P4/M2: Learners plan a new live UK music event

Planning

As you can see in the above screenshot, I have created a brainstorm diagram that showcases the planning behind a showcase for a Barns Courtney gig in Cambridge. I have listed out all of the important details that would be considered and what would be best for the artist in terms of the style of the gig and also in terms of the best way of gaining as much publicity as we possibly can to get his name out there more. The reason I have chosen Cambridge as the location for this gig is because he has never performed in Cambridge and he is currently touring around the US. 

I feel that while he still isn't as well known, it would be a great time to get him to do a number of smaller gigs all around the UK to get his name out there and to get him a bit more recognition in order to be able to do larger tours with larger crowds and more recognition. I also feel that it would be good to start him off with some very small and intermit gigs so that the fans can connect with him and help get the word out about his music even more.

Event planning- 

Key dates: Friday 7th July 2017. This would ideally be good as it's on a Friday when everyone is ready to go out and there is no work. And if Barns Courtney was able to make it then it would be great for him s he would've finished his tour on the 30th June which gives him a week to rest and get back to work. Also a week day is normally cheaper than a weekend as it isn't the popular times. However as a Friday is so close and is a popular time for people to go out, the price will be cheaper but with double the people.

Possible locations: I was thinking of having the event in a more secluded location like the Q Club in Cambridge as it would be more personal  with the artists and audience. However I was looking at the Cambridge Junction as it's a bigger venue which would allow more people in and a proper stage. But I think having it at the Junction would be beneficial as it would have a largish group of people that would go to see him so it would be a good size yet still intimate.

Potential bands/artists: I was hoping for Barns Courtney as he isn't to well known over here yet so it wouldn't be hard to get him, as well as him never performing in Cambridge before. There are fans in Cambridge that I  know would go to pay for his performance.

Running Order:  God Hates Astronauts would perform first for the opening act (roughly 30-40 minutes) which would be followed by a 20 minute interval to allow the set to get sorted out for Barns and to allow the audience to go and get anything that they may need. Barns would then come and do his set after the 20 minute interval; his set would last roughly 1 hour and a half / 2 hours. Due to most venues having a curfew for gigs to go on for, this gig would more than likely end at 10:30 / 11PM latest. Here is a breakdown of the proposed evening... 

Doors open - 7pm

God Hates Astronauts - 7:20 - 8PM

Barns Courtney - 8:20 - 10:30 

Venue Curfew - 11PM 

Personnel Equipment and materials: Due to Barns not being too well known we would only need a light bit of security at the venue just to ensure everything runs smoothly and to ensure that the crowd of people are staying safe throughout the entire gig. We would like the security to be provided by the venue to ensure they're fully aware of what they're needing to do. We'd also need a merchandise seller near the entrance as this could bring in more profit. 

Having a media person there would help us a huge amount as they'd be able to let a larger audience on social media know about the performance for the night and they could live tweet during it. Having a photographer there would be great as they's grab pictures for promotion for us and the artists.

Venue equipment is all produced by the venue. For example, strobes, lighting, and lasers.

Venue Crew:

Risk Assessment

Stage Designs/layout

Outside (Building)

Seating area for audience from stage view

Instrument layout on stage

From top left corner of Junction. View of seating and stage.

Ticket plan

I designed the ticket around Barns Courtney and his colour scheme that he normally sticks too within his clothing, which consists of black, grey and white. This also makes the ticket more attractive to the eye as there are some concert goers that like to keep their tickets (knowing from experience). So having it being designed differently would make it ore appealing. 

Poster

The poster sign is more simple yet effective as it tells you the time and place along with who will be there. Then the image behind of Courtney that will draw more appeal as he is more known than the special  guests. 

Online advertisement (twitter)

There is a bigger range on Twitter of his fans then the other sites. So tweeting about his gig on this site would mean a bigger audience would see it and there could be more of a chance of having people turn up for this gig from other locations then just Cambridge which would be more publicity for him and the special guests that will be performing at this gig also. 

Budget and Funding

I found it a challenge to find the pricing for hiring the Junction but found information on how to find out the pricing rates. I sent an email to Rob Tinkler who has more information on pricing and availability. I've screen shotted the email below that I sent to him. However he never got back to me so I did more researching but couldn't find anywhere that had the pricing but my estimation would be around £250 - 500 for a night as the club Lola's which is in Cambridge is £250 for a night.

I've managed to work out the budget that I would need for the event. The artists would have to sell out the gig which has happened a number of times before while on tour. A lot of the profits would be made from the merchandise that would be sold on the night of the event. There is a opening band that will be selling their own merchandise which would be double the money at the end of the night. 

If the artist does a single performance which is normally 2 1/2 hours plus a rehearsal earlier that day then they should be paid around £300 both (if there are other performers). As there is the performers crew with them, we would have to leave maybe £150/200 for them as they would have to be at the performance as well. 

legal and ethical

Ethical - 

There is always a risk of controversial subjects being covered within the artists songs which could stair a rift with the crowd. This issue would have to be covered by having a warning of some sort before the performance started so the audience is aware of this issue. 

There could be a problem with age and inappropriate behaviour as Barns Courtney tends to strip at his gigs (down to his underwear) then continues to play his guitar. I have put an age restriction on the gig and if there were any other problems we would put a warning out on the site and before the gig. 

Legal - 

There is a risk assessment put in place that contains cautions for the crew, artists, and audience. However there are other risks which include travel risk from and to the location, ID must be present for alcohol, no fights or drunk behaviour,  and trying to mob the artist.

When entering and leaving the location the audience will have to respect the surrounding area and the people that live there as it will be a late time when they leave.

The photography would be allowed but we would have a professional also. I personally now a photographer that does a mix of photographs which range from the most popular, portraits, hair, fashion, clubs, concerts. Alex McDonald is my older brother. The images of his site and work are below. This would benefit both myself and the artist as he's local and i'd get a discount, then the artists would get professional good photos. 

Website

His work

His work