Touring musicians turned to streaming as soon as COVID-19 shut the doors of the performance halls. Will the trend continue, or will artists get back on the road again? Deb Polich and David Fair talk with Mike Green of Mike Green & Associates about the changing business of booking tours for performing artists in the time of COVID-19.
Creative industries in Washtenaw County add hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy. In the weeks and months to come, 89.1 WEMU's David Fair and co-host Deb Polich, the President and CEO of The Arts Alliance, explore the myriad of contributors that make up the creative sector in Washtenaw County.
ABOUT MIKE GREEN:
Mike Green is the co-owner and agent with Mike Green & Associates, a booking agency representing a small roster of traditional and roots music artists, using the tagline “Breaking Tradition.” Following a short stint as a touring artist and a few years as a presenter, Mike has been a booking agent since 1986. Early in his career, he served on the board of the Folk Alliance, and he is currently the Immediate Past President of the board of NAPAMA (North American Performing Arts Managers & Agents). Outside of his agency work, Mike is an avid cook, gardener, bicyclist, and guitarist and singer with a rock & roll band called Rooster Soup. In good weather, they can occasionally be heard practicing in his backyard.
ABOUT MIKE GREEN & ASSOCIATES:
Mike Green & Associates provides touring services to performing artists through booking performance dates, helping these artists reach the widest possible audience. The agency also aims to de-mystify the music business through consulting and teaching, thereby helping artists, agents and managers fully realize their potential.
The agency represents world-class artists who have something to say, and who express their vision of the world with great passion. The agency believes strongly in conducting business in a way that is fair, professional and fun.
MIKE GREEN & ASSOCIATES UPDATE 7/21/2020:
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to stop most public performances, and we have no realistic idea of when venues will once again be able to present concerts and have audiences gather in enough numbers to make the events viable. We are placing everyone’s safety – artists, audiences, and presenters – above all other concerns.
Some of our artists have been hard at work creating online events that can still bring people together virtually. These artists have always drawn together communities through their concerts, workshops, camps, classes, and retreats. This online capability to gather virtually is more important than ever. Please talk with us about how we can either change existing bookings to online events, or help you create new online events. See our FAQ page for more information and ideas regarding online events.
Most of our artists’ performances for the rest of 2020 have been rescheduled or cancelled; the dates that are still on the calendar should be considered tentative since our national situation is so fluid. Please check with us directly on artist availabilities. Considering the current pace of change, we may not be able to keep the posted tour schedules current.
We believe in conducting business in a way that is professional, fair, kind, and fun. Take some time to explore this website and learn more about our artists.
Pick up the phone and call us (734.769.7254), since we often find verbal conversations to be more enjoyable and productive than emails.
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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU. You can contact David at734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu
