FAQ
Here are some questions I’m commonly asked. I’ll add more as I’m asked them.
Still feel free to get in touch by mail and stuff, but hopefully it helps to have the answer immediately.
Do you do songwriting commissions?
I love your songs and I’m a performer too. Can I sing them?
What is your fee for doing a gig?
What if I can’t afford that?
Would you take a percentage of the door fee instead?
Do you do things for free?
What gigs do you say no to?
Can you help me to organise an event?
Are you still running the Working Class Music Festival?
I’m an acoustic musician. Can you recommend anywhere in Liverpool for me to play?
Do you run AFC Liverpool?
Is it true you started off as a busker?
I’m a lyricist/tunewriter. Would you be interested in a songwriting partnership?
Q. Do you do songwriting commissions?
Yes I do. Get in touch if you’re interested in commissioning me to write a song.
If I like the idea and decide to get involved you’ll end up with a great song that will represent your story well.
Q. I love your songs and I’m a performer too. Can I sing them?
Yes absolutely. The more people singing my songs the better. The main reason I perform is to get the stories and songs to as many people as possible. You singing them only helps that. As long as you credit me as the writer, sing away!
Please let me know you’re singing them as part of your repertoire though. I’ll even publicise your shows so people know where they can hear my songs live.
In fact, I’m keen to build relationships with other performers who want to sing my songs so I’d be keen to hear from you.
Q. What is your fee for doing a gig?
Well I love playing and singing and telling my stories so the gig you can have for free.
It’s just the travelling and the hanging around and the yukky dull stuff surrounding the gig that you’ll have to pay me for!
My standard fee for that yukky stuff is in the region of £350.
Q. What if I can’t afford that?
Depending on your budget, I’ll sometimes charge less. So if you’d like me to play and my standard fee is a problem, just ask.
I’m very approachable and as someone who has organised my fair share of events I understand the problems you face too.
I love to play and share my stories, so if my costs are covered and I like the sound of the gig then there’s a really good chance I’ll be so excited about it that we’ll be able to sort something out.
Q. Do you ever take a %age of the door fee instead?
Yes. I’m always happy to play for a percentage of the door. This is really important. There are plenty of people who would like to organise a gig for me to play at but can’t take any risk by guaranteeing money.
So by taking a %age of the door, you would only be paying out what you get in, so its risk free for you.
Sorry no, not anymore. It’s just not possible.
I’ve done lots and lots and lots of stuff for free, but I need to eat and pay bills too sadly, and this is one of the ways I do it. As such, when I do it, I really do need to be paid for it.
So like any other worker, if I have something of value then I’m happy to trade it for money.
I find that unless I value my time, nobody else will either, and it can lead to being taken advantage of too.
Close friends will still be showered with generosity of course!
I have a fairly rough, but nonetheless, well considered gig criteria.
The main one is that if there isn’t going to be a listening audience there’s no point booking me. I tell stories, albeit using music, and stories need to be listened to.
If the gig is going to be parked in the middle of someone else’s night out then I’m not the right artist for that environment.
So as a guide, the gig really needs to be taking place in a separate room from where casual passing trade is.
In other words, all the people in the room where I’m playing have chosen to be there rather than just turned up for their usual night out and found me there singing at them.
Q. Can you help me to organise an event?
Unfortunately I no longer organise events in the way I used to. It was good experience but it’s not something I do any longer.
Q. Are you still running the Working Class Music Festival?
Yes. I am still running the Working Class Music Festival, but the next one is 2011, and my role will be that of programme co-ordinator rather than event organiser, and the name and the format is likely to change considerably.
Q. I’m an acoustic musician. Can you recommend anywhere in Liverpool for me to play?
The local expert on such matters is my good friend Graham Holland who runs the excellent liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
Visit his website and check out the acoustic diary that he maintains. He’s in touch with pretty much all the events that are featured, and does an excellent event of his own.
No. AFC Liverpool was my idea, and I am the club founder but I am no longer on the board of the club.
I am Life President of the club and proud to be so, but if you’re after someone who has authority to make decisions then you can contact the current board on info@afcliverpool.org.uk
Q. Is it true you started off as a busker?
Yes it is. In fact I was a champion busker!
I was the Liverpool Echo Merseyside Busker of the Year.
Q. I’m a lyricist / tunewriter. Would you be interested in forming a songwriting partnership?
I just don’t work well that way for two reasons.
Firstly, If I’m working in a songwriting partnership I never feel able to be as critical of their work as I am of my own so I don’t like the dynamics of it, and I end up selling the song down the river as a result.
Secondly, I always write words and music at pretty much the same time. If someone gave me a tune and said “put words to it” I tend to struggle. It’s just not how I write.
