I’ve been waiting for a long damned time…waiting for someone in government to take the lead in helping develop the local music biz. Hopefully, that time has come.

Scott Aiges, Mayor Ray Nagin’s appointee to head the city’s Office of Music Business Development says, “Our strategy is to put more money directly in musicians’ pockets. If musicians have more money, they’ll put aside enough to promote their careers. They’ll use that money to rent time in an independent recording studio, to hire a photographer and a graphic designer and a CD duplicator and a web site hoster and maybe even an entertainment attorney or an agent or a manager. If the musicians have more money, that money will filter through to the rest of the businesses that comprise the music industry and the whole industry will grow.”

To put that theory into practice, Aiges’ Office can point to a few specific initiatives. One is the series of professional development workshops that are co-sponsored by OffBeat. The workshops are held the first Monday of every month at the New Orleans Public Library (219 Loyola Ave.) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The first workshop, on press kit development hosted about 50 attendees. On November 4, the topic will be “How to Get Convention Work and Other High-Paying Private Gigs.” On hand will be representatives of the city’s top destination management companies—the people who book the talent for corporate parties.

After hearing of the Music Office’s programs, Dan Smith, General Manager of House of Blues, offered to co-host a 13-week series of shows at The Parish along with the city Music Office. The series, called Mo’ Tunes, has a goal to give musicians the opportunity to earn money. The operative word here is “earn.” Participating artists will be selected as much for their professionalism as for their talent.

“Only those performers who are willing and able to do their share of the legwork to promote these shows will have a good pay-day,” says Ernest Collins, the executive director of the city’s Office of Arts & Entertainment. The difference in this is that the Mayor’s office is going to provide a lot of the marketing muscle that will hopefully drive people to the Mo’ Tunes shows.

“Some may have reservations about the Mayor’s office being actively engaged in creating economic development opportunities for bands,” said Collins. “We believe that is exactly what we should be doing, and not only as it relates to club dates but festivals, conventions, special events and other well-paying gigs as well. As long as those opportunities are disseminated to the widest number of people in a fair and equitable way there shouldn’t be a problem. And we are ready and willing to work with any club or music-related business that shares our goals of putting more dollars in musicians’ pockets.”

The initial run of Mo’ Tunes will have room for 26 bands. If it’s successful, Collins said the series will be expanded to other clubs around town. Mo’ Tunes starts its 13-week run at The Parish at House of Blues on Tuesday, December 3. For more info on how to participate in Mo’ Tunes, contact Aiges via e-mail at [email protected], or call (504) 565-8100.

 

BANKERS CHECK OUT THE MUSIC BIZ

I recently spoke at a conference geared towards educating the local banking community on the workings of the music industry. The workshop featured speakers Brian Williams of SunTrust Bank, Todd Brabec of ASCAP’s Los Angeles office, Steven Gladstone, entertainment attorney from Nashville (and a venture capital specialist), Dr. Scott Fredrickson of Loyola’s Music Business Program, Suzette Becker, local entertainment attorney and Kyle Waters of Hibernia National Bank.

There were about 30 bankers at this workshop, which gives me hope for getting the financiers savvy and ready to work with local musicians and music businesses. Stay tuned to OffBeat as we report new developments.

 

LOUISIANA CRYIN’ THE BLUES—NOT YET

The State of Louisiana’s Department of Economic Development’s Lonny Kaufman has put in a bid to move the financially floundering Blues Foundation, now located in Memphis, to Louisiana. The Blues Foundation’s main event is the world-popular W.C. Handy Awards, which has been traditionally held annually in May and which honors blues music and musicians.

The initial presentation concentrated on Baton Rouge, because of the concentration of blues artists in that area of the state. The state’s offer included free office space, donated by local Swamp Mama’s club owner Chris Alexander. Memphis has apparently countered with an offer to pump in some $50,000 to keep the Foundation in Memphis. The City of New Orleans also sent a letter of interest seeking a location for the Blues Foundation. Maggie Mortensen, Director of the Blues Music Association (BMA), the “sister” trade organization to the Blues Foundation, says “I would hate to see the Blues Foundation leave Memphis because of its historical connection [BMA is also currently based in Memphis]. We’re currently studying the possibility for the two organizations to ‘marry’ but we’re just starting to look at it.” The new combined organization may or may not have a new name. A delegation from both organizations is set to come to Louisiana to look into the possibility of the relocation. Both the Foundation and BMA are charged with coming back to their boards by November 5.

 

INDIE ORGANIZATION SEEKS ARTIST-OWNED LABELS

The American Federation of Independent Music (AFIM), the “indie” trade organization has created a new, more affordable membership level for artist-owned labels. I have personal experience with AFIM and certainly believe that the information and benefits they impart to their membership are very valuable to the independent label and musician. It’s now pretty affordable to acquire AFIM membership. The annual minimum fee for an artist-owned label is only $100 annually. For more information, please visit the web site at: www.afim.org.

 

SIREN WAILS AGAIN

Siren to Wail, a nonprofit organization dedicated to prevention, treatment, and public awareness of the Hepatitis C virus, will hold its third annual benefit concert and silent auction to support the organization’s programs on November 22, 2002 at 7 p.m. at Generations Hall in New Orleans. Titled “Once in a Blue Moon,” the concert will feature international blues stars Dr. John, Bobby Rush, “Gatemouth” Brown, Linda Hopkins, Irma Thomas, Eddie Bo, Cyril Neville, Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, the Pinettes Brass Band, Old Man Rivers Band, Timothea and the Blue Soul Express Band and other surprise guests to be announced.

A gourmet buffet, complimentary wine and soft drinks will be served at 8 p.m. for VIP ticket holders. VIP donation is $85 per person or $150 per couple. Limited reserved seating is available at $100 per person. General admission tickets are available in advance or at the door for $20 per person. Donations can be made by Visa, Mastercard or American Express by calling 504-899-6490. All donations are tax-deductible as charitable expense. For more information on Siren to Wail or the benefit concert, please contact: Timothea Beckerman, (504) 891-4164 or [email protected].

 

BONNES ANIVERSAIRES

The oft-imitated but never duplicated Rock ‘N’ Bowl’s 14th anniversary will be celebrated with a big bash by owner John Blancher and the faithful on Friday November 1 with the Iguanas holding court and kickin’ butt. “We wanted the Iguanas because they were the first sort of major band that ‘started’ with us—we feel like we took off together,” says Blancher.

In celebration of Grammy-nominated and Best of The Beat Award-winning Basin Street Records’ fifth anniversary, the New Orleans-based independent label has organized a not-to-be-missed party on November 29 at the place where it all began—Tipitina’s. After founding Basin Street Records in 1997, Samuels only took a few short years to turn an unknown label into a well-known entity in New Orleans and nationwide (with “a little luck, a little science, and a lot of hard work,” according to Samuels).

The label got its start while Samuels was dabbling in concert promotion and booking. He was approached by trumpeter Kermit Ruffins’ manager to invest in a live recording of Kermit and his band. Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers Live became the first Basin Street Records release in February 1998. The CD release party for this record drew over 900 people to Tip’s, quite an impressive crowd for a jazz artist.

The soiree on Friday, November 29 will feature Basin Street’s first artist, trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and his band the Barbecue Swingers, the “absolute monster gentleman” himself, pianist/vocalist Jon Cleary and special guests Irvin Mayfield and Bill Summers of Los Hombres Calientes, Dr. Michael White, Victor Atkins, Edwin Livingston, Ricky Sebastian and many others.

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH…

…to the musicians (Joe Krown Organ Combo, Sista Teedy, Mem Shannon, John Boutté, Gary Hirstius, Kermit Ruffins, Jeremy Lyons, James Winfield, Joe Caruso and so many more!), the Howlin’ Wolf, Infectious Publicity, Earl Perry, Surrey’s Juice Bar, Ann Wills, the OffBeat staff and so many others who helped make OffBeat’s 15th Anniversary Party a huge success. We partied til 3 a.m., y’all—you shoulda been there! Check out the pix on page 58 for a taste of the beat. Here’s to the next 15!