Information for Artists and Agents
Folk @the cornerHOUSE aims to present the very best in folk and roots music.
This general note is intended to help musicians and/or agents and covers the following main items:
Gig approaches to F@cH
Pre-contractual information
Artists fees
Advance publicity for gigs at F@cH
Directions to venue and parking
Access to venue and sound checking
PA equipment and specifications
Facilities at the venue
Gig format
Curfew
Merchandising
Overnight accommodation
1 GIG APPROACHES
These should be made to:
John Mannel, 1 Elm Road, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 2EU.
johnmannel@yahoo.co.uk 07926772071
Folk@thecornerHOUSE aims to book well ahead and expects to receive a great many inquiries. I am always happy to consider approaches for future dates. I will do my best to give these fair-minded consideration and a response.
I do not stipulate any format for gig approaches. I will consider demos, CDs, YouTube clips etc. provided these are honest and sufficiently representative of the performer’s act.
2 PRE-CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION
Folk@thecornerHOUSE is more interested in promoting great music than the language of dull contracts and I do not intend to draft my own contract. I am aware that some artists may have their own very prescriptive and exacting contracts, the terms of which I am very unlikely to be able to meet.
Therefore, ahead of any contractual agreement, this note is intended to be helpful to musicians offered gigs at Folk@thecornerHOUSE and/or their agents. I am always happy to discuss particular requests or look for solutions to potential problems. I will endeavour to give all performers the best experience that I can.
However, where I receive contracts which are inconsistent with this note, I reserve the right (without going time-consumingly through individual contracts clause-by-clause), to regard this note as taking precedence.
3 ARTISTS FEES
I will either agree a fee of 80% of the door takings or agree in advance a guaranteed minimum fee Vs 80% of the door takings.
In either event, the 80% calculation will be made after deducting the venue hire charge (currently £160). I will always produce honest accounts of takings and play fair with payments, doing my best by guest musicians.
Unless otherwise agreed I will pay by bank transfer 7 days after the gig - as soon as the ticketing agency pays me. Please provide me with Sort Code and Account Number.
Advance tickets are available for every gig. Typically, for a £12 ticket purchased in advance I will receive £10.98 after “Ticket Source” deductions of 8.5%. I will encourage contactless payments on the door (if any tickets are left available!). For a £12 ticket paid for on my machine I will receive £11.80 after “SumUp” deductions of 1.66%. Please take these expenses into account when calculating door takings.
4 ADVANCE PUBLICITY
I will work hard to publicise gigs at F@cH. To help me to do this, I will ask musicians to provide, by email, the following well ahead of the gig:
A high-quality photograph preferably in JPEG form.
A biography and short press release.
I would also expect guest musicians appearing at F@cH to self-publicise and to post the date of the gig on their own social media and websites.
I recognise that last minute changes to band line-ups may happen. I will need to be notified of such eventualities at the earliest possible moment and, in extremis, I reserve the right to decide whether or not to proceed with the gig.
5 DIRECTIONS TO VENUE AND PARKING
Folk@thecornerHOUSE is a Tuesday night event at The Corner House Arts Centre, 116 Douglas Road, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 7SB. Full directions are available on the cornerHOUSE website www.thecornerHOUSE.org
There is unrestricted street parking on all roads around the venue, although parking very close to the venue cannot be guaranteed. Both Surbiton and Tolworth stations are 1 mile away and several buses serve the nearby Ewell Road “Broomfield Road” bus stop.
Please note that The Corner House is in the Ultra Low Emissions Zone. Please check that your vehicle is ULEZ compliant and if not, be aware that you will be subject to a fee.
NB: In planning journeys to F@cH, please allow extra time for busy roads and motorways in the south-east.
6 ACCESS TO VENUE AND SOUND-CHECKING
The cornerHOUSE is a vibrant, much used community centre. During the day the premises are used by others. Access is, typically, from 6.00 pm.
We can begin sound-checking at 6.45 pm, or shortly after. Doors open to the audience at 7.30 pm for an 8.00 pm start.
7. PA EQIPMENT AND SPECIFICATIONS
PA matters are overseen by Nigel Collins: nigel@mantecsystems.co.uk
The cornerHOUSE auditorium has wonderful acoustics – it is a joy to sing and play there. Support acts, if performing, will just use an ambient mic (Aston “Spirit” condenser mic) negating the need for a sound check. This system works beautifully for many acts. Please let us know if you want to consider using this set-up.
In most cases, however, a PA is the favoured option. Guest musicians can use their own PA system and sound engineer, but F@cH recommends using their excellent in-house sound equipment. Nigel will work with all musicians to produce a very good, natural acoustic sound. We ask all performers to send us their tech-spec, consistent with our equipment list below. Please be aware that F@cH reserves the right to determine the overall volume of the performance to suit the venue and the preferences of our audience.
Our equipment consists of:
2 × Mackie SRM450 powered full range loudspeakers.
Behringer Xenyx UFX 1604 mixer
2 × HK Audio EPX112A powered loudspeakers used as monitors.
3 x Behringer DI boxes
3 × Shure SM58 microphones.
1 × Shure SM58 wireless microphone.
5 × Boom microphone stands.
This is all standard for the Corner House. For F@cH nights Nigel – our sound man – uses his Mackie DL32R 32 channel mixer, with 12 auxiliary outputs along with a Behringer DI4000 4 channel rack mounted DI box.
Further monitors, microphones, DI boxes and stands can be supplied, with advance notice, on request.
The venue has a 24-channel stage lighting system configured to provide flexible lighting of the stage and auditorium.
The venue also has available a Technics sx-PC Digital Piano that can be used if required. Please let me know in advance so I can arrange to have it put on the stage.
8 FACILITIES AT THE VENUE
The cornerHOUSE Arts Centre is run entirely by volunteers.
The bar area opens at 7.00pm.
Unfortunately, meals are not available on site. There are many food outlets available near the station in Victoria Road Surbiton, and, nearer, in Tolworth Broadway and on the Ewell Road.
As stated before, I always aim to do my best in the matter of fees but cannot pay extra for meals out.
There are no plush “green room” type facilities at the cH, but there is a room in which musicians may change clothes and store personal belongings and equipment safely.
The maximum seating capacity of the auditorium is 150.
Tickets for all events are available in advance via “Ticket Source”, as well as at the door on the night.
Admission is currently set at £12, although this may change at my discretion.
I am happy to entertain (preferably in advance) reasonable requests for guest tickets and ask in return that guest musicians are sensitive to the fee and venue hire which I have to cover.
9 GIG FORMAT
7.00 pm Bar and Foyer open
7.30 pm Auditorium Doors Open
8.00 1st Guest Spot
8.45 to 9.05 pm Interval
9.05 to 9.50 pm 2nd Guest Spot
Music HAS to finish by 10.30, but this leaves plenty of time for relaxed timings for set lengths and interval.
10 CURFEW
I need to leave the room as I found it and allow cornerHOUSE volunteers to lock up by 11.00 pm at the latest. Once the gig is over I will therefore ask guest musicians to help by quickly gathering up their gear and clearing the stage area. I am happy to help with lifting the gear.
11 MERCHANDISING
Guest musicians are welcome to sell CDs and other merchandise. No commission is charged by F@cH.
12 OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION
I’m afraid I cannot offer private overnight accommodation.
There are several hotel / B&B options nearby, including The Travelodge, Tolworth and The Premier Inn, Tolworth. I regret that I do not have a budget stretching to hotel or B&B accommodation – at least not without the costs being defrayed from the fee. I am, of course, always happy to help seek solutions in advance where these arrangements may pose difficulty.