compressed audio files transferred onto a... Read More
Piano Playing and Performance Anxiety
I'll never forget the first time I played the piano... Read More
Paint Your Own Musical Landscapes!
I don't know why, but I find the idea of... Read More
Right-Hand Techniques for New Age Piano
Recently, I had a student ask me to offer some... Read More
Painting with Sound
Whenever I go to a Borders bookstore here in San... Read More
5 Sure Fire Ways to Get Radio Play for Your ?Independent? Music!
You have to find radio airplay time if you're going... Read More
Guitarists...Are You A Victim and A Loser?
I was thinking today about THE most dangerous enemy of... Read More
The History Of Drums - A Journey Of Sound
Music and musical instruments are an extremely important part of... Read More
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME - Eliminate Throat Tension
As a vocal coach, I hear it all the time.... Read More
Legal Music Downloads
On July 28, 2004, French Internet access providers and music... Read More
How To Make Money On A Music Website Through Pay-Per-Click?
Interested in making money while you're asleep, or making money... Read More
Anglican Arrogance: Small-Minded Choirmembers
What is "Episcopal" music?We often hear people express concern about... Read More
Music & MP3 |