Frequently Asked Questions


What is contemporary music?

The term ‘contemporary music’ can mean a variety of things to a variety of people. Australian contemporary music is defined as music that is currently being written, recorded and performed by Australians. Its genres would include (but would not be limited to) blues, country, electronic/dance, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, jazz, metal, pop, rock, roots, and world.

- As defined by the Federal Government’s Strategic Contemporary Music Industry Plan, 2010.

 
Music Victoria is a non-for-profit organization which relies on limited resources.

Music Victoria receives operational funding from the state government until 30^th June 2013, when it will need to become self-sustaining, so it needs to build up its membership base as a major form of revenue. Music Victoria has achieved a lot over the last 12 months (see the achievements page) and has opened up a number of doors for the industry and will continue to do so.

You can become a member of Music Victoria here.

 

 

Grants and funding

Music Victoria does not distribute grants, but there are numerous funding opportunities available to contemporary musicians in Victoria.

Arts Victoria’s contemporary music funding program Contemporary Music and Live Development (formerly Vic Rocks) offers grants in three categories: career building, touring and sector development. The next deadline for applications is 5^th September 2011 for projects beginning after 1^st December 2011.

The Australia Council offers a number of grants including Soundclash, Arts Start, Skills and Development, International Pathways, Live on Stage and Presentation and Promotion. It also offers residencies and fellowships. The Federal Office of the Arts offers grants of up to $15,000 as part of its Contemporary Music Touring Program.

APRA, The Seed and the Queenscliff Music Festival, as well as various local councils, offer arts grants as well.

Our advice is to prepare in advance and consult the relevant organisations for advice. Well thought-out grants can take up to 40 hours work. You don’t have to complete it in one go – you can usually work on them online and save them for a later date.

The judging panels are not looking for a press release; they want a well thought-out project plan and a practical budget that balances. It’s a good idea to bounce your ideas off someone else for an objective opinion.

Most funding panels are comprised of musicians, so bear in mind your peers will be judging it. Don’t be intimidated and don’t lose faith if you get rejected. You can ask for constructive feedback from the organisation and submit an improved application somewhere else.

If you are paying a grant writer, make sure you give them all of the necessary relevant information, and ask them for testimonials from successful applicants they have previously worked for.

 

How do I get a gig?

Approach live music venues - you’re after the venue’s booker.

If you’re having trouble with venues, try organising a full line up and then taking that to the venue. Think of some bands you know and would stylistically work well with if you were sharing a stage, and suggest a full line up to a venue.

Approach bands you like who you may or may not know. Hopefully if you like their music there’s going to be some common ground between your band and theirs, and it’d make sense for you to play together. Go for a band that’s maybe a little bit more well-known than yours, so you can play to their crowd and grow your fanbase. Aim small. Don’t expect to be playing Rod Laver Arena first off – try your local pub with a band you’ve already seen play there to start with.

Enter some band comps. They’re a great place to develop your skills, build an audience, and get comfortable on stage.

Give open mic nights a try. The more you play live when you’re just starting out, the better. And play around – don’t just play the same venue. The more audiences you play to, the more chances you have of building your audience. You’ll also come to the attention of more venue bookers.

Book a gig yourself. Find a venue, book the room, and put a show on yourself. This doesn’t have to be a pub – it could be a community hall, a cafe, a bowling club, a chicken shop or a steam train. Use your initiative.

 

How do I approach a venue?

It’s a good idea to have a demo and a basic press kit before you start approaching venues. Give them an idea of what you sound like, where you’d fit in a bill, and if you’ll fit in with their venue.

When you are booking your own tours you need to make sure you thoroughly research the venues in the areas you are touring to and make sure they are appropriate for your act – there is no use approaching a venue that doesn’t suit your style of music or is too big, or even too small, for your act.

If you are emailing or calling a venue make sure you are clear about what you want. Be polite, be professional and most importantly know what you are talking about. The venue will need to know about you – what kind of music you play (have a demo ready for them), where you have played before, and how many people came.

A demo should contain about three songs and should be a good representation of the act. The demo doesn’t have to be fully produced but must be a good quality.

 

How do I book a tour?

Booking a tour takes time and, most importantly, organisation. You need to establish where you want to go, when you want go and how much can you afford to spend on the tour. If you aren’t prepared for a tour then you are asking for trouble before you begin.

It’s also important to note that there’s no point heading out on a tour if no-one knows you are coming. So put your head down and plan. One of the aims of the tour is more than likely to play to as many people as possible and to build your fan base. A good show will bring the people back and will mean the venue will want you back – good organisation and communication will be the keys to making this happen. The MMF Music Managers Manual and Simpson’s Music Business both have great chapters on touring and are definitely worth a read for more information.

 

What’s a manager? Do I need one?

A manager is your key to the music industry. They’re the person who will help you navigate the music industry from labels to publishers, booking agents to publicists, and everyone in between. But a manager isn’t for everyone. There are plenty of self-managed artists who have enjoyed great success, and if you’re just starting out learning about the industry and managing your own affairs is highly recommended. ARIA-nominated singer-songwriter Jen Cloher holds regular self-management courses.

For further info:
Music Managers’ Forum (MMF)
The Association of Music Managers (AAM)
I Manage My Music

You can find more information on managers and management agreements over in our Music Industry Legal Pack.

 

What’s a booking agent? Do I need one?

There will probably be a time when you are booking for yourself, however when you are ready, a good booking agent may help you to make the most of the live scene and build up the profile for your act in the best possible way.

A booking agent is a person dedicated to booking shows for you or your band. The Australian Music Industry Directory is a good resource when you are looking for booking agents. However, a booking agent isn’t going to come on board unless they can see that there is something in it for them so you need to show them that you are worth their while.

 

Do I need to register a business name?

In order to carry on a business in Victoria, you must register your business’ name with Consumer Affairs Victoria.

Please note that registering a Business Name will not give you any exclusive rights to that name. So any other person that wants to use it is legally fine to do so. If you want exclusive rights, you should register the name as a trade mark through IP Australia.

 

Tax issues

We’ve developed a tax pack with the Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN) which should give you some insight as to how your music making, and any income derived from it, can affect your tax.

Download the music tax fact sheet here.

 

Legals

Here is where you’ll find things on legal issues surrounding music and the music industry. Contact the Arts Law Centre of Australia for more information and get actual legal advice.

Please note: the information on this and any page on this website does not constitute legal advice. We’re not lawyers. Talk to one if you’re unsure.

For more on legal issues, check out the legal pack from the Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN).

 

International Visas and Taxation

A Guide for Performing Arts Organisations in Australia and New Zealand via the Australia Council is an online resource for performing arts companies touring internationally. It aims to ease the process of applying for visas and complying with taxation regulations with case studies demonstrating practical tips for success.

It focuses on the regions identified by Australian and New Zealand performing arts companies as high priorities:
• Australia and New Zealand
• Asia – China, Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan
• Europe – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
• Latin America – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico
• North America – Canada and the United States of America

 

International showcases

Before considering traveling internationally to attend or showcase at one of the many, very valuable international showcase and conference events, we highly recommend identifying the objectives you have for your attendance and how you realistically intend on meeting those objectives.

Once you’ve done that and you’re satisfied the result – talk with both Music Victoria and Sounds Australia about the value of your attendance.

Below is a list of key showcase events internationally. Keep in mind there are many more – some offering quite a niche industry audience that may be more appropriate for what you’re hoping to achieve.

MIDEM (Cannes, FRANCE)
SXSW (Austin, Texas, USA)
The Great Escape (Brighton, UK)
CMJ (New York, USA)

Several funding bodies offer support for market development in international territories.

The Australia Council has two specific funding stream for support for international activities. These are International Pathways and Live on Stage. Note they also run the Track Record funding program for music managers looking to invest more time in their professional and business development.

 

Keep an eye on our website or sign up for our mailing list to find out about information sessions and workshops on topics to help you out - touring, grants, promotion, music law and more.

Got a question that’s not answered here? Email us.