Working With Sponsors To Fund Shows/Tours

AlembicPlayer · #1 11-10-2009, 11:04 AM

here's some background-
I have recently been recruited to play bass for a new rising female artist. She is a award winning song writer and trained vocalist. It's all original music and she has produced her first CD this year with the first concert to be performed feb 2010.

There's no doubts or issues about what type of arrangement this is...it's business and she is the owner/boss/leader/employer. We(band members) are getting a stipend for each rehearsal and compensation for any photo shoots, live radio spots and a very fat guarantee for shows.

All this is being financed through sponsors, as well the upcoming tours(spring and summer) are also paid for through sponsors.The band is not signed to a label, this is private sponsorship in the DIY vain.

now the question -

This is a first for me and I was wondering if anyone else has worked in a band that was paid for with sponsorships. Not to be confused with endorsement deals, which BTW she is also working on. Things like gear, clothes and such.

Does anyone have any insights, comments or input to this approach?
I don't have any complaints...so far it looks pretty good, but what are the down sides to this?

She has had very good response to the CD with reviews, sales and the web presence is very good also. This with the combination of using well known local players has been why she can get sponsors for a band that has not performed yet.

I can really appreciate thinking outside the box...the music biz has changed so much since the internet and the old models aren't working anymore, so maybe this type of approach just like house concerts are the new ways to make it happen?

anyway,
thoughts?
comments?

thanks!

pasta4lnch · #2 11-10-2009, 11:07 AM

did you sign anything?

sponsorship, I would imagine, is her (her camps) responsibility. if you agreed to be paid X then how/where the money comes from is what it is.

sponsorship is a VERY cool thing. there are a lot of companies that will pay big for the exposure a band can get. especially companies that cant advertise using normal channels like cigarette and booze companies...

AlembicPlayer · #3 11-10-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

did you sign anything?

not yet, but I will be signing some sort of artist agreement.. and she is also making sure each player has either a BMI or ASCAP registration for credit/publishing rights to all new material worked up by the band.

I know what you are saying...it is what it is and I have no issues. I was just wondering if anyone has worked like this before and what are some of the things to be aware of etc.

thanks for your comment!

ERIC31 · #4 11-10-2009, 01:39 PM

This is the most timely post I've ever seen! I was just thinking recently about finding sponsors for a tour (in the planning stages) with the singer/guitarist I'm playing with. (Blair Hansen) Also possible endorsement deals that we could possibly get. Any information on this sort of deal will be welcome!

www.blairhansen.com

pasta4lnch · #5 11-10-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlembicPlayer

I know what you are saying...it is what it is and I have no issues. I was just wondering if anyone has worked like this before and what are some of the things to be aware of etc.

i've been trying to get the 2 bands i'm in to work like this. all the research I've done shows mostly contractual stuff. so any down side would be not getting a lawyer to look over/negotiate on your behalf (which is probably the smartest thing to do in the music biz period!)

good luck, and keep us posted!