Splash Gigs: Musicians Guide

• WHAT ARE SPLASH GIG
  • Initially Splash Gigs were delivered as batches, 2/3 gigs close together, hence the name. Experience has produced a change and we deliver 4-6 splash gigs spread throughout the year. Splash gigs are aimed at "local musicians" or musicians who actively and regularly participate within the Frakture network.
• WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPLASH & I:SPLASH GIG
  • Originally splash gigs featured 2 or 3 "groups" playing freely improvised music; then the "groups" disappeared, as the musicians count involved in Frakture dropped so more by accident than design we introduced i:Splash which is a gig where usually around eight musicians participate in different combinations during the i:Splash session. i:Splash concept so far has proved to be very popular.
• IS THERE PAYMENT FOR THE MUSICIANS
  • SPLASH gigs are technically un-funded and self-financing. The takings from the door do not offer any commercial basis for payment to musicians as often they do not cover the overheads.
• ARE THERE EXPENSE PAYMENTS FOR THE MUSICIANS
  • No.
• WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DOOR TAKINGS
  • Frakture's own finance's cover the small losses expected. In the event of surplus funds being generated by door sales, this revenue will be used to subsidize future Splash Gig losses, associated overheads and finance better marketing. Splash represents an opportunity for musicians to play and form new relationships between themselves and the Listener.
• WHO CAN PARTICPATE AT A "SPLASH GIG"
  • Splash Gigs:
    • Groups apply via the on line form [here] and the Frakture Concerts team select a program from those acts who have applied.
  • i:Splash Gigs
    • You apply via the the on-line form [here] before the closing date
    • To date all applicants have been accepted, in the future the Frakture Concerts Team may manage or select the line-up.
    • Criteria such as ability or experience are not currently used for selection; Frakture has an open door and encourages participation from all levels of ability.
    • Anyone can participate via the form, for example occasionally visiting artists from London take part e.g. Simon Rose : Splash # 18. You do not need to be "local".
• CAN I JUST TURN UP ON THE NIGHT?
  • The short answer is no or please don't; it is politely requested you do "fill in the form" as it helps Frakture run the events more smoothly. We request 5 minutes of your time to fill the form in and we'll spend 5 hours making it happen.
  • i:Splash gigs are not designed to be the same as the informal "jam sessions" format found in rock or jazz.
  • The line up of musicians for the night is known to the musicians before they turn up.
• IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF MUSICIANS INVOLVED?
  • There is a theoretical limit of twelve.
• HOW DO I KNOW WHEN THERE IS A SESSION?
  • Subscribe to the mailing list: send an email to concerts@frakture.org requesting that you are be kept up to date regarding splash gigs.
  • View the splash page on the web site, the notice board page
• ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO SPLASH GIG?
  • Yes: if you are in a group have a look at Frakass.
  • For individuals who wish to play free improvised music, there are workshops, the Frakture Big Band and solo sets at Frakass to consider.
• ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN TELL ME?
  • The sessions are recorded and made available to the musicians who participated. This is usually done digitally via the internet.

text Phil Morton
last update August 24, 2008