Tools exist to educate oneself about the music business and, more specifically, about booking. We believe it's invaluable for artists to learn how to book their own touring before they ask someone else to take over the job. Additionally, an artist should know how he or she wants to be represented before asking another party to do it for them.
In that spirit of grassroots education, we offer the following information as reference sources. Fleming Artists does not have an investment in any of these entities, nor should their listing here be considered a blanket endorsement by us. These are simply sources of info we know to exist.
Organizations
- AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS
The world's largest union, representing the interests of professional musicians. Located throughout the States and Canada , they offer tremendous resources and support, along with a wealth of experience. - APAP - Association of Performing Arts Presenters
888-820-ARTS (2787)
APAP is the nexus for the performing arts community and the innovators in the field. Representing both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors of the industry, Arts Presenters members hail from all 50 states and more than 15 countries across the globe and range from large performing arts centers in major urban cities, outdoor festivals and rural community-focused organizations to academic institutions, artists and artist managers. Membership includes organizations with multi-million dollar budgets and individuals who are performing arts professionals. - ARTS MIDWEST
612.341.0755
Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. - ASCAP - The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers
ASCAP is a membership association of over 240,000 U.S. composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP protects the rights of its members by licensing and distributing royalties for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works. - BMI
BMI is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music. - LOCAL 1000
212.843.8726
Traveling Musician's Union AFM Local 1000 was set up to serve the special needs of North American traveling musicians particularly if you tour on the folk, bluegrass and acoustic music circuit. By joining Local 1000 you can get access to a pension plan, instrument insurance, low-interest credit cards, contract support and more. - NACA - National Association for Campus Activities
NACA links the higher education and entertainment communities in a business and learning partnership, creating educational and business opportunities for student and professional members. NACA developed a process that allowed schools within close geographical proximity to work together to share travel and other logistical costs for artists and performers booked for campus shows over a certain block of dates. - NORTH AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC & DANCE ALLIANCE
1-301-588-8185
Folk Alliance is a nonprofit organization, existing "to foster and promote traditional, contemporary, and multi-cultural folk music." The goals of this organization are education, networking, advocacy, field development and professional development. FA's annual conference each February offers the largest networking event for musicians, agents, managers, labels, publicist, etc. - PAE - Performing Arts Exchange
404.874.7244 ex 23 0r 28
PAE is a conference dedicated to developing business relationships in order to present performing artists and attractions in communities throughout the Southern, Mid-Atlantic and New England states, as well as, exchanging knowledge and understanding about the performing arts field through structured and informal networking opportunities by enhancing artistic programming, technical knowledge, and leadership skills through professional seminars, workshops, and events. It is also committed to discussing current and anticipated issues affecting the performing arts field. - SXSW - South By Southwest
Each March SXSW Music presents new opportunities to make an artist's vision a reality. Musicians and the companies they work with have used SXSW as a cost-effective way to promote themselves since 1987. It's a potent method to connect with press, radio, and other music industry players. There's more amazing music performed and crucial business conducted in Austin over the days of the conference. - WAA - Western Arts Alliance
503-274-4729
WAA is a membership organization of touring and performing arts professionals engaged in promoting and presenting performing arts. Members of WAA attend the largest annual booking conference in the West, learn new techniques and best practices in informative professional development activities, and have access to over 2500 artists and over 350 presenting organizations through WAA's database.