Response to Michelle Dee's Gigging in Hull (2/3) By Dj Mak

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

The Linnet is owned by a brewery that sets targets and has budgets that are consistent with their large portfolio of venues. It doesn't look at the individual or personalities behind successful nights and adjust finance accordingly. It's a shame but that's the truth. The money allocated for The Sesh only allows for me to pay £60 out for the PA, £40 to the headline band and £20 to a support band. If a band supplies the PA, they then get the £100.

(After a lot of wrangling I've managed to secure a crate of beer for the bands each week which is a minor victory!!!!! Whoooooooo! ). Initially, The Sesh started off with just two bands each week but due to demand and the increase of talent it was decided to get three bands on each week.

Unfortunately, the brewery wouldn't increase its budget to accommodate this, despite the nights success and it's increased takings. Promotion of the night falls into my hands, and though bands will undoubtedly do their bit, I have to keep on top of things with websites and magazines and the local paper. Unbelievably, once again, there's is no budget for this. I do it because I love The Sesh - it's my baby! I have to scavenge for publicity and only recently have I've been able to get a monthly flyer for the Sesh arranged with money made available courtesy of the Landlord's own money and with Steve (The Grapevine) providing the free artwork.

What I could do to generate more cash for the bands, PA, Photographers and Reviewers as well as paying for adverts and listings in mags and on websites such as ThisisUll.com, is by charging everyone for screen advertising at The Sesh. With over 300 in attendance most weeks, maybe clubs, businesses, websites and magazines can see the benefit from screen advertising. Therefore, as an example, I pay for a link/advert on ThisisUll.com, and ThisisUll.com pays The Sesh for screen adverts. Could that work, I wonder?

As it stands, everyone has been getting free publicity at The Sesh for the last three years, as many have done through the wonderful work of ThisisUll.com. Maybe that's the way forward. Everyone charges for their services. But then, The Sesh becomes a business and not a love affair. What's the answer ?

Photography taken on the night by Darren Rogers is used for the screen presentation which I think helps create a community at the night and gives it an identity. Darren doesn't get paid for this at The Sesh but he does get his beer for free and has been given the opportunity over the last three years of heightening his profile. I believe websites and magazines should now be paying Darren for his photos and bands should be contributing if they want a portfolio of photos taken by him. I love the guy as many others do and as much as you can say The Sesh is benefiting from his work, I think he'd be the first to say that the night has helped him build up his legendary status within the city.

Just think, when the time comes and this all dies down and it will (Every Dog has it's Day!!!), Darren will have an exclusive photographic scrapbook of what has been a very exciting time for Hull. It could be worth a few bob then !

Continued..... Next Page (3/3).

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