Live Music FAQ

The music

What sort of music are you looking for?
Musically we like to put on as broad a programme as possible with both traditional and contemporary styles.

Any particular contemporary genres?
Currently we are short of Hip Hop/Rap, Grime, Trip Hoppety Downtempoey stuff, Soul (R ‘n’ B is kinda too poppy) and bizarrely Acoustic/Folky stuff. If you can perform it live, and not bore people doing it, we’d like to hear it. It doesn't have to be in English either.

Any particular traditional genres?
We often don’t actually know what names some music might go by, until people tell us. However we are interested in traditional music from Asia, The Middle East and Africa. Although as always, we are keen to support West and East European music.

What about the rest of the world?
We’re happy to hear most things.

So you put on any music?
No. There are some types of music we wouldn’t or can't put on. That doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t like the music, it just means we can’t do anything with it as it’s not appropriate for any of our events. See our history for more info.

Do you prefer your music in foreign tongues?
We like to hear native languages. We think our audience does too. There’s not much point in everyone performing in English is there? We’re hardly the modern Eurovision are we?

So you support international music?
Yes. However, due to our Aims and Objectives and nature of the funding we apply for any acts we put on must be based in (in order of priority): Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, the East Midlands or possibly the rest of the Midlands. We don’t book acts that aren’t based in this country.


The Database

What is the Chilled Produce Artiste Database?
We have a list of acts that we believe generally reflect the spirit of Chilled Produce. Click here to see our Aims and Objectives.

What do you get for being on the Database?
We network with festival, event organisers and promoters. In the past acts on our Database have had the opportunity to apply to perform elsewhere and many have been put on.
We also keep you posted about:
• Training opportunities
• Workshops/Seminars
• Funding opportunities
• Networking events
• General information related to the music business
The email we regularly send out we call 'Opportunity Knocks'.

Do you charge any fees for being on the Database?
No. We're not an agency. We do all the above out of the kindness of our hearts.

What else do you get for being on it?
You may get gigs with us! However you only get gigs with us if we have your information from our Standard Email. Click here to see the Standard Email that we send out.

You ask for landlines as well as mobile numbers, why?
Mobile phones get lost or stolen. This would leave us unable to contact you in an emergency.

Can’t you just get info from my website?
No. We ask for specific info that we expect you to provide in your own words directly to us. We are now very strict on having the info we request from you. No info no booking.

Is it true you don't like phone calls?
Yes it's true. We conduct the majority of our business via email. During phone calls we just end up being asked questions which we don't think are relevant, such as "When is it?", "Where is it?", "What time will i be on?" All these can be answered via email, when appropriate, and if booked when we send out contracts. Also there is the issue of folks giving us info about themselves over the phone that we prefer they email us.

But what if you want to discuss stuff?
Email us. There is one main advantage about emailing. You’ll have proof in black and white of our communication. There will be no “But you said over the phone” type grey areas.

Don’t you lose out? Some people like that initial personal contact?
Based on past experience, no. We have rung people, or been rung, and had one of those ‘discuss stuff’ conversations. They’ve often ended with a “Yep, I’ll get that email sorted out for you, thanks for the gig” type response. We never received an email from these people.

Even so....
We are a small group with limited resources, including those of a human nature. Hopefully we supply enough info about what we do, how we do it and how you can get involved in it on our website. If we don't, ask us a question, and we'll add it and answer it if we can.

How soon would i get a gig once i'm on your database?
It's hard to say. Sometimes we contact people with an event in mind, other times we contact people as we think we could offer them a gig sometime in the future. It's possible that you could be 'lounging around' on our mailing for awhile until we find the right opportunity for you. However in the meantime hopefully you'd feel the benefit of being on our Artiste Database.


Organising events

Can you give us an example of the process?:
Yes. We come up with an idea for an event and find possible sources of funding for it. We then ask for quotes from those we think would be suitable to perform at it. These quotes allow us to draw up a budget that would be submitted with a funding application. The application goes off and we wait to find out if we’re successful. If successful, we contact acts and start the programming process. Click here to find out what the programming process is.

What do the contracts you use look like?
Click here to see details included in ours contracts. We use Conditions of Contract and send out Confirmation Letters along with general information about the venue and event.

They're all a bit, er, heavy aren’t they?
The Contracts and Conditions of Contract are adapted from those given to us by our colleagues at APNA Arts, a South Asian Arts organisation who created and ran the Nottingham Mela. They were used for national and international acts.

Adapted?
Yes. After running a number of events we have discovered that people need reminding:
• To return everything we ask them to. Apparently the Stamped Addressed Envelope we enclose isn’t a big enough clue.
• To include an invoice. Apparently they don’t want to get paid.
• To turn up to their Soundcheck. Apparently people imagine people like U2 or Eminem also stroll in half an hour before they are due on.

Do you really cancel people if they don’t return the contracts?
Yes we do, and we do it via email. No contract no performance. We stopped chasing after people sometime ago.

How often do you organise events?
In the past we've had an annual event, whilst others have been every few months. When organising an event and putting together a line up we might be quite vague when we initially ask if acts might be interested in performing. We might not have a date in mind, just a month it could take place in. We might not even have a venue confirmed.


Fees

Will I get paid and how much?
Currently we aim to at least guarantee Musicians Union rates.

How are fees sorted out?
In the past we have made people an offer, but more recently we have asked for quotes as some of our applications for funding require them.

If I ask for too little I could lose out couldn’t I?
Ask for what you think is fair for the gig. Only once in our history have we said “No. That’s too much.” On a number of occasions we’ve actually offered more as we thought that people were selling themselves short. We’re not in it for the money so we aim not to rip people off.

I can guarantee quite a following, so I can charge more, yes?
Whether you have a following or not is irrelevant to us. We put on a programme of music which you would be part of, that would be hopefully attractive to a diverse audience.

Can I be paid in cash?
We don’t do cash. Cheque only.


Demos

Demo tips:
1. Are you suitable?
See who we’ve put on in the past.
2. Is your demo in the right format?
(a) Obviously CD is industry standard. However, if you're on cassette or minidisc we'll take it. We also now accept mp3s.
(b) Make sure your format plays properly.
(c) We appreciate that you may not have the funds to pay for fancy studio time. So, if your demo is, for example, recorded on a mate's tape recorder in y'mam's pantry, tell us and we'll take that into consideration.
(d) Make sure your format has all your contact details written on it.
(e) Include a biography.
3. Have you an email address?
No. Then get one. Like most promoters we don't like to spend money. Except in our case it's not simply cos we're as tight as a camel's eyelids in a blizzard. Email is free (try using the library) and we have found it to be a great way to sort out the nitty gritty of bookings, info gathering etc.
Finally, if you wanna follow up your demo (tho' give us 25 workings days before you do) contact us at artists@chillinthepark.co.uk. If you do send a demo email us telling us you have.

Demos to where?
Our address is:
Live Music
Chilled Produce
PO Box 8809
Nottingham
NG5 0BD

Demos to where?
Our email address is:
artists@chillinthepark.co.uk
Subject: New Music

Weblinks to where?
Our email address is:
artists@chillinthepark.co.uk
Subject: New Music

I haven't got a demo.
Mmm. Well if you think we'd like you, drop us a line telling us a bit about yourself including when and where you've got gigs. We might try to nip down.

I have a website/website page. Can you not just listen to me there?
Yes. However, have a CD demo. Some of the people we network with prefer CDs. Plus we will often ask for one as it helps us keep track of who’s who on our mailing list (see later).


Miscellaneous

I'm interested in getting involved, but I don't think any of your venues would be suitable for me. Will you be promoting in other places?
We hope to. Send us your stuff and tell us what sort of places would suit you. We are hoping to start responding to the needs of people we'd like to promote.

I make music, but I'm not in a band. Can I get involved?
You must be one of those new fangled 'producers' innit. Well, send us a demo if any of the below applies to you.
You are looking to perform your stuff live.
You are looking for singers and musicians to work with.
You are wishing to hear your stuff played out.
Even if we can't 'accommodate' you, if we like your stuff we may still be able to support or help you anyway.

What happens if you don’t or won’t give us a gig?
We keep you on our Artiste Database (unless you ask to be removed). So you may still benefit elsewhere.

Are you looking for other art forms such as dance?
No. Won't dance, don't ask us.

Are you looking for people to run music workshops?
No. We have contacts if we need any.

Any general handy tips?
Yes. A few.
• Don't ask us what our budget is. It just makes us think you are fishing for as much money as you can get.
• If you’re on MySpace have a separate contact email displayed on it. It's more professional. It also saves people like us faffing around when they want to contact you.
• Get a mobile with a free answer phone. We’ve known people who couldn’t access our messages because they ran out of credit. Alternatively, Shock! Horror! be credited up.
• Don't waste our time. If we like you and ask you for info give it to us.

Created on 01/28/2007 04:44 PM by chillpark Updated on 01/07/2013 10:50 AM by chillpark