faq


Here are some frequent answers to questions we are frequently asked...

Where did the name Market Monkeys come from?

Well, you know, we find new meanings in our company name all the time. Like, just the other day on Planet Earth, we learned that the gelada babboon in Africa are top notch social networkers, and they spend every morning making rapid social calls throughout their dynamic herds of up to 800 members. We thought that sounded somewhat like music marketing and management.

But really, when we founded the company in 2004, there were a few specific goals achieved in adopting the name Market Monkeys...

• HAVE FUN. We didn't want our company to be stodgy from day one, and we didn't want it to be all about the founder. (Besides, the founder has a really hard name to spell/pronounce.) Music is a passion-filled business - our jobs are to make people think and to entertain. So, we thought it fitting to have a name that makes people smile, that makes them ask questions, that allows them to be curious, and that intimates a certain amount of fun.

• BE A MARKETING COMPANY. We didn't want to be too narrowly defined as a management firm. We believe that the changes happening in the music industry require a new model - a model in which label services, management, marketing and innovation merge. Some of our clients require more services than others. We wanted to set up our company sorta like an advertising agency - in which some clients are on retainer and take advantage of our full breadth of service offering, while we work with others on a project by project basis.

That and we also really like monkeys. They are clever, sincere, and enthusiastic. What more could you ask for in a business partner?

Can I book one of your artists for a benefit or fundraiser?

My goodness. Our Artists receive many requests to perform for benefits and fundraisers. While there are many causes deserving the attention of the general public, artists are not always able to help out as much as they would like to. First off, you'll want to be clear as to the destinction between Fundraisers and Benefits, if you are trying to raise money for a cause. How you structure your event may make a big difference as to the artist's ability to help you out.

Fundraiser - Event where any profit realized is committed to a specific charity, nonprofit, and/or cause. This means the presenter covers all production costs (performance space, Artist fee, technical requirements, hospitality, promotion, etc.) and funnels profit after expenses toward a specified charity. While an Artist may consider playing a fundraiser for a reduced fee, the Artist is still compensated for his/her performance.

Benefit - Event where all money collected is intended for a specific recipient, be it a cause, charity or other. Most benefit performances require the Artist perform for no fee, with the fee instead being “donated” back to the cause (and the Artist usually receives a receipt of donation in the amount of their fee). Typically, expenses incurred by an Artist are reimbursed (travel and lodging, for example). Most of the required production is also provided.

Many artists are associated with specific charitable organizations. Some artist have a list of non-profit entities they support on an ongoing basis. Please understand that our response on behalf of an Artist regarding their availability to play on a certain date in no way reflects the Artist's views about the cause or charity.

If you are inquiring about an artist for either a fundraiser or benefit event, please provide the following information for us to consider your request:

• Proposed event date(s)
• Venue information
• Shows previously produced by event’s presenter/organization
• Professional sound engineer who is obligated to the event
• Budget and who's responsible for funding/finances for event
• Fee to Artist
• Expense reimbursement (lodging provided? air/ground travel?)
• Define artist’s participation (Please be specific! Special preparation? Workshop/discussion? Meet & Greet required? Media/Interviews? Other performers on the bill?)
• Cause (same information you would require if you were writing a check to a charity)

One more thing... If you are booking a show with multiple acts, please be clear as to whether or not these acts are pending or confirmed.

Please submit your inquiry to "booking @ marketmonkeys.com" and it will be forwarded to the appropriate person for response.

Can I book one of your artists for a wedding, corporate, or private party?

While some artists politely decline such requests, others are open to these gigs.

Please send us the following information in order to consider your request.

• Event Date, Time
• Location (Venue, Address, City, State and Stage/Sound System information)
• How many guests are you expecting to attend the event?
• What is your expectation for the artist’s involvement?
• Do you have any specific requests of song titles?
• Will the music to be background oriented, or a concert performance?

While technical requirements vary by artist, all artists require that professional sound equipment be provided. In some cases, an artist will also ask that you provide a professional sound engineer to run the board while the performance is going on. If the venue does not have an existing PA and/or sound person, you will be required to hire a local sound engineering company. Are you prepared to meet these requirements?

Please submit your inquiry to "booking @ marketmonkeys.com" and it will be forwarded to the appropriate person for response.

How do I get booked as an opener for one of your artists?

Okay, this is actually the way it works for most booking folks...

The Best Way: Opening is most often about relationships, because the best opening situations are ones where the headliner really knows and supports their opener. Over time, you will meet many other artists in your travels. If a headliner is a fan of yours, they will ask for you to open for them. Then, we would likely negotiate your addition on the bill at the very beginning of the booking process, and you would be contracted as part of the original deal with the promoter or venue. This is by far the path of least resistance, but it is also extremely rare. So, if our artists have not already asked us to put you on a bill with them, there are a couple other ways to go, too...

The Next Best Way: If our artist has not requested having a specific opener, and the show calls for an opening act, the promoter will usually suggest one. So, to be booked as an opener when you don't already have the artist's support, you'll want to approach the promoter or venue and ask to open. They will be your strongest advocate. And when a promoter requests an opener who we and/or the artist recognizes, you have a much higher chance of being approved by the artist.

A few other vocab items, things to know and watch out for on your path to securing openings...

"An Evening With"... When you see this on a calendar, this means there's no opener called for on the bill. Some artists only very RARELY have openers, and more often have shows that are considered An Evening With. Do not take offense if you are shot down because there is no opening slot for that night. They're not just letting you down easy or anything - in certain markets, for certain artists, this really is something the audience desires. There are many reasons an artist/venue would present an artist in this way. It is no reflection on what a great job you would do. We know you're wonderful...

Two Show nights. Often when there are two shows on a night, a venue or artist will prefer to go without an opener. This is because there is already a lot of shuffling going on, and the headliner wants to be sure they still have time to play a full set length (keepin the fans happy, givin em their money's worth, etc). So again, do not take offense if you are shot down on a two show night, even if you see that another two show night had an opener. Every headliner is different, and some venues are more prone to having openers on two show nights than others.