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Jun

2006

Gospel Music On The Road To Recovery

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Contrary to what many are saying, SGM is not on its death bed. Do we still face issues? Of course we do. But we face issues in our everyday life as well. Our physical bodies, for example, become weak and sluggish. What do we do? We go to a physician to first find the cause in order to find the cure. The same thing occurs with our concerts. They became weak and sluggish. So what did we do? We got a group of gospel physicians together, better known as promoters. This was done at the regular SGPA meeting held recently in Nashville, Tennessee.

The first thing we did was to diagnose the problems. In so doing, we found that most of the problems facing promoters are of our own making. Example, no one forces us to pay exorbitant artist fees. If you feel an artist's fee is too high, just do not sign the contract. Make a counter offer.

We have as much right to set a fee as an artist or agency. As I have stated many times before - there can be a vast difference between the want and the worth of an artist.

If an agency will not take a counter offer to an artist, then you go to the artist's manager. I do not encourage promoters to go behind the back of an agency, and I do not do that unless they do not present my offer to the artist. I just want to make sure my offer is known to all parties.

In the past few months, I have had many major artists tell me to come to them before turning down a date. I have not had to do that because I could not ask for better cooperation than I am receiving from the agencies. And I am well aware that they, too, have to make a living.

Another thing is that no one forces us to have three or four major artists on a single program and send our budgets through the roof. Then we wonder why the concert lost money.

Every time a concert loses money there is a reason, and most of the time the reason can be traced back to the promoter. Did we check ahead of time to see if there were other events scheduled for the same night of the concert? Did we check with our local radio stations to see if the artists that we plan to bring in are popular with their audiences, and if they were highly requested? If people are not requesting the group that you are bringing in, then more than likely they will not purchase a ticket to hear them.

Did you negotiate a good fee for the artist, or did you just pay the asking fee and hope you would take in enough to pay out? Did you use every means of advertising available including gospel publications, local newspapers and radio, TV, Internet, mailing lists, and churches?

Did you ask the artists on the program to e-mail their fan base to make them aware of your event? I have found that artists are happy to do this. After all, the more people in attendance, the more product an artist will sell. And these sales are crucial to all artists.

Now if you have followed all these steps, you should have had a successful event. It is your responsibility to cover all the steps, not the artist, not the agency, but you. So, if you have completed all the proper steps and still lost money, then one of two things must be wrong. Either you let your budget get out of hand with too many artists, or you are simply promoting an area that just does not support our music. And there are areas like that. But concerts should be successful. God does not intend for promoters to lose money or for an artist to struggle.

When my concert starts losing money, I trace the problems back to me, and correct them. I find that I have been successful since I made this change. There is a system for everything. If your system is not working - change systems. Gospel music is alive and well. It is the individuals that need treatment.

I urge you to visit our website daily at http://www.SGPromoters.com and remember, UNITED WE STAND!

God bless,
Jim Hefner
http://www.sgpromoters.com

Reader Comments

This is a good article. On Friday June 2nd the Arab, AL Police Department hosted their annual concert with The Inspirations and Jordan River. The paid attendance was approximately 700 people which made the event the highest attended concert in their nine year history. The promoter used several avenues for publicity instead of depending solely on sponsors for the event.

Congratulations on a job well done!

Commented by On 06/03/2006

I was at that concert. The Inspirations new material they performed was good. They have a new song call "I'll not forget" or something along that line that was really nice. The surprise of the evening was Jordan River. I'm not a huge bluegrass fan but they turned me on to it.

Commented by knight On 06/09/2006

ONE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH CONCERTS IS THAT THE GROUPS USE SOUNDTRACKS INSTEAD OF HAVING A BAND.WHEN THIS TREND STARTED I QUIT ATTENDING CONCERTS UNLESS THE GROUP HAD A LIVE BAND.TO ME THIS IS A DOWNFALL OF SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC.WHERE WOULD THE HINSONS HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A BAND? DEAD.SOME GROUPS HOLLER MINISTRY WHEN DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE.IF IT IS TRULY A MINISTRY PERFORM ONLY IN CHURCHES. IF YOU ARE CHARGING TICKET PRICES THEN IT IS A CONCERT AND YOU SHOULD HAVE A BAND.

Commented by On 06/14/2006

In this day and age, to have live music, and be able to pay the musicians, one must be able to sell out quite large venues, at considerable ticket prices. If you look at many of the Popular SG groups, they DO use live music on special occasions, that are at large, sold out venues, and often these situations feature multiple headliners, who share at least part of the musicians. I too far prefer live instrumentation, but unlike many secular groups, most SG groups feature vocalists plus seperate instruments when using them. In most secular groups (not soloists, but groups),many of, and often all of the vocalists, make up the majority of the band. This greatly increases the "cut" per artist, and allows them to keep tickets reasonable, at average sized venues. Bottom line-there has to be a middle ground, and artists work hard to prepare themselves, so they deserve compensation for what they are doing. I also don't agree with the idea that if you get paid, it is not a ministry. Bill Gaither certainly provides a ministry through the homecoming series, and through the artists he promotes, but they do get paid. Reverend James Blackwood and Reverend Hovie Lister certainly got paid for the ministry that their groups provided, and no one will deny that they are what carried the industry for many years, and they helped to establish a permanent ministry for SG musicians to expand upon.

Commented by On 06/15/2006

"Another thing is that no one forces us to have three or four major artists on a single program and send our budgets through the roof."

It's great to see that some promoters get it. Some may enjoy seeing several artists perform for just a few minutes each, but I believe most fans would prefer to see only one or two artists on a program. That way, each artist is given plenty of time to present what they have to offer.

Now, if we can just get promoters to stop making us sit through several unadvertised local artists before they let the main artists get on the stage, we'll see even more improvement.

--Making hay while the sun shines--
sgnforum@musicscribe.com - BLOG - SGHistory.com

Commented by David Bruce Murray On 06/19/2006

I agree with David's last comment provisionally. I don't like to sit through a number of locals either, but I do see the merit in having 1 group open for the main act. Obviously this is a means for an up-and-commer to get exposure, and potentially create a situation where they will be the advertised act in the future. But like many things, this idea can definitely be taken too far.

Commented by On 06/21/2006

It's a real shame and disgrace to see a Church charge admission to hear singing. This is definitely a letdown to sinners but much more importantly to The Good Lord. I would not want this worldly sin on me on Judgement Day . Have we forgotten what it is all about?

Commented by On 06/24/2006

Randy and Rosey,
No one is talking about charging admission to hear music at church. What is being referenced here is concerts. Most concerts of this nature are held at community venues such as arenas-ie- the Ryman Auditorium, Will Rogers Memorial Colosseum, etc. There are a few huge churches that own auditoriums that are seperate from the sanctuary, and these were built by the churches to host large events, not for worship. Secondly, the musicians whom you are calling worldly, minister to millions. So you are saying that unlike you, these talented artists, who are using their talents to minister to people, are not allowed to make a living? That's a double standard. And don't throw the "they could have a full time job and sing ticket in, as this simply demonstrates your further lack of knowledge about Southern Gospel Music, as many artists travel and perform hundreds of days per year, sometimes performing more than once a day, in different cities, not to mention the countless hours of rehersal, set-up, etc. If people have been given a talent by God, and they are called to use it full time, they must reap some fruits from their labors, or they cannot even support a family. And by the way, all of these artists are Christians, and it is up to God to judge the merit of their efforts, NOT YOU!

Oh what a Savior He is

In Christ,
Andy

Commented by On 06/24/2006

I thought that the question was Is Southern Gospel Music on the road to recovery? Please forgive me if I was wrong. Well I pointed out a problem about the recovery. I'm not talking about the concerts being held at schools,civic centers,etc. I'm talking about Church's period charging to hear the gospel whether the gospel is by preaching or singing. I did not call any musician worldly. I said that a Church that charges to get in the door are committing a worldly sin. The majority of church's that charge admission have thousands in the bank and investments. Why can't we invest in eternal things instead of things of this world? If these Church's wants to bring these singers in then they should sponsor them. A free-will offering would be fine but the remainder of the expense should be covered by the Church. Again I did not say anything about the singer or musician,you said that. I am talking of th money changing Church's. Again, have we forgotten what it's all about?

Commented by On 06/24/2006

Randy and Rosey,
Thank you for your respone. Put in a more specific context, I now am understanding the direction of your original comment. If I came off a bit strong in my response to you let me also apologize. I do agree that the gospel should not be charged for. As I recall it was paid for a little over 2000 years ago. I agree to a point, especially dealing with large, well funded churches. I do feel that it is alright for churches that are smaller, and do not have considerable resources to charge for events that may include outside acts, to help raise funds for the church, but in such an event, ie, a dinner with a special guest group, I think is is appropriate to charge nominally, to pay for the food and contribute to the church's target fund, ie building, outreach, music, etc, and rather that pay the musicians from admission, utilize a love offering system for the musicians. I would also only tend to support such an event in a situation where a board, or other local church body, made up of congragation members has duly voted on such an event. I can relate to such, as I am a member of a small church, and we have through the years used music and dinner events for such things as raising money for a new AC, completing a small building to use for a fellowship hall, as we don't have one. In that type of situation, church members are being self supporting, by hosting such events, which they can invite friends, extended family, and other to, to help the church.
Again I do agree that the large well funded churches, should fund the musicians themselves, and offer the events as a way to reach out to people who are in need of the gospel.

Oh what a Savior He is

In Christ,
Andy

Commented by On 06/26/2006

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