Music Information

How to Organise a Gig or a Live Music Event - the Budget


Three times in the last month I've been asked the question, "what do I need to do to organise a gig?" In reality, when this question is asked it can mean several things: How do I find a venue? How do I sort out the PA? How do I get an audience? And so on.

But there is a stage before all of this: the budget. I would suggest that the moment you start thinking about organising an event you should write a budget. This budget spreadsheet informs you of most things that you will need to consider and will also show you the risk, projected profit and the breakeven point. A sample spreadshhet is available to download from this address http://www.josaka.com/features/2005/Organise-A-Gig/Event-PandL.pdf

If the budget numbers don't look like they are working perhaps the event is not the right thing to be running. If you don't like the level of risk, perhaps you aren't cut out to be a promoter.

So the start point is a spreadsheet. This should include all costs and all incomes. The key headings for costs should include: performer cost, PA, lighting, venue hire, marketing, box office costs etc. The income is likely to be largely ticket sales but don't forget the opportunity to add a sponsor to the event.

The spreadsheet will help you work out the breakeven point for the event i.e. how many tickets you need to sell to cover all costs. Every sale beyond breakeven is of course profit (exluding any box office commision). The added bonus of creating an event spreadsheet is that helps define all the key tasks to be performed.

The realisation of the forecasted numbers becoming actual figures suggests that all parties have got the deal they were looking for or agreed to. The sample speadsheet also illustrates that everyone else involved in the gig is largely earning a fixed fee and therefore the only person taking a financial risk is the promoter.

So if you are thinking of organising a live event I coomed you to work on the numbers first. This will help ensure you deliver a great show and have control over the money.

Kevin Harrington is the founder of josaka http://www.josaka.com the site that supports live music in Berkshire, UK. He is also director of marketing for Arkade http://www.arkade.com the mp3 distribution business.


MORE RESOURCES:

Los Angeles Times

Spreading the gospel music
Los Angeles Times, CA - 3 hours ago
"Written music is constrained to the notes on the page. We want to make the song our own." Tonight, before an audience of thousands and a panel of gospel ...
San Jose gospel choir wins regional competition San Jose Mercury News
all 11 news articles


Music: Sandy City Orchestra makes music accessible
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 6 hours ago
By Celia R. Baker You don't have to know a lot about classical music to appreciate the elegant sparkle of Mozart's music, the emotional tug of Tchaikovsky's ...
Orchestra starting season Deseret News
all 3 news articles


Carey arrives to face music in Miami
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 10 hours ago
By Peta Hellard FALLEN AFL star Wayne Carey has arrived in the US ahead of a court hearing for allegedly assaulting two police officers in a drunken brawl ...


Music: Rock Band Live: You've played the game, now see the real bands
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 6 hours ago
These "instruments" are used to simulate the playing of rock music by hitting scrolling notes on-screen. The game has sold nearly 4 million copies since its ...


Contactmusic.com

MARK WAHLBERG - WAHLBERG: 'NO CHANCE' FOR MUSIC COMEBACK
Contactmusic.com, UK - 2 hours ago
He says: "I just felt like I wanted to do music early on and then when I started acting I had to wait until I could do another record anyway. ...


CNET.com.au

Music fans 'risk losing hearing'
BBC News, UK - 33 minutes ago
One in 10 people with personal MP3 or CD players could suffer permanent hearing loss because their music is too loud, according to an EU study. ...
Did you hear? MP3 players threaten hearing loss International Herald Tribune
Report: MP3 players threaten users' hearing CNET News
all 5 news articles


BBC News

Music fans back legal downloads
BBC News, UK - 1 hour ago
Music pirates can be deterred by warnings from their internet service provider (ISP), suggests a survey. Almost 75% of music pirates would stop if told to ...
Survey sees hope for music against pirates guardian.co.uk
all 2 news articles


Music video highlights: NLCS Game 2
MLB.com - Oct 11, 2008
MLB.com/Entertainment is all over Rocktober, with daily videos featuring the best baseball highlights of October set to music by stars including Santana, ...


News 8 Austin

Gruene Music & Wine Festival packs the town
News 8 Austin, TX - 2 hours ago
This year we had over 30 wineries participate." You can still catch the Gruene Music and Wine Festival until 10:30 pm Sunday.


Music cruises unite performers and fans
Seattle Times, United States - 17 hours ago
I'm living a music lover's fantasy. This cruise — dubbed "Cayamo: A Journey Through Song" by its promoters — lured nearly 2000 passengers to spend seven ...

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006