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VENUES FAQ's
Why wouldn’t I just book the artist directly?
Well, you can. My artists aren’t contracted to only book through me. What I bring to the table for you is ease, and a break from the admin… you give me your dates, requirements and budgets, I sort the rest. I send you artist info, digital posters, set up a facebook event etc, you just make sure everyone gets a drink and gets paid.
Does my venue have to book exclusively through you?
No. We want a healthy relationship, not a controlling one. We hope that you will want to book through us, whether that’s a one-off or a whole block of dates at a time is up to you.
What if the artist cancels?
We will have someone else who can step in. Booking through us means we will do the leg work if something like this were to occur.
Will you add the information to my venue’s social media and website?
Every venue has a slightly different set up and different needs therefore this would depend on our relationship and whether you have granted access for this. It is something that we can discuss if you are looking for events to be added occasionally or if you want a social media manager.
Do I have to pay everything up front for a block booking?
No. Depending on how long / large a block booking, you would be invoiced a deposit. If the bookings are all for the same day then you would be invoiced for the remainder on the event day. If the bookings are on separate days or weeks then you will then be invoice in increments as the performances come around. We generally ask that invoices are paid within 7 days unless otherwise stated.
Do you still have a question?
We would be happy to answer your questions via email or arrange a telephone or face to face chat. Contact us at: hello@salisburymusic.co.uk
ARTISTS FAQ's
Do I have to sign up to a contract with the agency?
Not to begin with.
Initially we start all new artists on a 3 month trial where anyone can choose to terminate the service at any time, this allows everyone to find their feet, build a relationship and profile and to ensure that the service is the right fit for the artist.
Following the trial, we meet to discuss moving forward. A 6 to 12 month contract, with terms based on the knowledge gained during the 3 months trial will then be offered.
Would I still pay you if I book gigs myself?
No. You will not be expected to pay for anything that I didn’t do.
There will be some crossover, for example a client may book you directly but may have found you on the agency website, we therefore ask that you ask all new clients where they found you and that there is an honest relationship with regards to this information.
It may be that you would like us to do the design and/or promotion for the gig that you have directly booked, in this case terms of payment would be discussed before going ahead.
Do you ask me if I am available before you book gigs?
Yes. I will use WhatsApp, email and phone to try to get hold of you as quickly as possible to check if you wish to accept the gig.
I'm different to your other acts, how will this be approached?
I’m always excited when something a little different comes along.
I have no desire for the musicians that I represent to be in direct competition with each other, every one is unique and is marketed as such.
Having variety is what makes life special, the more flavours of art that I can supply to my clients, the better!
If I cancel the trial with SMA, do I lose my existing gigs?
You won’t lose your existing gigs.
If we have booked these gigs for you, the promo will still go ahead and the payment terms for the service will remain.
Your website profile will be shut down. Other than those existing gigs, we will not promote your act any further from the termination date.
How will you help my online presence?
We set up a band or artist profile on our website, this is a dedicated page where we can display relevant information, images and embed videos.
All of our artists are included in regular digital mailers to venues.
All non-private gigs are promoted across Social Media.
We offer tips and guidance on how you can share your digital flyer, event and profile across Social Media. I
f you do not already have a Facebook and Instagram account then these will be set up, if you do already have these then we will request access to assess, and contribute.
Can I choose between a direct and an SMA gig at same time?
Yes, you absolutely have the right to choose.
We do ask that you do this promptly when our offer comes in so that our clients are not left waiting and we can offer them a suitable alternative.
If you need to cancel a gig in order to take another one, this will be accepted in most cases but may affect how we work together in the future.
What happens if I need to cancel a gig?
You have the right to cancel a gig.
As with anything, we expect that if you need to cancel it is within a period that allows for us to find a replacement.
If a gig is cancelled you will not receive any payment for that gig, including deposits.
If you have cancelled one of your directly booked gigs that we have done the promotion or design for, the payment for these services will still be applicable.
If you were regularly cancelling gigs, this could affect how we work together in the future.
How do the payments work?
Various ways.
Many smaller venues prefer to pay you in cash on the night, whereas chains or larger venues prefer to receive an invoice. I
f you are paid directly then we would invoice you for our payment.
If you are paid through the agency then we will transfer you your share of the fee.
For larger and higher priced events, we would use a deposit scheme, we would take our fee from the deposit and the rest would be paid directly to you on completion.
How do you secure larger payments, eg Weddings?
For these types of events we would provide a contract to the client and hold a deposit which would not be released until the event had taken place.
What sort of gigs and events will be available to me?
An example of the gigs we will be promoting: private parties, corporate parties, pub gigs, weddings, festivals, community events, charity events etc
Do I need to be able to achieve a full 2 hour set?
No. If you have a limited amount of songs, or are just starting out then you would not be expected to take on something that you are not ready for. We will ask you before your trial, what sort of gigs and set lengths you wish to be put forward for, these will appear on your profile and can be amended at any time.
Do I have to take free events?
You don’t have to, but we do encourage all of our artists to take a couple of the free charity events each year, you can pick and choose these and we will make suggestions. The benefit to these is charity (obviously), helping your community and gaining the opportunity to be play to a different audience and get your name out there.
Should I be playing at Open Mics?
Yes.
We encourage all of our artists to try a few Open Mics around the area, they are all quite different so it’s case of finding your feet.
Open Mics can be a great way to try out new songs before adding them to your set, to meet people and to gain increase your audience and contacts.
It’s worth noting that it usually takes around 3 visits to an Open Mic before your start to see these contacts increase.
Do you take DJ’s and Karaoke Hosts?
Absolutely, yes!
Again, we love variety and this is what makes a party! Your promo will be tailored to the correct kind of venue and promoted much more for private hire.
Do you help with tax and self assessment?
No.
You are not employed by the agency and are fully responsible for your own earnings declaration, tax and self assessment.
We recommend looking at the HMRC website for rules on earnings, tax and thresholds, and consulting with an Accountant or Tax Adviser.
Do you still have questions?
We would be happy to answer your questions via email or arrange a telephone or face to face chat. Contact us at: hello@salisburymusic.co.uk
EVENTS FAQ's
Can you help me with my event?
We can help in many ways. We can promote an event that you have set up, we can provide live music at your event, we can help plan and manage your event. The only thing that we don’t do, is fund events.
Why wouldn’t I just book the artist directly?
Well, you can. My artists aren’t contracted to only book through me. What I bring to the table for you is ease, and a break from the admin… you give me your dates, requirements and budgets, I sort the rest. I send you artist info, digital posters, set up a facebook event etc, you just make sure everyone gets a drink and gets paid.
What if an Artist cancels?
We will have someone else who can step in. Booking through us means we will do the leg work if something like this were to occur.
Do you still have questions?
We would be happy to answer your questions via email or arrange a telephone or face to face chat. Contact us at: hello@salisburymusic.co.uk
WEDDINGS AND PRIVATE FUNCTIONS FAQ's
When and how do I pay for my booking?
For Private Functions and Weddings, we usually ask for a deposit at the time of booking. The remaining amount will be payable 7 days in advance of the booking. You can pay your invoice in cash or by Bank Transfer.
What if my band or artist cancels?
We will have someone else who can step in. Booking through us means we will do the leg work if something like this were to occur.
Do you still have questions?
We would be happy to answer your questions via email or arrange a telephone or face to face chat. Contact us at: hello@salisburymusic.co.uk