Re: Announcing electro-music 2008

["Boise Experimental Music Festival" <khartung@cableone.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 



>> You pay to play, that's just how it is.  Basically everyone there is a 
>> performer.  The concept of "audience" is unique in that way.  I played 
>> the 2005 event and it was well-worth the ticket price.  I had a great 
>> time.
>
> Yea, unless a festival can secure enough corporate sponsors, you are 
> forced to run it this way.

Why? I am only in my third year. Even for my second year, when I did not 
get 
a grant, I did not have to ask performers to pay a fee to play. And I had 
no 
sponsorship dollars. All my event costs were covered with door ticket 
sales 
(no more than 100 people) and volunteers (sound, door, flyer distribution, 
etc). It was a shoestring budget, but if one keeps operating costs down is 
is not extravagant, there is no reason why door sales can't cover all 
event 
costs and prevent performers from paying to play. Now, if someone is 
forced 
to pay $1800 a day for a venue, that is a different story. There are 
venues 
here in Boise that charge that much, but with some searching I found an 
outstanding venue that charged only $150 a day - an El Korah Shine Center 
- 
HUGE ball room with 20" by 15" stage, lights, holds 300 people, chairs, 
tables, etc.

I'm just appalled of the idea that a festival would charge performers to 
play. What do they get in return?

Kris