People in the UK are opening up their homes for cosy meals, restaurant style.

But maybe not. Copyrights even got mixed into that, if you can believe it – http://www.p2pnet.net/story/30226

Otherwise, I’m still up to my ears in stuff, but I should be clear within the next day or two. And I’m still paying attention.

Cheers!

The coffee show idea was interesting, although a club that regularly hosts bands may be better, as a lot of clubs (In the U.S. northeast anyway ) have a house PA system, so the bands wouldn’t even have to pony up for that. A decent club should not charge bands, as they will make a LOT of money selling over priced drinks from the people the band(s) draw in. Unless all the clubs are insistent on a cover charge it may even be possible to pull it off for free.

“I think that as far as larger shows are concerned, “affordable” can be a good proxy for “free.” Few music enthusiasts are going to balk at paying a small ticket charge to help cover the costs of the venue.”

Unfortunatly we now live in a new “universe” post-big bang where a lot of potential new “music enthusiasts” will think that even clicking on a link to the event is more than it is “owed”. The likelihood of getting them to leave home, get on a bus and then getting them to pay to get into a venue might seem like asking for the deeds to their house.

The only valuable “content” the first event will have is the artists who can attract their existing fan base – which is theirs and theirs alone due to the pre-existing efforts they have made to connect with said fans. Those fans are the only ones guaranteed to part up with money, for something they already value.

“However, this is also an argument for the smaller, more intimate shows previously mentioned. A venue like a coffee shop would likely enjoy having a band play because of the business it brings in. Perhaps arrangements can be worked out where the band plays and gets fans, the venue gets increased business traffic, and the audience connected with an awesome new band.”

Agreed, but with the greatest respect, an event in a coffee shop is not really the FAC challenging event that will really “stick it to the man” that this cause needs.

However, this is also an argument for the smaller, more intimate shows previously mentioned. A venue like a coffee shop would likely enjoy having a band play because of the business it brings in. Perhaps arrangements can be worked out where the band plays and gets fans, the venue gets increased business traffic, and the audience connected with an awesome new band.

“Or is Jon going to have to shoulder this event and the expense involved as a “labour of love” – in much the same way we view our band along withour supporters who also “labour” with us for the love of our music and performances?.”

No chance of me shouldering the expense. heh. But the labour part is OK.

I have a couple of things to get off my plate in the next few days before I can get down to anything. But I will. And for now, I’m paying attention.

Cheers!

“As for file-sharing costing artists income. Artists have no reason to fear their fans. But record companies have a lot to fear when artists start standing up for their fans.”

Nice to see you here mate. Yeah totally agree with you about that.

@ Monkey D Luffy

“Free is a good idea, but if you are planning a large venue it may be hard, as I’m sure almost everyone knows there are a lot of expenses involved.”

If it is in the UK the cost of a large venue would be completely prohibitive, and without outside finance/funding it would be virtually impossible. Even if you find a “free” venue – that brings with it another set of problems where live music is concerned. As you point out:

“PA – again, bigger the venue, the more monstrous the PA will have to be. Can’t think of any way of getting around the expense of this”

“security – you will want to hire a professional agency, bikers do NOT make great security people.”

PA /sound engineers / advertising / expenses are all unavoidable. If you want to go down the professional security route then this will add considerably to the costs. Also if it is an event held at a farm/space not dedicated to music there will be a whole host of local authority issues, health and safety, noise etc. Unless MM is to go down the illegal “rave” avenue, in which case this would bring another set of problems. Paramount in most bands minds at an “illegal” event would be the confiscation of their equipment were the thing to go tits up!

Whilst Crosbie has some great ideas about Freedom and artists exchanging art with fans, unfortunatley the one slight problem for an artist or event organiser is the “risk” factor involved. We have chosen to tour (300 gigs and counting) and release our own music (4 albums and counting) and that was entirely at our own “risk”. If no one had responded when we CwF’s “live” then we, and only we, would have lost out. Henry Emrich pointed out on our original P2P “Rock Tsars” post:

“If anybody thinks the inability to gouge potential fans for the “privilege” of even knowing your stuff exists constitutes “doing something for nothing”, then they should just admit to being *solely* motivated by the (stunningly unlikely) prospect of stunning opulence and fame”.

We don’t think that – we have been able to connect with fans – and we explained why. But this highlights exactly why this event has to be free – for exactly the same reason music has to be freely available . We all want to spread the mesage of artists connecting directly with fans to prevent the internet tax Crosbie so rightly sees as the outcome if we fail. If the MM is going to to “gouge fans for the ‘priviledge’ of hearing this side of the arguement” that means SOMEONE will have to underwrite the cost of the event and its “content” – just like we had to do with our band when we were starting out – and again we stress that was our choice and no one owes us doodley squat.

Could anyone be pursauded to contribute upfront to financing this event? – they might or might not do so at subsequent franchised events if the first were successful – in much the same way that after our initial “risk” we have fans willing to support us upfront with recording and equipment costs. But to start a movement you need a prime-mover and something to build on.

I think so far we have reached the stage of agreement similar to the concensus on the “big bang” theory. A new universe with freedom for all, no copyright, no one is owed money, attention, fame, you can CwF’s and they will support you. But what we need to know is what happened before the big bang? Who makes the first move and puts their hand in their pocket? We did it for our art, who is going to do it for the MM?

Or is Jon going to have to shoulder this event and the expense involved as a “labour of love” – in much the same way we view our band along withour supporters who also “labour” with us for the love of our music and performances?.

To sum up:
A quote from a great movie ‘The Harder They Come’.

“You know, this is show ‘business’, Baby. No business, no show!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Harder_They_Come

Slight Return @ Monkey D Luffy

“If the logistics of that can’t be worked out there is no reason things can’t be scaled down as necessary. If worse came to worse it could be held at a club; while not the ideal it would beat no show at all. Where ever it is held it needs to be live videocast over the web, so those unable to attend can still see it.”

Even a small event will have some financial “risk” attached to it, so most of the above still holds true, just with a few less zeros attached.

We still think a smaller event is the best idea to start with. Yes it MUST be videocast, recorded and all the content made available copyleft for everyone to distribute.

As for file-sharing costing artists income. Artists have no reason to fear their fans. But record companies have a lot to fear when artists start standing up for their fans.

* PA – again, bigger the venue, the more monstrous the PA will have to be. Can’t think of any way of getting around the expense of this

*security – you will want to hire a professional agency, bikers do NOT make great security people.

Of course that list is contingent on a LARGE venue. If the logistics of that can’t be worked out there is no reason things can’t be scaled down as necessary. If worse came to worse it could be held at a club; while not the ideal it would beat no show at all. Where ever it is held it needs to be live videocast over the web, so those unable to attend can still see it.

Beer AND entertainment.

But wait! We get that already.

Also, a couple of people have asked me wtf is CwF + RtB

For them, http://techdirt.com/articles/20090719/2246525598.shtml

Cheers!

Yeah it would be cool to all meet up. And equally hopefully the free beers will be on Crosbie!

So after the Monster Mash we will all be saying CwF + RtB

= Crosbie was Fab – Replenishing the Beers