Booking
First of all, I really enjoy doing what I do, particularly when there is a good cause involved. Many of you already know that I'm interested in criminal justice reform, global peace and justice, environmental issues, children's issues, and social justice in general. I have no agent/manager, and I usually perform as a solo. If people in your area would like to host a show, a little advance planning and coordination is all it takes to make an event happen.
Organizing a Concert It's always better to begin with a group. This could be a formal organization, but it might be an informal gathering of friends with common interests. Hold a meeting to do some strategic planning. Basically, you simply need to find a venue and create a game plan to pay for the event.
Cost of Event It's not that expensive, and I'm a sucker for good causes! But keep in mind that the further I have to travel, the higher my costs will be. Also, if someone can loan me a bedroom, you can eliminate the costs of lodging. I don't have a set fee per se, and I am willing to work with groups as long as I feel there is a reasonable prospect for covering the basic expenses. If you are expecting a fairly large crowd (100 or more), I can be fairly confident that my CD sales will help to cover my needs. I also have my own small PA, so don't rent one unless we are talking about a very large venue with an expected audience exceeding 200. If the venue provides a PA, that's even better.
Ticket Sales, Donations, Gate Fees? All of these methods can and do work well as long as you have a small group of people committed to the event.
Promoting the Event: This is the key. Again, it doesn't have to be, and probably shouldn't be expensive! Assuming you have a small group of people dedicated to the task, it's not that difficult. Here are some ideas that have worked well for me.
Promotional Package: You can find lots of information and a photo on my website. I can also send CDs to aid with promotion.
Create a Press Release (I can help you here upon request). Send this release to every media outlet you can think of (print, radio, TV)
Flyers: post them everywhere you can and pass them out to friends.
Email: This is especially helpful if your group has an email list, and you can save a bundle on postage.
Radio/TV shows: Many radio shows will do a phone interview or have me do a live interview upon my arrival in town. I will send you complimentary CDs for this or any other promotional purpose.
Sponsors: Have your organization or a group of organizations sponsor the event.
Universities: Particularly when social issues are involved, some professors will offer extra credit for attendance. You might consider admission discounts for students.
Please do not hesitate to call me with further questions. My cell phone is 325-574-9448, and my home phone is 325-573-8020. My wife, Anita, may answer either one of these phones. You can send email to bcarter@yellowhousemusic.com.