[Dixielandjazz] OKOM Bands - How Stupid Can We Be?

[Zenith Sydney]

Hi All,

I basically agree with Judy but suggest a polite compromise solution here,
:) which we adopt at most jazz festivals.  As well as about six local
festivals in OZ we also played at jazz festivals in UK, Belgium, Holland and
Germany this year and have been doing this for about 15 years (We have 11
CDs out - please visit our website).  Our experience dictates that most
(larger) European festivals have a "sales" clause in their contracts.
Therefore, we always provide a few CDs to be sold by the organisers BUT also
sell direct from the stand as well.

I remember on this list suggesting Steve B get a CD out, he did so and we
both swapped CDs as well.  I suppose Steve is basically quoting USA
experience, but we certainly sold out at Portland Oregon a couple of years
ago and this included sales from the stand plus sales also by Jan Scobie.
IMHO the more selling points one has, the better.  We both know that most
sales are from impulse buying, but don't tell festival organisers that.
Like Judy, we are happy to pay a cut but refuse to jeopardise our own sales
from the stand, especially when the festival organisers sales points are
some distance from the stage or some shopping mall record shop remote from
the action.  However, I know there are a few festival organisers on this
list and I would like to have their comments, experience and reasoning on
this important matter of CDs sales.  When touring this money is essential
pocket money for our group since we have to travel the longest distance to
most events.

Cheers,
Tom (one per minute average CD sales during most concerts/festivals) Wood
www.sydneyzenith.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Judy Eames" <jude at judyeames.co.uk>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 3:11 AM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] OKOM Bands - How Stupid Can We Be?


> Personally I was very happy to pay a cut at Sacramento last yaer..... we
> sold quite a few CDs and if we all benefited that was fine by me.  I fact
I
> was under the impression that all or most of the money went to pay taxes.
>
>  I've never been asked for a cut at UK venues although I believe there
used
> to be a promoter who did it.  As for promoters being greedy I just had an
> email from the director of Teignmouth Festival UK, saying that it had been
a
> success as they'd JUST covered costs.  Seems to be there aren't too many
big
> profits made these days
>
> Cheers Jude  (always available for festivals and happy to pay a
> percentage:-) )
>
> Judy Eames
> Kaminsky Connection
> Aston, Oxfordshire
> UK
> www.judyeames.co.uk
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
> To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 2:42 PM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] OKOM Bands - How Stupid Can We Be?
>
>
> > There are several US OKOM Festivals that charged Bands a couple of bucks
> per
> > CD sold last year. Even, if the band sold them directly from the band
> stand.
> >
> > HOW STUPID CAN WE BE to put up with that BS from the greedy bastards who
> > started this nefarious practice. HOW STUPID CAN WE BE?
> >
> > We need to stop this stuff now. I suggest that bands get together and
> REFUSE
> > TO APPEAR AT OKOM FESTIVALS (or any other venue) THAT CHARGE YOU TO SELL
> > YOUR CDs.
> >
> > It's bad enough that they don't pay well and tell you that you'll sell
CDs
> > to make up the difference. Now they want a cut of that? Have they no
> shame?
> >
> > Time to GET YOUR BALLS BACK, folks.
> >
> > Where the festival has a central place, which they staff, to sell CDs,
> yes,
> > OK, let them have a buck per CD. BUT . . . WE ARE DAMN FOOLS TO PLAY AT
> ANY
> > VENUE WHICH TAKES OUR MONEY TO "ALLOW" US TO SELL CDs. OR REFUSES TO
ALLOW
> > US TO SELL CDs FROM THE BAND STAND.
> >
> > Don't let the idiots ruin what is left of the music business. None of
the
> > "Professional" Jazz Festivals where Barbone Street appears charges us to
> > sell CDs. And we played seven (7) last year. Most of them even supplied
a
> > table and a spot for us from which to sell, while some staffed a central
> > location from which to sell CDs and did not charge the bands at all.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Steve Barbone
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
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