Does a Door Split Mean Giving It All Away?
Tuesday March 27, 2007
If you're an indie musician who is playing in small venues, chances are you've heard the words "door split" many times before. Under a door split deal, a band agrees to forgo a set fee for a live performance in exchange for sharing in the profits from ticket sales with the promoter . Typically, a promoter will initially recoup their costs for renting the venue, renting any special equipment you needed, and promotion costs from the ticket sales, and then the remaining money gets divided between artist and promoter. Some door splits heavily favor the artists, with 70%/30% division of profits, while other door split deals are strictly 50/50. These kinds of deals are extremely common in small venues and for up and coming artists.
Of course, the inherent danger in a door split agreement is that not enough tickets will be sold for anyone to make any money. In fact, in the early stages of your career, when you're just trying to make a name for yourself, the promoter might not even make back their initial investment. That means you go home without any money. Does that mean you should avoid door split deals? Definitely not. These kinds of deals are the backbone of the small, local music scene, and they are equally important for small bands trying to get out there and do a little touring to create a buzz. While some promoters will do a deal in which you get a small guarantee versus a percentage of the door (whichever is higher), you'll find more promoters are willing to take a risk on you if you're willing to take a risk on a door split deal. These shows are a way for you to expand your audience, sign people up to your mailing list, and get the press out to your shows - all the things you need to be able to move up to bigger venues and more lucrative deals. So, when you're trying to launch your band, don't be afraid of the door split deals. You may go home without any cash, but you definitely won't be going home empty handed.
Of course, the inherent danger in a door split agreement is that not enough tickets will be sold for anyone to make any money. In fact, in the early stages of your career, when you're just trying to make a name for yourself, the promoter might not even make back their initial investment. That means you go home without any money. Does that mean you should avoid door split deals? Definitely not. These kinds of deals are the backbone of the small, local music scene, and they are equally important for small bands trying to get out there and do a little touring to create a buzz. While some promoters will do a deal in which you get a small guarantee versus a percentage of the door (whichever is higher), you'll find more promoters are willing to take a risk on you if you're willing to take a risk on a door split deal. These shows are a way for you to expand your audience, sign people up to your mailing list, and get the press out to your shows - all the things you need to be able to move up to bigger venues and more lucrative deals. So, when you're trying to launch your band, don't be afraid of the door split deals. You may go home without any cash, but you definitely won't be going home empty handed.
Comments
Well said. In some cities, too many artists don’t realize the importance of the business realities raised in your article. I hope you guys keep this article in circulation for a good while. Thanks.