CANMORE FOLK FEST MENTORING PROGRAM

I have been mentored by many artists and music industry people both formally and informally over the last 25 years. Mentoring comes in many forms, one of those being good old plain advice.  Much of the mentoring I have received has been helpful and solid advice.  It could be everything from where to get a great Middle Eastern food in Chicago to the right words to say to get your instrument on the plane, inside the flight attendants closet - this is super rare but it can be done.  Other advice I've received is what kind of gear to buy, the type of insurance protects your guitar best when traveling, how to find good running trails in a town you don't know, how to contact a festival or venue owner, and the cheapest way to call home when you're overseas.  Honestly, it runs the gamut of every aspect of performing music and being in the music biz.

The first piece of advice I can remember came from an agent named Dana Kirby of Live Tour Artists.  While attending my first showcase, I asked him how I go about finding an agent. He said, "You don't. They find you." He went on to say that when an artist is at a level artistically where they are ready to tour beyond their current region an agent might take them on.  But he said, "If an artist is not grossing at least 100K a year, it is likely they won't take on the artist because an agent only gets 10-15% of the performer's fee." It sounds like a huge and daunting amount for a little indie artist but 10-15% of 100K is only 10-15K for the agent.  So it has to be worth it for the agent to put time and effort into you and your art.

Today I got to mentor some up and comers from the Bow Valley (Banff/Canmore) region in southern Alberta.  The Canmore Folk Music Festival started a mentoring program for performing artists in the area to share ideas, collaborate, and participate in workshops with established artists. 

T. Buckley and myself facilitated the day with the help of our pal and fellow songwriter Ellen Braun.  We talked to the young artists about songwriting, creativity, the "biz", we took them through a sound check and even did a short performance and Q&A session for them and the public at the end of the day.