ARTIST 2014 Edition “Artists, to my mind, are the real architects of change, and not the political legislators who implement change after the fact.” — William S. Burroughs
In an effort to eliminate waste and protect the environment, this handbook is available in digital format for download on our website at www.atctower.net. Print copies of the handbook will be available for distribution on special occasions.
WE MAKE YOUR WORK EASIER Air Traffic Control doesn’t use artists, rather, we are an artist focused organization that exists to be used by artists. Everything we do is intended to make things EASY for you, the artists and managers in our network. Our goal is to provide the inspiration, strategy, and resources to help achieve meaningful and quantifiable impact around artists’ philanthropic and activism work.
Here’s how:
• We have a knowledge bank of documented best strategies and can set up one-on-one advising, so you don’t have to learn the hard way.
• Issue-specific social media actions, so you don’t have to draft language from scratch (P.S.: Make sure we know the issues you care about). • Streamlined tips on how to make your activism and philanthropy easier, more impactful, and in line with your business model in our Make it Easy newsletter. • Immediate and vetted disaster response actions and fundraising mechanisms, so you can share with your fans right away.
• Opportunities to connect with other artists and managers and with the foremost experts on the issues you care about. • Advising and strategy for fundraisers like ticket or merchandise add-ons, charitable VIP packages, and online auctions, based on decades of experience. • And much more!
Call us! We want to hear from you. Air Traffic Control is especially helpful if you reach out to us when:
• Planning a tour or about to go on tour.
• You’re about to record or release a recording. • Putting together a digital strategy.
• Thinking about a cause-related video.
• You’re feeling inspired or overwhelmed -- or you just don’t know what you want to do. • You’re in between recording or touring.
• Writing material about or inspired by a cause.
• There are roadblocks to something you want to do. • You want to respond to a recent disaster.
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
• You can’t find information about an issue you care about.
• You’ve been asked to participate in a benefit concert or donate a song/item. • You want to engage on an issue, but don’t know where to begin. • You’ve been approached by an organization.
• You’re experiencing push back from fans or the media . • You’ve gotten involved in a cause and want to share what you’ve learned with us. • You’re going to be in San Francisco and want to stop by our office or grab a drink.
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
OUR MISSION Air Traffic Control provides strategy and support to artists so they can play an effective and vital role in the promotion of social justice. In 2005, musicians and their managers established Air Traffic Control as a trusted team of leaders with proven tools and resources that help musicians create more effective collaborations with each other and with social and environmental justice movements. In 2012, Air Traffic Control began expanding its reach and has now built a vast network that includes musicians, comedians, and other artists. As a result, we have become artists’ air traffic control—one that develops capacity, efficiency, and coordination to produce stronger and more creative change partnerships.
MEET YOUR SUPPORT TEAM We’re an extension of your team.
Erin Potts Erin’s work in her early twenties to create the Tibetan Freedom Concerts with the Beastie Boys brought international awareness, mobilized hundreds of popular musicians, raised over $5 million, and turned tens of thousands of young people into activists for Tibet. A decade later, Erin continues to work with musicians and other cultural leaders. She is an expert in cultural communications and strategies, and has a passion for engaging new audiences and innovating nonprofit activities. Deyden Tethong Deyden understands the power of music: As a young Tibetan, she saw millions learn about her country while working on the Tibetan Freedom Concerts and at the Milarepa Foundation with the Beastie Boys. Today, as the Program Director at Air Traffic Control, she continues to support and advise artists in their philanthropy and activism work and runs the Artist Activism Retreat program --- bringing artists together to learn and connect to the issues they are passionate about. Jamie Paratore Jamie manages Air Traffic Control’s communications content and data evaluation. Previous experience in the worlds of digital music, consumer tech PR, and nonprofit administration have given her a unique understanding of how cause-related campaigns and technology can successfully intersect. Her passion for supporting creative activism was ignited at her first live concert experience, U2’s Zoo TV tour at the Oakland Arena.
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Emily Smith As a lover of music, Emily has found a perfect fit at Air Traffic Control where she is able to combine several of her passions: philanthropy, activism, and music. As Program, Revenue, and Operations Coordinator, Emily keeps all systems running smoothly while providing the team with critical office, finance, and philanthropy support. She joined the Air Traffic Control team after finishing a degree in Sociology at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Maria Walsh Maria is the Development and Program Support Coordinator at Air Traffic Control, helping to manage development work, communications, program evaluation, and research. Maria’s passion for the intersection of arts, culture, and social justice previously brought her to Cuba where she studied dance and gender theory, and more recently led to her work at Air Traffic Control. She connects music and activism in her own life as a long-time volunteer at Bay Area Girls Rock Camp in Oakland, where she teaches guitar to young women.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Amy Blackman began managing bands under the tutelage of some of the greatest old schoolers around. Thirteen years later, she has a vibrant and successful roster, a thriving business and a core philosophy that remains in tact despite surging tides of change in our industry. She is a former partner of Cookman MGMT and former manager of Money Mark, multi-Grammy winning Ozomatli, multi multi multi-Grammy winning Producer/Mixer/Engineer Robert Carranza, Camilo Lara, and Mexican Institute of Sound. Kelly Curtis is the founder and owner of Curtis Management. Kelly is the manager of the rock band Pearl Jam. Bertis Downs, esq., first became involved in Air Traffic Control after attending an Air Traffic Control workshop in New York City on behalf of R.E.M., after which he referred many artists and organizations to Air Traffic Control. Bertis is the manager of the rock band R.E.M., and also an attorney and Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia’s Law School, where he teaches classes in Entertainment Law and Music Law. Keri Smith Esguia is a manager and producer and the co-founder of Whitesmith Entertainment, a comedy and music management firm based in Los Angeles and New York. She was an executive producer of the recent original FX series, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, produced by Chris Rock and helmed by her client, comedian W. Kamau Bell. Keri cut her teeth in the industry managing the career of comedian Margaret Cho,
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
with whom she worked closely for 10 years, overseeing Cho’s touring, merchandising, online presence and concert films. As head of the comedy department at Whitesmith, she currently works with some of the nation’s brightest up-and-coming comics. Alexis McGill Johnson is the Executive Director of the American Values Institute, a consortium focused on understanding the role of bias in our society and has worked as a writer, political strategist, and organizer. She also serves as chair of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Previously she served as Executive Director of Citizen Change, a national nonprofit organization founded by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs to educate, motivate, and empower young eligible voters. Kathy Kane is Bonnie Raitt’s manager and is the founder and Executive Director of the ARIA Foundation (Artist Resources In Action), a public charity that supports music industry philanthropy, operates tour greening and outreach programs, and provides aid to musicians and activists in emergency medical need or distress. Tim Quirk is Head of Global Content Programming, Android at Google. He spent much of the ‘80s and ‘90s as the singer and lyricist for the punk-pop band Too Much Joy, before politely easing his way into music journalism and the digital music business. He’s been a regular contributor to popular publications ranging from Raygun to The San Francisco Chronicle, and his critical essays have been published in anthologies such as This is Pop! by the Oxford University Press and Best Music Writing 2010 from Da Capo Press. Tim is currently one half of an electro-pop outfit called Wonderlick. He received a B.A. in communications from Stanford University, and an M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from New York University. Ian Rogers is the CEO of Beats Music, charged with redefining the digital music experience for consumers and artists alike, a role he is uniquely qualified for. Rogers has spent his entire career pioneering the intersection of music, artists, and the Internet. He possesses a deep knowledge of technology, combined with music industry savvy, a personal understanding of the music business from the artist’s point of view, and a finely tuned ear for music. Rogers has helped artists embrace technology since the early ‘90s, when after creating a fan site for the Beastie Boys as a personal project, he found himself recruited while still in college to teach the band the ways of the Internet. Michael Skolnik is a 21st century civil rights leader. As the Political Director to hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons and President of GlobalGrind.com, an online destination founded by Simmons with over 4.5 million viewers per month, Michael is a leading voice for young America. In his role as Political Director, Michael and Russell focus their work around three core themes: violence, poverty, and ignorance. As President of GlobalGrind.com, Michael leads a website that serves a multi-racial segment of the 18-34 population, covering entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, style, music and politics.
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Nicole Vandenberg is the owner of Vandenberg Communications. With more than a decade of public relations and public affairs experience, Nicole’s work has focused on media relations, community relations, crisis communications, strategic philanthropy, and special events for clients in arts and entertainment, business, nonprofit, and government. Her firm’s past and current clients include: Pearl Jam, Vote for Change, Music for America, Gloria Steinem, Tell Us The Truth Tour, Choice USA, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Groundwork 2001, People for the American Way, The Songbird Foundation, and Voters for Choice.
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Contents Creative Philanthropy: Supporting Your Causes
1
Ticket Add-On FAQ
2
#GoVote: 2014 Elections
3
Campaign Finance Law: How to Use and Not Be Used
5
Stop the Inbox Jam: Use Our Questionnaire to Manage Requests from Causes
11
Top Tips for Sustainable Touring
14
Artists on the Hill: Bringing Heart to the Policy
17
When Disaster Strikes
18
Mic Check: Top Tips for Cause Related Interviews
20
Social Good With Social Media
21
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
CREATIVE PHILANTHROPY Supporting Your Causes
“It not only helps us immediately replace critical funds... but it has rallied the morale of our entire organization.” — Executive Director of a nonprofit that received an artist donation
Air Traffic Control’s strategies and resources make it easy for you to effectively raise significant funds for the causes you care about. In the past two decades, our team has helped artists raise, direct, and re-grant over $10 million. If you’re interested in raising funds for causes, get in touch with ATC as early as possible. We’ll help you make it effective and impactful.
What you can do while touring:
• Ticket Add-Ons: Standard micro-donations—anything from .50 to $2—that are added to every ticket an artist sells.
• Merchandise Add-Ons or Proceeds: Standard micro-donations that are added to a designated merchandise item(s).
• Guest List Donations: Request that comped guests make a donation in lieu of the ticket price.
What you can do when not on tour:
• Digital Downloads. Donate the proceeds from unreleased tracks.
• Direct Fan Donations. Air Traffic Control can help set up a fund in the artist’s name that can promoted on their website, through social media, or through email blasts.
• Mobile App Donations. Artists with existing band or artist apps can add functionality to allow fan donations. Beneficiaries can be rotated or changed out periodically. • Auctions. Auctions set up on various platforms for merchandise, gear, meet-and-greets, special events, unique fan experiences like dining with a band member, recording an outgoing message for a fan, and more. • Charitable VIP Packages: Sales of “money can’t buy” experiences.
Working with Air Traffic Control means that you don’t have to worry about the rest. We handle vetting and coordinating with organizations, receiving and regranting donations, legal and tax compliance, and reporting impact back to you. If you’re thinking about raising funds for causes you care about, get in touch with philanthropy@atctower.net or any ATC staff as soon as possible. 1
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
TICKET ADD-ON FAQ “What’s great about a liaison like Air Traffic Control is that they know what is needed in each area [so] we can be more effective with our philanthropy.” — Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket)
How do ticket add-ons work?
Simply choose a standard micro-donation—anything from .50 to $2—to be added to every ticket you sell. The money you raise through ticket add-ons will directly support the cause(s) of your choice, without effecting the tour’s revenue and your bottom line.
What do artists do?
As soon as you start thinking about booking a tour, get in touch with Air Traffic Control. A quick paragraph regarding the ticket add-ons needs to be included in show deal memos. Next, you decide where the funds are donated: you can choose from our vetted list of nonprofit organizations or we can research causes you care about.
What do promoters do?
Deal memos will specify that promoters cut a check to Air Traffic Control for the specified micro-donation when they close out a show.
What does Air Traffic Control do?
Air Traffic Control handles all of the administrative oversight, including the legal and tax compliance work, and vetting groups to ensure the funds you raise go to effective, efficient, and ethical organizations. Additionally, Air Traffic Control sends reports to your management so you can track and, if you wish, share with fans the impact you’re making.
Is there a minimum number of shows we have to commit to?
No. You can still make a big impact from one or a few shows. If you’re not ready to commit to a full tour, you can start with just a few of your bigger shows, your hometown shows, or any other combination. Last year, a $1 micro-donation per ticket sold for one night at a club covered the cost of a hot dinner for 350 military veterans who served as Superstorm Sandy first responders. And a $1 micro-donation per ticket sold at a venue like Red Rocks could lead to a nearly $10,000 donation. So a little can go a long way.
It’s too late for this year’s tour. Are there other ways we can help? Air Traffic Control can also help you raise money through merch add-ons, auctions, VIP ticketing, guest list donations, and more. 2
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
#GoVote 2014 Elections
WHAT’S AT STAKE? In 2014, voters throughout the globe will elect 25 Presidents who will lead half of the world’s population. In the US, we will vote on: • All 435 seats in the House, • 33 seats in the Senate, • 38 state & territorial governorships, • 46 state legislatures, • 4 territorial legislatures, • and numerous state and local races. KEY ISSUES: 2014 is a year when voter protection issues will come to a head in many states - with (potentially) a new bipartisan Voting Rights Act and court challenges to many voting restrictions, including the proposed “two-tier” voting system in Kansas and Arizona. We’ll keep you posted on important actions related to voter protection and other issues, including women’s rights, immigration, media justice, and the environment. Regular updates and related news can also be found on HeadCount’s blog (http://www.headcount.org/blog/).
Only 1 in 5 young people in America vote. #getregistered #govote
TURNOUT: As an artist, you can have a huge impact in making sure that voters make it to the ballot box. 34 million people who voted in 2012 are not expected to vote in 2014, and the biggest drop-off will be among educated young people. Often these young people are fans of the artists and comedians working with Air Traffic Control. KEY DEMOGRAPHICS: The Rising American Electorate (RAE) includes young people, people of color (particularly Latinos and African Americans), and unmarried women, and continues to be a key demographic in elections. It is one of the largest and most powerful voting groups, but a huge portion is not registered to vote. More mobile than other communities, the RAE is more reachable by artists’ voter registration efforts than more conventional efforts. Artists have played an important role in helping get fans registered to vote, encouraging fans to vote on election day, and helping fans understand elections’ potential impacts on the issue areas they care about. Let Air Traffic Control know if you’re interested in issues surrounding elections and we’ll keep you informed and updated.
3
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
KEY DATES: State Primaries: March 4th to November 4th (http://bit.ly/2014primarydates) Voter Registration Deadlines: Begin October 4th, 2014 National Voter Registration Day: September 23, 2014 Election Day: November 4th, 2014
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY (NVRD) September 23rd, 2014
This year, we’ll be working with HeadCount to help artists take action on social media, encouraging fans to register to vote, and sharing pictures of themselves with a sign saying “Register To Vote Here.” Find voter registration deadlines broken down by state at HeadCount here: http://www.headcount.org/deadlines-dates/ So you can share more easily with your fans, we’ll provide timely tips, social media language, and links about voter registration, voter rights, and controversial voter ID laws. If you’d like to get involved, contact any of the Air Traffic Control staff.
ELECTION DAY
November 4th, 2014 During elections, you can send email blasts to fans, participate in the Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaign, volunteer in the field to register voters, live-tweet during major speeches, strategically route your tours through battleground states, write op-ed pieces, advocate for candidates, voice your stances on issues, and host Twitter forums on issues related to the election. Two of the easiest and most effective ways you can take action are by creating and sharing images with the hashtag #GoVote and by posting pictures of yourself after voting with the #IVoted hashtag to encourage fans to get out and do the same. Air Traffic Control will be working to promote these campaigns in 2014, be sure to let us know if you’d like to get involved.
4
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW How to Use and Not be Used
We asked our election lawyers, Sandler & Reiff, some of the questions most frequently asked by managers and artists about campaign finance law. Below, find clarification on Citizen’s United, playing benefit concerts, what to do when candidates or campaigns use your music, and more.
BACKGROUND: INVOLVED ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR RULES AND LIMITATIONS 1. Campaigns • Federal campaigns—including the presidential campaigns-- can accept direct contributions only from individuals (up to $2,600 per election) and federal political committees (PACs) ($5,000 per election). • Cannot accept any corporate contributions. • Anything of value counts as a contribution if provided for less than fair market value.
2. Political Party Committees. Like the Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, state party committees, etc. • National party committees can accept up to $32,400/year from individuals (see chart on overall limits). • State parties can accept up to $10,000/year for use in federal races, but to non-federal accounts. There is variation from state to state. • Party committees can spend a lot to help their candidates, including the presidential ticket, much of it in ways not limited in amount.
3. Regular PACs • Can accept up to $5,000/year from individuals and other PACs; can directly contribute to federal candidates, up to $5,000/election. Cannot accept any corporate contributions. 4. Super PACs • Made possible by Supreme Court decision in the Citizen’s United case.
• Can accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, unions, etc. • Acting completely independently of the candidate or party committee, can
5
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
spend an unlimited amount on any activity/ communications for or against any candidate, including presidential. Any medium, any time, with no limit on what can be said. • All contributions to a SuperPAC are publicly disclosed. (SuperPACs register and file disclosure reports with the Federal Election Commission).
5. Nonprofit Organizations: 501(c)(3) • Are educational, charitable, etc. in function.
• Can accept contributions without limit from any source. • Contributions to a c(3) are tax deductible to the donor as charitable contributions. • Contributions to a c(3) are NOT publicly disclosed. • The c(3) cannot engage in any partisan activity. • The c(3) can participate in nonpartisan voter registration and voter mobilization/GOTV efforts targeted to low income groups, youth, minorities, other under-represented groups; not targeted to a candidate or political party.
6. Nonprofit Organizations: 501(c)(4) • Advocacy organizations (environmental, civil rights groups, etc). • Can accept contributions without limit from any source.
• Contributions to c(4) are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. • Contributions to c(4) are NOT publicly disclosed (unless contributions are earmarked for independent expenditures or electioneering communication, which is easily avoided). • The c(4) can engage in partisan activity, subject to campaign finance laws, as long as it’s not the “primary purpose” of the organization (a majority of its spending and activity is not focused on partisan activity). • The c(4) can do some independent spending on communications or activity specifically for and against candidates.
7. Nonprofit Organizations: 527 • An organization that can undertake unlimited partisan issue advocacy without having to form a federal PAC.
• Although such organizations were prevalent during the 2008 election, recent developments, including the Citizens United case, make it highly unlikely that such groups will be significant players during the 2014 election cycle.
6
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
WHAT YOU CAN DO: HOW TO DONATE A CONCERT OR PERFORMANCE Independently Organized Events To Help a Candidate or Political Party • Bands and concert promoters, acting independently of any candidate or political party committee, can organize concerts to rally voters for or against a particular candidate in a federal, state, or local race. • The band or promoter can sell tickets and pay expenses as usual with no limit. The band can forego all or part of their performance fee. The ticket purchases will not constitute political contributions and are not tax deductible. Most of the expenses may not be tax-deductible to the band or promoter as business expenses. • When a concert is promoted specifically to rally voters for a candidate or to communicate messages to vote for or against a candidate, the band or promoter may also be required to file a simple form with the Federal Election Commission reporting the fact and amount of the expenditures for the event (This is called an Independent Expenditure Report). • Artists can freely speak out about political issues and candidates. Assuming their decision to speak out as well as the message, etc. have not been coordinated or discussed with any candidate or political party committee, during the performance artists can freely speak for or against candidates and can ask the audience and/or viewers to vote for or vote against a candidate. • For an event not specifically promoted as a political rally or concert, all of the expenses will still be tax deductible to the band or promoter as business expenses. And there would be no reporting requirements. • None of the proceeds can be donated directly to the campaign or party committee. Events Sponsored by the Candidate or Political Party (with proceeds going to the candidate or party) • Artists can volunteer their own time and performance as well as the use of their name and likeness, without limit. • An incorporated band cannot donate the use of its personnel (session musicians, crew, production labor), rights and clearances, nor equipment. The candidate or party committee must pay all of those costs. • For example, a campaign or party committee pays a venue for use of house, set up, lights/sound, etc., and the individual musicians, using their own equipment, may volunteer. • Individual artists can pay from their own funds for use of personnel or 7
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
equipment but only up to applicable contributions limits (see above), which is generally not practical. • Where a regular concert is scheduled, a band or promoter can also sell tickets to the campaign or party committee at full face or retail value. Once the campaign has the tickets, they can do whatever they want with them. Since technically they are giving the tickets as premiums for a contribution, the campaign can set the donation level at whatever they want for a ticket or set of tickets. Events to Help SuperPACs and Nonprofit Organizations • For a concert, event, or project organized and paid for by a c(3) or c(4) nonprofit organization, or a SuperPAC, and organized independently of any candidate or political party committee: • The proceeds of the concert or performance can be donated without limit to the organization. Tickets can be given to the organization for it to distribute. • If the beneficiary is a SuperPAC it may be necessary to collect donor information for compliance purposes, and segregate proceeds from other funds, depending on the ticket price. • Artists can donate their time and services, rights to performance, and use of name and likeness without limit. • Incorporated bands and production companies can donate use of their personnel and equipment to the organization, without limit, regardless of the message of the concert or event, even if it is a concert or event specifically to rally people to vote for or against a particular candidate. • Any message can be delivered during the performance. • Voter registration activities may be conducted at the performance as long as anyone attending has the opportunity to register. Merchandising • Merchandise sold by band’s merchandising operation with the revenue divided as usual (that is, nothing going to a candidate or party committee) can say anything for or against a candidate. • Merchandise at a benefit concert for a candidate party committee can still have messaging for or against a candidate, but proceeds go the merchandising operation as usual. • Proceeds from merchandise sold at a concert, performance, or any setting other than a benefit concert can benefit a SuperPAC or non-profit organization, but not a federal campaign or party.
8
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Media and Social Media. • There is no limit on what an artist can say about any candidate or issue in press interviews and media appearances (talk shows, etc.). • There is no limit on what a band or artist can post if acting independently of campaign or party on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages or in messages.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN A CAMPAIGN USES RECORDED MUSIC WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION: Campaigns You Support
• The artist may waive performance royalties for use of music by a particular campaign/organization by filing an appropriate waiver with the Performance Rights Organization (PRO). • Don’t assume that campaigns, political parties, and organizations know that they need to get a license from the PRO unless they get a waiver from the artist. Most of them are not aware of how this works and frequently get in trouble with PRO’s. • If you find out that your music is being used by a campaign or organization you support, you should decide whether you want to waive or enforce performance royalties If you decide to waive royalties, you should contact the campaign or organization about ensuring a proper waiver is filed. Campaigns You Oppose If a campaign or organization (SuperPAC, nonprofit, political committee, etc.) that you oppose is using your music in advertising, on its website, at rallies, and/or at public events: • You can shut down the unauthorized performance of your music by having the relevant PRO contact the campaign or organization and demand that back royalties be paid and that the campaign/organization cease and desist from using your music without a proper license from the PRO. • You can contact the opposing campaign or organization directly letting them know that they need to get a license from the PRO unless they get a waiver from the artist and/or publicize the issue as you see fit.
9
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
These numbers are current as of January 2014. For the most up to date numbers, please visit http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/contriblimits.shtml
Limit of $5,000 per calendar year to each Federal PAC.
Combined limit of $10,000 per calendar year to state and local party committees in each state.
Limit of $32,400 per calendar year to each national party committee.
Limit of $2,600 per election cycle (primary and general) to Presidential campaigns.
Limit $2,600 per election cycle (primary and general) to each US Senate and House candidate.
That money is limited and broken down in the following ways:
Individuals are limited to total “Hard Money” contributions Individuals are limited to total “Hard Money” contributions of of $123,200 per 2 year election cycle. $123,200 per 2 year election cycle. That money is limited and broken down in the following ways:
STOP THE INBOX JAM
Use Our Questionnaire to Manage Requests from Causes This sample questionnaire will help you gather all of the information you need from an organization to determine if you’re able to participate in an event or project. It can and should be customized for your needs and interest. Here are some tips on how to use it: • Make it a Google form and review responses at regular intervals. This helps reduce emails and allows you to review all requests at once. • Set up canned email responses to reduce the amount of time this process takes. Contact any of the Air Traffic Control staff for a digital version. We can help set up and even manage this process for you.
Sample Organization Questionnaire To help us determine if we can accommodate your request, please answer the following questions concisely (no more than 3-4 sentences). If your request is feasible and under serious consideration, weʼll reach out to you for additional information, including: budgets, annual reports, strategy, board members, and contact info for three references for your work with artists. Thank you. Type of Request: Describe the specific request of the artist(s)/band(s) that you want to engage. For example, a performance, signing on to a letter of support, initiative or project, donating money or an auction item, Public Service Announcement, a fact-finding trip, or a media/press interview or speech.
Organization Information
Name of organization:____________________________________________________ Tax ID:________________________________________________________________
Tax Status:_____________________________________________________________
Proof of Current Status: __________________________________________________
Year organization was formed:_____________________________________________ Last yearʼs annual budget:________________________________________________ This yearʼs projected budget:______________________________________________
Main contact name, phone number, and email:_________________________________ Organization’s website:___________________________________________________ 11
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Event, Campaign, and/or Project Description and Information Primary goal of the project youʼre asking us to participate in: Date, duration, and deadline of the event/campaign/project: Location (city and venue) and exact time (if your request is for an event): Specific “ask” of artist/band (What do you want them to do?): Deadline for artist/band response: List of others youʼve asked to participate, noting who has confirmed their participation (to date): Brief outline of your strategy for achieving success around this particular effort: Description of why this particular artist (and not others) will help this event achieve its goal. (What does this artist bring to this event that will differentiate this request from the other requests they receive?): Please describe previous work that you have done with musicians or comedians. Include the name(s) of artists you have worked with, what you asked of the artists, and the impact of the effort: Please describe if and how this effort will raise money for a cause, and exactly where the money will go. Please include estimated revenue, any affiliation with a corporation or corporations, and ticket price:
12
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
If this request is an event, please list expected event attendance with this artist and without this artist: If the event is a rally or outdoor event, what is the alternate or indoor location?: If you are requesting this artist to give a live musical or speaking performance, please provide spec details and budget allocated to provide adequate sound system and staff for the performance, including name of vendors or sound engineers. Please also provide the name of the person responsible for quality of the production and the person who will review production rider information: Describe the budget allocated to cover necessary transportation, meals, and accommodations costs for the artists and their production staff: Please describe the press strategy. (Who is responsible and what experience do they have in garnering the type of press you need to achieve the above stated event goal?): Briefly outline your assessment of any potential media risk to artists (i.e. backlash if advocating for or against a particular position): Briefly outline your strategy for mitigating risks in order to successfully achieve stated goal: Briefly outline the timeline associated with this event, including when the artist can expect an impact report delivered:
13
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
TOP TIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURING
Air Traffic Control has captured best practices from artists, industry leading experts, and organizations that have experience creating more sustainable concerts, festivals, and tours. Below are our top tips for artists who want to make their tours more sustainable (not just greener). If you want to make your touring more sustainable, get in touch with Air Traffic Control and we can advise on the strategies below and more.
IF YOU CAN ONLY DO ONE THING.
Play Venues Accessible by Public Transit and Encourage Fans to Use It. Fan transportation constitutes up to 85-90% of the carbon emissions on a tour. Encouraging fans to use public transit is the most important and effective way to reduce emissions. Share transit options with fans by posting links to services, like Google Maps, or offer incentives, like a lottery for public transporters to win free downloads or backstage passes.
IF YOU CAN DO ONE MORE THING.
Use Reusable Water Containers that can be refilled at rest stop water fountains or grocery stores instead of getting cases of bottled water. Request that the venue provide water coolers backstage for use with refillable water bottles in riders.
IF YOU CAN DO MORE.
Route Tours Wisely. Book tours in the most efficient way possible by routing them within a few hours of each other and taking the shortest routes possible to avoid unnecessary mileage and eliminate backtracking. Encourage and Promote Carpooling. If public transit isn’t an option, encourage and offer incentives for fans to carpool with friends and/or use services such as PickupPal (for example, hold a lottery for carpoolers to win free downloads or backstage passes). Keep Flying to A Minimum. Flying has the highest climate impact of any form of transportation. When you have to fly, do it during the day whenever possible as studies have shown that night flights release more emissions. Also, try to fly airlines with environmentally sustainable policies and practices and newer fleets (http://bit.ly/ecofriendlyairlines).
14
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Tour Lightly. Consolidate the number of trucks and buses on tour as much as possible and use trucking, busing, and van rental companies with sustainable policies. For example, Bandago is a van rental company that caters specifically to the music community while continually finding ways to incorporate new technologies and greener policies into the services they provide. Create an Eco-Rider. Incorporate environmental requests for venues directly into a rider. Many of the tips listed here can appear in your rider. Here are some examples of what other artists have included in theirs: • Venues will have a complete recycling program backstage, throughout the audience area and parking lots; • Venue to allow concertgoers to bring their own bottles and provide free refills to reduce packaging waste; • Venue to purchase renewable energy credits or carbon offsets for each show; • Caterers will provide washable plates, cutlery, and biodegradable cups for all meals; • Venue to have an in-house composting program for catering scraps; • Concessions company to use 100% biodegradable food ware and/or recyclable plastic cups and bottles to be recycled by venue; • Dressing room and backstage facilities to have water-efficient appliances; • Venue to provide water coolers backstage for use with refillable water bottles. • Ask Air Traffic Control for sample riders.
Request That Bike Racks Be Provided at Venues, if cycling is possible. Also, team up with local bike advocacy organizations to provide a bike-check station at shows and/ or to organize community bike rides to shows. Stay at Hotels That Promote Sustainable Practices. The Green Hotels Association maintains a list of hotels that have pledged to conserve resources and increase energy efficiency. Staying with friends and family along a tour is a greener option than staying in a hotel and is a must for those bands on a budget. Produce And Promote Merchandise and Music Responsibly. Produce all materials and signage with ecologically friendly materials. Use organic cotton shirts or shirts made from fibers such as bamboo, hemp, and soy. Plan ahead and limit excess overnight shipping of t-shirts and other merchandising products to venues.
15
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Do a Bike Tour. Artists like Blind Pilot, Ben Sollee, and Benny Benassi have found bike tours to be an innovative way to produce a more carbon neutral tour while raising fan awareness and support for the issues they care about. The promotion and support of bike coalitions and biking as an alternative transportation method can encourage fans to make lifestyle changes that go well beyond the day of the show. More on bike tours and advocacy on our site here: http://bit.ly/bikeadvocacy. Partner with Local Organizations. Get involved in energy and environmental policy efforts with local organizations. Call Air Traffic Control to connect with organizations that have worked with artists on a wide-range of issues and for other resources and research on partnering with organizations. Offset What Can始t Be Reduced. After all other carbon reduction activities have been exhausted, purchase carbon offsets and renewable energy credits to help neutralize a tour始s remaining contribution to global warming. Native Energy and Green Mountain Energy are two artist-recommended offset providers that have specific teams dedicated to working with the artist community and can help calculate the carbon emissions for a specific tour. Remember that while offsets can be part of a comprehensive solution, they should not be seen as a substitute for better practices.
16
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
ARTISTS ON THE HILL Bringing Heart to the Policy
I’m a rock singer, so I’m used to speaking my mind in front of a mic. But to be honest, this isn’t the crowd I’m used to.
— Damian Kulash (OK Go) opening his Congressional testimony on Net Neutrality, 2008.
Artists have a unique and often untapped potential to help drive social justice policy in a sphere overrun by corporate interests, advocacy groups, grassroots organizations, and labor unions. Their visits to the Hill have been vital to demystifying lawmaking and our federal government. Artists’ ability to model civic duty for their immense fan bases significantly contributes to activating new voters. Factors in artists’ potential success include:
• Access. Elected officials and their staff are often eager to meet with both superstars and emerging artists that they are fans of, providing a level of access atypical among Washington advocates. • Charisma and standing. Artists can use their ability to tell compelling stories in public settings like Congressional testimonies, interviews, news conferences, blogs, op-eds, and more.
• Mobilizing networks. In a social networking age, artists have the ability to activate their network to quickly amplify messages and distribute information. • Validators. Artists can inspire and validate activism, redefining cultural and political dialog. They maximize the success of incremental policy fights while redefining long term possibilities. Artists can also reinforce and validate the importance of activist organizations, significantly helping them with visibility, recruitment, and fundraising.
HOW TO START:
1. Go to DC! Route your tours to DC and take a day off. • Visit members of Congress, regulatory officials, and their staffs. In many offices, staffers have a lot of influence (and may even be fans). • Blog and tweet about the experience. Fans enjoy seeing the world through artistsʼ eyes, and witnessing the political process is no different.
2. Find the right organization. We’ll work with you to find an advocacy organization that knows how to do policy. 3. Call on fans to take action. Focus calls to actions on where fans can learn more about the issue, legislation, or specific action. 4. Share an opinion piece. Opinion pieces in local newspapers, political blogs, or video messages shared in coordination with allied organizations can be effective in advocacy and policy campaigns. 17
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES Artists are often the driving force behind fundraising and awareness-raising efforts in support of recovery. Since the 2004 Asian Tsunami, Air Traffic Control has studied how artists can have the most impact when responding to disasters. Our experience and research is summarized below.
BEST PRACTICES FOR ARTISTS “WHEN DISASTER STRIKES” • Disaster aftermath is broken down into three separate phases: Rescue → Relief → Recovery.
• Governments and multinational organizations are usually best equipped and poised to handle the first two phases of the aftermath: Rescue→ Relief • It’s in the third phase, Recovery, that we’ve seen artists and their fans have the greatest impact: tracking, amplifying, and funding long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. • This third phase, while critical to full recovery, is also often the most overlooked and under-resourced, as it takes place after the international attention and news cameras have left the area. As witnessed in post-Katrina New Orleans and after the Haitian earthquake, artists and fans can help ensure that the world remains engaged after the media leaves, maintaining the public’s attention on impacted communities. • Air Traffic Control suggests artists and their fans donate to a long-term recovery fund which allows time for the impact of the disaster to become clearer and for long-term implications to be identified. • Giving a donation to a long-term fund allows individuals to respond quickly and with a sense of urgency, but ensures donations have a greater impact and go towards efforts that are making a difference. • These private dollar donations can then be used to establish funds for future rebuilding and other long-term recovery needs, like health care, and to help ensure that all affected communities have a voice at the rebuilding table. Find more information about making donations in times of disaster here
(http://bit.ly/11Wc9dI).
Image Source: Sean McConnell
18
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Air Traffic Control partners with one of the world’s foremost experts, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, to run an always-active, long-term disaster response fund called “When Disaster Strikes.” Donations are accepted immediately after a disaster, but held until they can be strategically re-granted to fully vetted organizations working on the ground in affected communities. Donate directly and find more info on our website (http://bit.ly/DisasterFund). Regular email updates will make sure that you know how your money (and that of your fans) is being spent and what outcomes you helped to achieve.
EXAMPLES OF ARTIST FUNDRAISERS IN RESPONSE TO DISASTERS: Creative ways artists in our network have raised funds in response to a specific disaster like Hurricane Sandy include:
• Digital Download Fundraisers. Air Traffic Control worked with Nicole Atkins, Frank Bressi, and Mickey Hart to set up and manage successful digital download fundraisers to raise money for organizations doing relief work. • Ticket Add-Ons. Several artists, including Benjamin Gibbard, My Morning Jacket, and Bassnectar partnered with Air Traffic Control to donate $1 from every ticket sold to organizations responding to Hurricane Sandy, including Waves for Water, Occupy Sandy, and Team Rubicon. • Direct Fan Donations. Air Traffic Control established a fund for MGMT to collect donations directly from their fans. While these types of fundraisers can be set up at any time, Air Traffic Control has often done so in the wake of disasters. This allows donations to be collected in immediate response, while charity selections can be postponed until a full understanding of the greatest needs in an area are determined. For more on these strategies and others, contact disaster@atctower.net or any of the Air Traffic Control staff.
19
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
MIC CHECK
Top Tips for Cause Related Interviews Musicians and comedians are often asked to speak in interviews on the issues that they care about. We’ve created these guidelines with input from experts and artists with extensive experience in cause related media work. We are always here to advise artists. Contact any of the Air Traffic Control staff if you’d like support on an upcoming interview. First, determine if doing the interview is the most strategic way to support the overall efforts of the campaign or issue or if another action might be more strategic (such as a fundraiser, donation, statement, press release, etc.). If an interview is the best next step, here are tips for preparing: Avoid being thrown off track by a hostile interviewer by knowing what the issue is, where you stand on that issue and why, and what role you are playing within the larger movement around the issue. Pair up with a credible Air Traffic Control-vetted expert on the issue. Do your homework, but defer to the expert for citing facts and figures on the issue you’re addressing. Artists are best positioned to focus on personal storytelling and anecdotes that connect them to the issue and offer these as opinions rather than facts. Know the overall communications strategy in place around the issue, the plan for handling, mitigating, or responding to dissention on the issue and for keeping the right message in the media. Ask the campaign or an organization working on the issue for the top three arguments for and against the issue or stance you are supporting. Identify the two to three key points you want to make, and how to best convey these. What are the three quotes you’d be happy seeing in the media after the interview? Keep bringing the conversation back to these points. Know the audience for the interview and speak to it by using anecdotes and language that will appeal to it. Know the interviewer, who else is being interviewed on the issue, and the scope and format of the interview. Always have a call to action or a place to send people for more information. Prepare. Practice.
20
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
SOCIAL GOOD WITH SOCIAL MEDIA Social media is a powerful, free, and easy way artists can inspire, build awareness, and activate an audience on important issues in 30 seconds or less.
WHY SOCIAL GOOD CONTENT IS SO VALUABLE:
• Content: Many artists and their managers (or digital teams) feel overwhelmed by the constant need to turn around new social content and complain that they don’t know what to tweet or post about to keep their channels fresh. Communicating passion for a cause and/or non-profit can be the perfect story to tell in 140 characters. Other ideas for content include: sharing key national actions and petitions, arts and culture news stories, images, quotes, statistics, and more.
• Reach: Social media is an easy and inexpensive way to gain distribution and attention for an issue or cause by promoting videos with personal stories or sharing a crowdsourcing campaign or contest. • Engagement: Artists can connect with fans on a more personal level and strengthen their brand by articulating what they care about and what their values are. Doing so on social media has the potential to grow an artist’s network in the process.
HOW TO GET STARTED: 1. Identify the causes and issues you care most about. Follow the social profiles of organizations and news sources that provide info and personal stories about those issues. 2. Begin to raise awareness around these issues on social media. These messages can include factoids about the issue, why itʼs important to you, stories and videos, etc. If you are not in charge of your social media presence, be sure to identify and vet the person in charge of this for you or your band. 3. Promote relevant and timely campaigns and actions that will help bring awareness or new audiences to the issue. 4. Find unique ways to get fans involved by making your social good content interactive. Some things you might want to consider doing: • Featuring your fans and audience members. Make it a conversation by asking questions and think of unique ways to share fans’ responses. • Give them a social media oriented mission and incentive for sharing. For example, ask fans to “Tweet a photo of how you are using public 21
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
transportation to get to our show and you will be entered to win a backstage pass.” • Invite your fans to express why they care about the cause.They can share videos, text messages, or artwork. Then find a way to feature your fansʼ contributions through your various channels. • Get competitive! Run a contest amongst your fans: encourage fans to volunteer and document their efforts with a picture. Then choose a fan to highlight on social media pages or have fans nominate their favorite charity or nonprofit for consideration of a donation; incentives could include tickets for a show, merchandise, music, or a phone call from you. If you are launching a social media campaign and you want fellow artists and colleagues to support that action via social media, here are a few tips: • Send very clear instructions to the person who manages their digital content at least 2-3 days before the action, with: • info on how to help, • the date and time of the action, and • sample social media language that can be copied and pasted directly into an artist’s social media profile. • Use large engaging visuals with every post and ask folks to share using those images. • Include relevant handles and hashtags with all other assets. Use a url shortener service (such as bit.ly) to see how many people have clicked on your link and measure what content is resonating with your fans. If you have a budget (even a small one) you can boost your posts on many social media forums, including Facebook and Twitter, so that more fans see your cause-related content. Follow Air Traffic Control’s social media channels for updates and posts on a variety of important issues. These are designed to easily share with your networks. Air Traffic Control is the place for artist activism on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
We can directly advise artists on their social media. Get in touch with any of the Air Traffic Control staff for creative examples, best practices, and strategies.
22
Activism + philanthropy made easy with ATC
Š 2014 Air Traffic Control Education Fund, Inc.