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Show The Story continued and the harmonies, the attraction to dissonance. We choose the notes no one else would choose." DougWintch A popular local performer, Doug Wintch has opened for a number of national acts. He has a subtle, clever sense of humor as well as poignant edge and his songs reflect these skills. His first release Wooden Nickels on the LuDella label has been enthusiastically received by his fans and converts and is getting a lot of airplay on KRCL 91-FM. He is a complex artist with a simple style. His lyrics are full of memorable and thoughtful stories that are clever and sometimes playful. Doug started his music career in a rock band, but found the light and carne to the DougWintch acoustic guitar and folk music. He works at local ski resorts during the winter and loses his rustic looks by shaving his beard, but the music is still the same, full special magic and warmth. Concert underwriting: an lAMA primer So you want to see Loudon Wainwright III or Peter Rowan or Good 01' Persons or the Chieftains or some other big time artist in concert in Salt Lake City ... well, how can you do it? You can underwrite a concert. By putting up a dollar amount of guarantee or underwriting money, you may be able to see your favorite performer and give the gift of acoustic music to our members and friends. Most big time artists command a large guarantee for a concert, and the basic tenant of the lAMA is to bring artists in for concerts, but to not lose money. We try to get as much money , after expenses, as we can to the artist. It is much easier to bring in a single or up-and-coming artist or group, because they will accept a smaller guarantee- therefore the risk is much less than those who get a larger guarantee because of their stature in the concert market Underwriting money is a guarantee to the lAMA that lessens the risk of a concert. For example, say Loudon Wainwright III will come in concert for a guarantee of $2,000 (which is near the entire net worth of the lAMA). On top of that, there may be another $1,500 of expenses for the venue, sound, tickets, promotion, postage, phone, lodging for the artists, printing and other concert associated costs. About 400 tickets at $8, $9 & $10 must be sold to 'break even. That is a big risk, as our average gate is around 200. We are committed to the ticket prices and feel that we don't want to become a profit-driven group. We want to get the music to our audience for a reasonable price. It doesn't take a Phi Beta Kappa to see that a concert like this is a risk that can not be taken by the iAMA without some help. I know we had more than 700 for John Gorka and 500-plus for Patty Larkin in recent concerts, but remember that John Gorka played to 34 people when he carne through in 1988 and Patty Larkin played to a small audience at the "Four Bitchin' Babes" concert the first time she carne to Salt Lake. Today, these artists come in on "guarantee plus" contracts, because they have built a following and know they will be well compensated for their efforts. continued on page 14 roadside attraetiol) 5195 Emigration Canyon 583-1869 Breakfast any time Live J\tlusic SMOKEv•s RECORDS 1515 S. 15th East Salt Lake City, Utah 841 05 (801) 486-8709 1 Oo/o off with your lAMA card Intermountain Acoustic Musician, January 1994 13 |
