[Harp-L] About pay to play .....

["Bill Kumpe" <bkumpe@xxxxxxx>]

I can see a couple of instances where pay to play could be fair but only a
couple.  First, if an artist or group is invited to become an equity or
income participant in a venture, then an investment would be appropriate.
Say for example that a group of musicians or bands get together to host a
theatre style venue with a regular show.  Everybody invests in the expenses
and everybody shares in the profits or even become equity partners.  There
are a bunch of savvy musicians in Branson that are making money hand over
fist with that type of arrangement and the business model is being repeated
in resort towns etc. in a lot of other places.

 

The second is where a local club (group of musicians with common interests
as opposed to a place that serves drinks etc.)  decides to provide what
amounts to a practice venue for aspiring musicians to get some on stage
experience and for pros to work on their acts.  Everybody chipping in to pay
a few "anchor" musicians in such an arrangement would be perfectly fair.
The fact that the public is invited to provide an audience to play to is
secondary to the educational experience. 

 

Bill Kumpe

Tulsa, OK