Chris's Class Week 6

Starting your business:

- Using the Internet take 20 minutes to remind yourselves about the Music Promoter job role.
- Keep a note of your findings.
- Feedback your results to the group.

Business model
Promoters are typically hired as independent contractor by music venues, earning an agreed-to fee or royalties (colloquially known as a "cut"). The royalty structure is often a simple percentage of admission fees (called "the door") and/or food and drink sales, but like other royalty arrangements many variations are possible such as minimums or maximums, allowances for various expenses, or limitations (e.g. only drink sales after midnight). Other promoters operate independently, renting venues for a fixed fee or under a revenue sharing arrangement with the building owner or tenant, and keeping all of the additional profits from a successful event. One common arrangement for small venues is for the promoter to earn all of the admissions fees, while the venue earns all of the food and drink revenue.
Some venues have exclusive arrangements with a single promotion company; others work with multiple promoters on a rotating schedule (one night per week, for example) or on an event-by-event basis. Promoters often work together, either as equal partners or as subcontractors to each other's events. Several promoters may work together for a large special event, e.g. a New Year's Eve party in a hotel ballroom. They may also deputize "hosts", who are essentially socially influential or desirable non-promoters who will market the events to their circle of friends in exchange for special treatment or free admission to the event.
At a minimum the event promoter manages publicity and advertising. Depending on the arrangement they may also handle security, ticket sales, Admission to an event or establishment (door policies), decorations, and booking of entertainers. Many promoters are DJs or musicians themselves, and perform at their own event. Conversely, many musicians act as de facto promoters for their own concerts, either directly or through their manager or booking company. Historically, promotion has been a cottage industry, with companies operated by one or several well-connected charismatic individuals, often working part-time. However, with the rise of corporate ownership of live entertainment assets several large companies have emerged in the field, most notably Live Nation via its acquisition (indirectly, via Clear Channel), of Bill Graham Presents. The larger companies tend to promote more traditional mainstream music in exclusive contracts with concert halls. Alternative music and events and nightclubs remain in the hands of independent promoters.

Contracts and disputes
There are often disputes over money in the promotions industry because it is largely cash business with a history of corruption and uneven recordkeeping. In addition there are many accounting complexities to manage, particularly for large events: revenue, expenses, and oversight of parking, coat checks, concession vendor sales (e.g. CDs and t-shirts), box office so-called "convenience fees", in kind trades, promotional give-away items used to lure guests (e.g. free drinks), costs for insurance, cleaning staff, and so on. One area of frequent contention are quid pro quo cross-promotions, where the promoter or some other party connected with the venue will obtain a favor (for example, a price discount) in exchange for giving a future favor to the vendor. If the existence of the scheme, or the relationship between the parties, is undisclosed this may become a form of bribery. Another opportunity for misunderstanding are the various "lists" of guests who will be admitted for free or with VIP treatment, and the "door policy" used by bouncers to decide who will be admitted and at what price. To deal with these complexities event contracts can become quite long and detailed. Whether written or not, these arrangements tend to favor the party with the greater sophistication or the more control over the production of the event. Even the most detailed, professionally written and negotiated contracts can become the subject of lawsuits over interpretation.
Because nightclubs are often associated with drug and alcohol consumption, rowdiness, and other late-night behavior, promoters may become entangled in various criminal disputes as well.

Promotions methods
Promoters bring crowds through a variety of methods. The most direct are guerrilla marketing techniques such as plastering posters on outdoor walls, flyposting, and distributing handbills on windows of cars parked in entertainment districts. Promoters also keep mailing lists, usually email lists, of their preferred guests and their wider list of potential customers. Recently, many promoters have taken advantage of online technology such as online social networks and event listing sites to handle publicity, invitations, mailing lists, and so on. Clubs and promoters are among leaders in SMS text message advertising to their own lists as well as sponsored snippets on 3rd party lists for daily content to subscribers. Many fans promote events,products through their Facebook/Twitter/Myspace on their own free will.
Promoters often build a brand out of their own personalities and the parties they host, marketing the events under a consistent name, style, type of program, and social experience that downplays the branding of the venue or artist. They may develop a loyal clientele that will follow them from one location to another.


Music Promoter:
one of the most entrepreneurial roles in the music industry.

Roles: To sell as many tickets as possible and deal with advertising and organisation of one of gig to an international tour.

- Book artists to perform live at particular venues.
- May negotiate with artists / booking agent direct.
- May be responsible for one venue, a festival or several venues.
- Provide artist with venue, ticket facilities and basic security arrangements and guest lists.
- Provide (as agreed) equipment, personnel, mixing desk, Engineer.
- Provide (as agreed) backstage facilities, dressing rooms, toilets, meeting and VIP areas.
- Provide insurance cover against injury or death caused to members of the public.
- Provide (as agreed) working permits for performances abroad.
- Provide (as agreed) backstage and technical riders.

The Job:
- Very long hours.
- An office job by day and out to venues in the evening.
- An entrepreneur.
- A promoter buys up all the tickets cheaply and then tries to sell them to the public at a higher price.
- Can be very lucrative if established with popular live acts.
- Can be very high risk.

Class Excersise:
Promoter Excersise. Find info. About two well known promoters by the names of Harvey ‘Brit’ Goldsmith & Bill Graham.

Harvey ‘Brit’ Goldsmith Career History:

Harvey Goldsmith began his career in the Entertainment Industry in 1966.
In 1973 he formed Artiste Management Productions Limited to produce and manage Artists in the Music Industry.
In 1976 Harvey Goldsmith Entertainments Limited was formed which became the UK’s leading Promoter of Concerts and Events.
In 1985 Harvey Goldsmith produced Live Aid with Sir Bob Geldof, which raised £140 million for the starving in Africa.
Harvey Goldsmith joined the Princes Trust in 1982 and produced the first Princes Trust Rock Gala. Harvey then became a member of the Princes Trust Board and Vice Chairman of Princes Trust Trading Limited.
In 1990 Harvey produced the first of three major Arena Opera productions – Aida, Carmen and Tosca.
In 1991 Harvey produced Pavarotti in Hyde Park, which was the first concert in 20 years to be held in Hyde Park.
In 1995 Harvey produced the MasterCard Masters of Music show in Hyde Park, which raised £1 million for the Princes Trust.
In 1995 Harvey joined the Red Cross Communications Board producing Pavarotti and Friends
In 1996 Harvey was honoured with a CBE in the Queen’s birthday Honours List in recognition of his work in the entertainments business.
Harvey Goldsmith has produced and promoted shows with most of the world’s major Artists including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles, Sheryl Crow, Shania Twain, Bee Gees, Jools Holland and Sting to name but a few.
In 1999 Harvey produced Net Aid the largest awareness campaign for Extreme Poverty for the United Nations Development Program and Cisco Systems.

In November 2000 Harvey produced the first Teenage Cancer Trust event at the Royal Albert Hall with The Who and guests raising over £1 million for the charity.
In summer 2001 Harvey was hired by Safeway Stores to present Pavarotti, Charlotte Church, Vanessa Mae and Russell Watson in Hyde Park.
In October Harvey produced Unite For The Future at The Old Vic raising $1 million for victims of the World Trade Centre Disaster and their families living in the UK.
In February 2002 Harvey promoted five more shows for the Teenage Cancer Trust with Marti Pellow, Oasis, The Who and Paul Weller at The Royal Albert Hall raising £500,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
In June 2002 he followed the Safeway event with another hugely successful show featuring Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Shirley Bassey, Ronan Keating and Gabrielle.
In October 2002 Harvey promoted Bruce Springsteen at Wembley Arena, the tickets for this show sold out in 40 minutes making it one of his most successful yet. This was followed by three sell out stadium shows in May 2003.
In March 2003 Harvey and Roger Daltrey co-produced another run of shows at the Royal Albert Hall raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust with six nights featuring Richard Hawley, Coldplay, Nigel Kennedy, Eric Clapton, Richard Ashcroft, Noel & Liam Gallagher, Paul Weller, Ash, Asian Dub Foundation, Supergrass, Doves, Madness and Aswad.
In August 2003 Harvey produced Fly To The Past, an historic revival and flight display at Blenheim Palace. Based on the success of this unique event plans are underway to make this a biannual event.
In August 2003 Harvey produced for the Mayor of London the inaugural concert of the renovated Trafalgar Square with David Gray and five guest artists.

Harvey currently produces an annual 32-city tour for Jools Holland and is currently working with artists such as The Who, Bruce Springsteen and David Gilmour.
Harvey has also created and produced The Smash Hits Poll Winners Party and The Disney Kids Awards.
In 1994 Harvey commenced a relationship with Cirque du Soleil. This has been one of most successful shows ever to perform in the UK. Returning to London’s Royal Albert Hall every January to date, the show is seen by around 183,000 people and sells to around 98% of capacity. In 2005 Harvey managed the show in London, Birmingham and Manchester, which marked a first time in Europe for Cirque in having two different productions in the same Country.
April 2004 saw another successful run of the Teenage Cancer Trust Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.
In May 2004 Sting sold out a run of six nights at the Royal Albert Hall.

On July 6th 2004 Harvey produced for the Crown Estate and Westminster Council the first ever parade of Formula One cars in the centre of the West End- Regent St. Over 500,000 people attended this event. Regent St. was transformed into a 3 KM. Circuit and the top eight Formula One cars and drivers each completed a circuit.

Harvey is also a consultant to Anschutz Entertainment Group on the re-development of the Dome. This will be a new entertainment district with a 24,000 capacity arena as its centrepiece.
In December 2004 Luciano Pavarotti appointed Harvey to be the worldwide producer of his Farewell Tour. To date 37 sold out concerts have taken place. Using Harvey’s worldwide contacts and associates; The Tour has spanned six continents performing in North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australasia.

In May 2005 the Band Aid Trust asked Harvey to produce Live 8 worldwide. The event took place on July 2 2005 and presented the biggest collection of artists (225) all on one day in eight locations around the world. In addition to the Hyde Park concert in London, Harvey also executively produced Paris, Berlin, Rome and Philadelphia. The TV coverage set world records with 160 TV networks around the world showing the event live, plus 400 radio stations. In addition Harvey secured the partnership of AOL and Nokia. AOL’s coverage of the five key events were ground breaking and have become a benchmark for global events.
Harvey is passionate about promoting London as The Greatest City In The World. Harvey became a director of the London Tourist Board and was part of the group which transformed LTB in to Visit London. Harvey is currently a member of the Mayor’s Tourism Advisory Group.
In January 2006 Harvey was awarded the Chevalier des Artes et Lettres from the French Minister of culture. Harvey is currently chairing the British Music Experience to be built at the new O2 Dome in Greenwich with AEG and the BPI.
In October 2006 Harvey was honoured with the 15th Music Industry Trust’s Award (MITS), one of the highest accolades to be awarded in the music industry, in recognition of his contribution to the music industry.
Harvey is Chairman of Ignition, an Experiential Marketing Company, who are industry leaders in brand activations at events all over the world. Ignition was the winner of the 2006 Field Marketing and Brand Experience award.
Harvey is currently presenting the fantastic dance spectacular The Merchants Of Bollywood; the first ever Bollywood production to tour straight from Film City in Mumbai. The show is currently touring the UK and will open at London’s Hammersmith Apollo on 21st December 2006, followed by a six month tour of Europe in 2007.
In November 2006 Harvey produced the UK Arena dates of Bruce Springsteen’s sell-out tour with the Seeger Sessions band.
Harvey is Executive Producer of Nokia New Years Eve 2006, which will see five concerts run simultaneously in Hong Kong, Mumbai, Berlin, New York and Rio. The concerts will be broadcast live across the globe and mark the biggest ever New Years Eve Music extravaganza, featuring Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Nelly Furtado, Scissor Sisters and many more.

Interviews:
The Legend Harvey Goldsmith - Music Education

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZlNlhhS4bQ

Harvey Goldsmith on Community Festivals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bQ3E-WrR-I

Bill Graham Career History:

Was an American impresario and rock concert promoter from the 1960s until his death.

He opened certain weekday nights for unknown bands, like Santana, to get exposure. Graham promoted the West-Coast leg of the legendary The Rolling Stones American Tour 1972, also known as S.T.P. Tour (for Stones Touring Party), as well as parts of the Rolling Stones 1975 and 1978 tours. He would then promote the entire Rolling Stones American Tour 1981 and Rolling Stones European Tour 1982. When the Stones returned to touring in 1989 with the Steel Wheels tour.

Some of the other artists who signed with Graham were Rod Stewart, Elvin Bishop and Cold Blood.

He also appears as a promoter in the 1991 Oliver Stone film, The Doors.

Interviews:

Bill Graham interview part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nq1UEIwFaI