The National Foundation for Youth Music is calling on musicians, promoters, venue owners and music fans to put on and attend gigs to support the charity’s work and enable thousands of disadvantaged children and young people have access to life-changing music-making opportunities. Whether this is one of a run of nights at London’s 02 by a headline artist, or a small gig in a village pub, Give a Gig will be a fun way to bring musicians, friends and communities together to enjoy music, while raising funds to enable others less fortunate to enjoy it too. Youth Music developed the campaign idea as one of the few charities that uses music as a core part of its work.
Youth Music’s Executive Director Matt Griffiths says: “We hope this fundraising campaign offers great flexibility to music fans who might like to give to a charity that uses music to help change lives. We don’t mind who you are or where you are, we welcome all Give a Gig supporters regardless of the size of the gig, the type of music or the amount of money raised. Of course, the bigger the better, but most of all we want people to have fun performing and attending gigs.”
Give a Gig will be supported by a bespoke website that will enable bands, performers, venue owners and promoters to list their event. The site will also host ticketing and venue information, music videos, gig news, info on how to put on a gig, and a dedicated area for fans to review gigs, making it an online resource for fans and artists alike.
WeGotTickets are the preferred Give a Gig ticketing partner, and are kindly donating a portion of all their booking fees in June as part of their ‘Give a Gig Month’. Youth Music acknowledges that there may be costs involved in putting on a gig.
Matt Griffiths continues: “We’re aware that, in some instances, putting on a gig can cost money – whether it’s for hiring a venue or sound equipment. And some performers taking part in Give a Gig may be professional musicians. While we hope many promoters, bands and musicians might consider offering up their time to Give a Gig for free, if they are able to do so, we fully support musicians who believe they should be properly rewarded for their work. So we are happy for Give a Gig supporters to take essential expenses out of the money raised. We hope that in these circumstances, those putting on a gig will be fully transparent about their costs with the supporters who come to their event.”
Youth Music’s Ambassador, Jen Long, presenter of BBC Introducing (pictured), Radio 1 said: “I’m supporting Give a Gig because Youth Music is one of the few charities that puts music at the core of its work, using it to help thousands of disadvantaged children every year. But for each young person it supports, there’s another one waiting for help. So go on, Give a Gig. If you book them, they will come.”
If you’d like to put on a gig to support the work Youth Music does, sign up now at www.giveagig.org.uk.
