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 HOWDY
FRIENDS,
I love autumn. Summer is my totally nutzoid time, but
then the fall comes and things slow down, I can get my breath,
take in some of that crisp northwest breeze, wonder at the
colors, and reflect on the year gone by.
And what a year it's been. We had our usual healthy growth,
a semi-anticipated production boom, and some rather large
pieces of biz that may or may not repeat in the future.
It looks like this year the millennial foolishness has subsided.
I think all the greed hurt more than it helped, but it helped
all of us a bit. Any lessons learned? I hope so.
Nobody ever complains that we're getting him or her too much
work, but we get satisfactory marks for the way we handle
the business we do together. What always interests me is how
we can do better together. I realize that Entertainment Resources,
Inc. accounts for a small portion of your total workload.
What keeps me engaged is the prospect of doing better: finding
you buyers who wouldn't have otherwise found or considered
you, making sure buyers understand how to present you, making
sure you understand what the buyer needs from you. If you
haven't reviewed it lately, I'd like to suggest you go to
the ER web site and review "The Fine Print." I welcome
the opportunity to chat with you occasionally on how we can
do better work together. - Chuck Kruger
ER
Staff Stuff…
With both kids driving, Dot O'Donnell has to hitchhike
to work from Camden to Thomaston. If you're in the midcoast
and see a sharp-looking executive type with her thumb out
on Rt. 1, consider giving her a lift! … Stacie Mariano
is adjusting well to the rural life, married to her husband
Joe, who Stacie claims is a true domestic goddess and a pretty
good gardener. We assume that when she's talking about his
"can" that she's referring to all the veggies they're
preserving… Caleb Winslow is off to University
of Maine, but promises to continue to help out when he can
on the web site and for production events… We welcome
Mark Strong to our staff! Mark is a graduate of George's
Valley High School and is a gifted DJ and recording producer…
Phil Clement went to guitar camp in Connecticut with
son Sam this summer … Mak Wolven travels to Holland
this Fall on matters of the heart … Mike Burd
worked some events with us this year. His services for us
transcend multi-tasking … Chuck Kruger is serving
as Chairman of the Contemporary Artist Development Committee
of the Maine Arts Commission. He has snuck out of music retirement
for three events this year. One was a surprise 50th birthday
for a good friend (this gig also featured Dave Mallett, Rob
Coffin, Mike Burd, Phil Clement, and Sam Smith) in February;
another was a command performance at The Blaine House in May,
hosted by Maine's First Lady Mary Herman.… And last and
also least is young Marley, a kitten who has joined
Nina the Golden Retreiver as a greeter in the office.
Advice
For Artists: How to be a respected Pro
| • |
Think of each buyer as your best customer. |
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Think of each gig as an opportunity to advance your
career. |
| • |
Arrive ½ hour early. Some clients say that if
you get there when you're supposed to, you're late. |
| • |
Be completely ready to start 15-30 minutes before the
agreed time. |
| • |
Be willing to gladly perform an extra 20 minutes more
than you contracted for. |
| • |
Eat before you arrive. Never assume you are to be fed
by the buyer. Chances are they are paying serious coin
for each meal served. You had to eat anyway. |
| • |
Don't drink alcoholic beverages while on the job. Ever. |
| • |
Think of your gig as a partnership with the buyer. The
more each party brings to the show, the better it is. |
| • |
Talk to the buyer a few weeks before the gig to review
arrival time, set-up time, start time, and other logistical
details. |
| • |
Offer to provide recorded music during your breaks,
well matched to the occasion. |
Advice
For Artists: How to be a total jerk (who's hard to book)
| • |
Believe that all you really have to do comes down to
just 2 things:
A) Get the next gig, and
B) Show up. Everything else is up to the
buyer.
|
| • |
It's okay to get there just before you're supposed to
go on. |
| • |
If you have a great crowd, congratulate yourself. |
| • |
If you have a lousy crowd, blame the buyer. |
| • |
Be at the beginning of the line at the buffet, and make
sure to get your seconds before some guests get their
firsts. Don't ever let your set times interfere with your
meal. |
| • |
Play shorter sets than expected. |
| • |
Take long breaks. |
| • |
Drink a lot. Hey, it's free. |
| • |
Make sure several different people get a chance to attend
to your every need. They have nothing better to do. |
| • |
Ignore the moods of the guests. Play whatever you feel
like playing. |
| • |
If you screw up, just remember that you're an artist
who goes by your own set of rules, which are subject to
change. |
| • |
If someone else screws up, get mad. |
Fun quotes (courtesy of punmaster.com)
| "I would rather play Chiquita Banana and have my
swimming pool than play Bach and starve." -- Xavier
Cugat |
| "[Musicians] talk of nothing but money and jobs.
Give me businessmen every time. They really are interested
in music and art." -- Jean Sibelius, explaining
why he rarely invited musicians to his home. |
| "The amount of money one needs is terrifying..."
-- Ludwig van Beethoven |
| "Only become a musician if there is absolutely
no other way you can make a living." -- Kirke
Mecham |
| "Chaos is a friend of mine." -- Bob Dylan
|
| "There is nothing more difficult than talking about
music." -- Camille Saint-Saens |
| "I am not handsome, but when women hear me play,
they come crawling to my feet." -- Niccolo
Paganini |
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