Anyone know ANYthing about investors sponsoring writers/artists?

[LiveMusic]

I asked this months ago and it didn't get that big a response but I sure do need to know some things. Wondering if anyone has had any experience or knows of any info online or otherwise about a "sponsor" type deal where people put up money to sponsor a songwriter to get published or to get some cuts or to get a record deal or whatever. This is common in the golf world. Guys who are trying to play the mini tour or the big time tour. And I have heard of this in music but can find no info. Any help is appreciated. Any info whatsoever about how it could be constructed.

[Bunny Knutson]

Are you high? :p

[Salyphus]

Sounds like a reasonable idea to me. Isn't this how they did it in the 'olden days'?

[Wewus432]

[quote]Originally posted by dBunny: [b]Are you high? :p [/b][/quote]high five!

[LiveMusic]

No I am not high and it is a very legitimate question. It happens. Believe me, it happens. All KINDS of deals are financed by other people. It is very common. And it happens in the music world. For anyone who might be curious, a "sponsor" deal in golf (or otherwise, probably)... it's common for people to put up money to get a guy going for something that costs lots of money. The agreements are all over the board, as far as how proceeds are shared but it would be nice to see some examples.

[Chaz]

I have a client who has a financial backer of her music and career! So, yes, it does happen for some!

[PBBPaul]

I worked with a band a few years ago that had a local law firm for a sponsor. Miller Brewing also has a sponsorship program. Yes it happens.

[Gtoledo3]

[quote]Originally posted by Sal Ivory: [b]Sounds like a reasonable idea to me. Isn't this how they did it in the 'olden days'?[/b][/quote]Yeah, in the Renaissance! Seriously though, I wouldn't be surprised if we were back to that within 100 years.

[StoneinaPond]

[quote] I asked this months ago and it didn't get that big a response but I sure do need to know some things. Wondering if anyone has had any experience or knows of any info online or otherwise about a "sponsor" type deal where people put up money to sponsor a songwriter to get published or to get some cuts or to get a record deal or whatever. This is common in the golf world. Guys who are trying to play the mini tour or the big time tour. And I have heard of this in music but can find no info. Any help is appreciated. Any info whatsoever about how it could be constructed. [/quote]Yes. They are called record companies. :D

[techristian]

I was watching the news yesterday and a FAMILY was up on EBAY for sale. It read something like Family for Sale Starting bid 5 Million Now this might be a bit ridiculous, but an interesting concept. The father of the family said that he was not selling "the family" but rather the services of his family. He was a struggling writer and figured someone could support them this way. He would write for the millionaire who would in turn pay him the 5m. Of course the millionaire would put his name and not the writers name on the work. In the COPYRIGHT WORLD this is called a [b]"A work for hire"[/b] This is the bad side. If you ever write a million selling hit, no one will know that it is you and you will have already been paid. Dan http://musicinit.com

[Jotown]

I have had to find sposors/investors for every project I have ever done, and that includes record labels. It is just like any other business. You have to be able to convey your enthusiasm to potential helpers. Don't lie to them. Tell them it's a crap shoot, but if you can communicate your passion and belief to the right person, anything can happen. You could also sell stock. A dollar a share in 100 ($100.00) bundles. It's easier to get 100 people to give you a hundred bucks, than it is to get one person to give you ten grand. As a friend of mine, renowned jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave always told me: " It's the music business, and business is the bigger word." Good luck.

[kenglish]

If you look really cute in a miniskirt and tight (bare midriff) blouse, you can get most anything you want..... But, seriously, many state governments have arts funding authorities that fund concerts, festivals, etc. Some will even pay for costumes, equipment, travel. Whip-up a novel idea and propose it....maybe something like a demo that includes some songs related to your state's history or famous sites. Let them pay for your demo and then give them some tax $$$$ when you make it big time. :)

[LiveMusic]

I recall a local guy having sponsors back around 1980. His name was Johnny Slim Campbell. I'm pretty sure he was the one that my friend invested in. I recall he and some other guys put several grand each in. I think he tried to get a record deal but it didn't work out at that time. I have since learned that he did pretty well in Europe well after that as a Delta blues artist. I also heard he died. I went to a party once and he was there and he had two guitars and asked me to play with him. I wasn't that good but he showed me a riff he wanted me to play as he played and we had fun. He was a nice guy. Anyway, people DO get sponsored.

[Jeff Klopmeyer]

Sure, this happens. An example: when Motley Crue was first formed in 1980, they were bankrolled by a couple of investors. They basically paid their room and board, and alcohol. Paid for their early demo studio recordings. The second the band signed to Elektra, they dropped the investors like a pair of smelly sneakers. Oh well. In any case, good luck marketing yourself as a good investment opportunity...in this climate, I'd say you have an equally high chance of getting investments in an Afghan camel herding group. - Jeff

[Anifa]

LiveMusic, Just type "music sponsors" (including the " ") into the address bar of your browser, if you are using Internet Explorer, and it will pull up approximately a thousand listings on music sponsors at different levels. There appears to be several in the UK and Netherlands, some in the USA but, in the first few listings, many appeared to be educational facilities. Be sure to include the parenthesis around the two words as shown or you will get more than a million results returned... anything having the word "music" or the word "sponsors" will show up. Placing the " " around more than one word forces the search engines to seek only documents containg exact phrases instead of individual words. Perhaps you might find within the results pages. Good Luck.

[Brittanylips]

There are a number of ways to get sponsorship, which fall into two general categories: commercial and nonprofit. The distinction has more to do with the nature of the sponsorship, rather than your right to profit from your work. I agree with the guy that said "record label" -- this is a form of commercial sponsorship (record label advances you money as an investment with the expectation of return). However, it would be easier to get a deal with an independant producer, promoter, agent, manager, or lawyer. In these cases, you sign to them, they invest in you, and then they make a deal with a higher-up on your behalf (and take a cut). This is a common practice for stepping up to a label. Nonprofit sponsorship depends on the relevance of your work to an organizational mission rather than a profit motive. Nonprofits are happy to loose money on you if your use of the money helps them achieve some goal. Private foundations, and governmental agencies frequently support "the arts." They want you to succeed because the world is a better place if there's more music in it. You can get grants to simply live and do your thing, or specific grants to pursue a particular project, for example, make a record, give 20 concerts, etc. In countries like Canada and France, there is more governmental support for the arts than in the U.S. I even know musicians from Mexico and Brazil, relatively poor countries, whose expenses are entirely supported by the government. In the U.S., there are more private foundations and opportunities to raise money from individuals and corporations. Corporations present a hybrid between commercial and nonprofit sponsorship: you have to be able to present a Social Return On Investment (e.g. the world will be a better place if you give me this money), and a Return On Investment (e.g. giving me this money will help your bottom line due to the promotional value of the world seeing a Coca Cola logo tattooed on my ass during a naked performance on The Cast of Cheers Reunion Christmas Special). For researching foundations, go to The Foundation Center (http://fdncenter.org), visit their offices (they have two types -- major offices in DC, NY, etc., and satalite offices in libraries throughout the country), contact the NEA for federal dollars, visit local arts organizations in your area for regional foundations, contact board members and staff of major foundations in your area simply for advice, and go to business people, laywers, corporate-types, friends of your parents, employers of your friends, etc. where you live. Depending on your musical style and affiliations, there are also a variety of national organizations that offer support such as ASCAP, American Music Center, etc. Then there's always the rich girlfriend, boyfriend, or both. I have heard of some arrangements that would make your hair stand on end. These are not merely stories. Then, there are angels -- rich people who believe in you and simply give you money for you to do your thing, buy equipment, live in a major musical center, etc. Often they arrive through an intermediary -- a mutual friend who recognizes your talent (presuming you have talent) and talks to their rich friend on your behalf. On balance, it's both not easy, and easier than you think. However, people who have genuine talent, and work hard, get the money they need. -Peace, Love, and Brittanylips