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The three separate rosters of musicians, venues and recording studios list contact information to boost opportunities for bookings and collaboration. Sign up via links here.
Connecting Bands & Venues: The data bases are designed to help put performers on stages and network. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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West Michigan’s music scene
Whether it’s a nightclub seeking the right performer for the right event or a band trying to negotiate the thorny thicket of booking a tour or studio time, Michigan’s music scene often seems like a daunting terrain to traverse.
Just locating the right contact information for a musician, venue or recording studio poses challenges.
So, the Michigan Music Alliance – a nonprofit, Grand Haven-based organization – is creating three free, online data bases providing information about Michigan musicians, live music venues and recording studios to ease the process of bookings, collaboration and artist discovery.
“We aren’t a promoter or talent agency, we are simply here to empower artists, and hopefully, this will help connect people with similar goals,” said Elle Lively, the alliance’s executive director, nothing the artist data base will assist venues and organizations in pinpointing new talent.
“We also have artists reach out, just like on the local Facebook groups, to try to find the missing piece in their band, or spark up collaboration opportunities. And that’s really the heart of it: If you’re doing a project and need a sax player, for example, you might be able to discover a new artist to collaborate with.”
The data bases list names, contact information, website links and other relevant information aimed at making connections easier for performers, venues and studios who are encouraged to add their details for free to the online listings.
Elle Lively (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
Lively called the venue data base “a no brainer” to create because performing artists have a great need for this type of resource.
“It is the biggest tool a DIY artist could be given: a list of Michigan venues with contact information,” Lively said.
“Everyone has their own, we are just hoping to give artists a leg up as they start building by sharing those resources, and asking people to get involved and help us add to them. We’ll be doing the legwork and collaborating with venues, artists, and more who want to share their experiences.”
• The Michigan Artist Data Base will include names of musicians and bands, links to their websites, streaming services and social media handles, the music genre they represent, the city where they’re based and the instruments played. Musicians can sign up online here.
• The Michigan Venue Data Base features venue locations, the type of performance space (whether it’s a coffee house or an arena), contact information, capacities and links to websites and social media. Venues can provide their information online here.
• The Michigan Recording Studio Data Base will include contact information, locations, links to websites and social media, rates and specializations, along with other details. Studios can fill out their form online here.
Registering and using the data bases is free, with the alliance stating it’s part of its mission to encourage “collaboration over competition” by providing another tool to assist Michigan-based artists, venues and studios.
Copyright 2021, Spins on Music LLC
