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Päivää!
 
Minä en puhu suomea, sorry guys! :-)
 
First of all, am I allowed to write here in English?? I had a Finnish friend of mine check this for me before posting so I hope this is ok. If not, are there any international forums where Finnish musicians hang out?
 
I am a professional musician from Spain. I would like to discuss the clubs/pubs, live-music scene in Helsinki or Finland and what the business is like, as I would be interested in spending a working-season there if possible. I have played in other EU countries like Ireland and UK, mainly pop-rock covers.
 
Any reference/advice from experienced players out there? Is there a steady demand for this kind of job? can good bands earn a good living?
 
It took me a while to work out how to post this! so hopefully I can get some clues :-)
 
Kiitos paljon

Is there a steady demand for this kind of job? can good bands earn a good living?
 
Yes, mostly in Irish pubs, sometimes other pubs, too. Gigs are booked much the same way as ordinary gigs (you call them, name your price, set the date and hopefully confirm it in writing via fax or send a contract with the posters), but sometimes the owners insist on paying via bank, on your account.
 
Street musicians in Helsinki are mostly classically trained professionals, who come to Finland to earn some money on their holidays from Russian symphony orchestras. (Plus the usual set of Amplified Incas, of course.:-) So there you've got a tough market. But pubs are ok, and if you can make it understood, that live music could even bring some extra customers in (instead of making the people already in run in panic to the next watering-hole) i think there's good gigs to be made.
 
Good luck and welcome to Finland.

But pubs are ok, and if you can make it understood, that live music could even bring some extra customers in (instead of making the people already in run in panic to the next watering-hole) i think there's good gigs to be made.
 
Thank you Kivi, I'm happy to hear that!
I actually play at some Irish Bars here in Tenerife, the money and frequency of gigs (weekly) is good enough to live comfortably; although I am aware that this is a touristic area and there is a high demand for entertainment, and the situation in other countries is different.
When I visited the UK for example I found that, in order to make a living, I had to go through agencies and be prepared to drive long distances -as getting your own bookings becomes too hard for a newcomer and gigs were spread out...
What is it like gigging in Finland? Do you do this as a full-time job or do you know anyone who does? Are there enough Irish Bars in Helsinki alone for this :-)? I mean, if the trade is good enough then there should be spots available most days of the week and so on...
 
I have written to some Ohjelmatoimistot but never had a reply from them, maybe they don't want to deal with foreign acts... Anyway, hopefully you fellow musicians can help me get the picture together eventually. Kiitos!

When I visited the UK for example I found that, in order to make a living, I had to go through agencies and be prepared to drive long distances -as getting your own bookings becomes too hard for a newcomer and gigs were spread out...
 
Booking your own gigs shouldn't be too hard in Finland, as smaller venues (such as clubs and pubs) are accustomed to dealing with artists themselves. (Which doesn't mean that they won't or will be completely oblivious to the fact that you need food and drink too:-)
 
All restaurants are listed in "Suomen hotellit ja ravintolat" -guide. (Finnish hotels and restaurants) and that would be the best place to start checking out the available pub contacts. I think it's in the Net, too, but i'm not sure. Clubs and such ...well, Rumba Magazine used to print a "keikat" -list (gigs), there you will find names of the venues that book similar acts. Also this Muusikoiden.net runs a "keikat" -calendar, and you can find a list of venues and their descriptions (in Finnish, sorry) here in the Backstage area. Anyway, a well-listed venue is often a full-booked venue, too, as you probably know.
 
What is it like gigging in Finland?
 
Often very cold, always expensive but often loads of fun and strange fresh camaraderie among natives.
;-)
 
Do you do this as a full-time job or do you know anyone who does? Are there enough Irish Bars in Helsinki alone for this :-)? I mean, if the trade is good enough then there should be spots available most days of the week and so on...
 
Yes, i know a few professional acts of your niche, but they often tour Ireland and Europe, too.
 
Concentrate on university towns, don't shun suburbs (suburb pubs pay often better fare than downtown pubs and they have less competition) and you should do just fine.
 
I have written to some Ohjelmatoimistot but never had a reply from them, maybe they don't want to deal with foreign acts... Anyway, hopefully you fellow musicians can help me get the picture together eventually. Kiitos!
 
I seriously recommend you to start on your own before contacting booking agencies. They won't be interested anyway until the audience has "found" you (it's a Catch-22, i know).
 
Best of luck, again.

Many musicians do also gigs on cruise ships which sail for example from Helsinki or Turku to Tallinn or Stockholm. I'm quit sure, the only way to get on board is to have a contract with some booking agency. Stagemusic Artistit is a big agency, which is concentrated in cover and one man bands. Check it out www.stagemusic.fi

Booking your own gigs shouldn't be too hard in Finland, as smaller venues (such as clubs and pubs) are accustomed to dealing with artists themselves
 
Are they accustomed to dealing with foreign, english-speaking artists too?
 
In general, I am amazed at the overall presence of the Finnish music scene on the net; so I doubt I will have any problems contacting people. Getting gigs is another matter...
 
Gigging in Finland: Often very cold, always expensive but often loads of fun and strange fresh camaraderie among natives.
;-)
 
I don't expect it to be cold on stage! :-) As a guitarist with 'cold hands syndrome' I guess I will have to do some extra warming up over there! how do you guys cope with frozen hands??
Expensive for the customer or the musician? What is the ratio wages/beer? :-) Are musicians allowed free drinks? (ratio=infinity) could you give me an idea of wages?
 
100 euros/musician is pretty much the minimum price for a 2 hours gig here, and of course free drinks (subject to common sense).
 
Yes, i know a few professional acts of your niche, but they often tour Ireland and Europe, too.
 
I wonder if they book their own gigs abroad too or use agencies. I have been looking for agencies that operate across Northern Europe for this same purpose... One of those is blackwater.nu, based in Sweden, and they do Molly Malone's in Helsinki apparently..
 
Concentrate on university towns, don't shun suburbs (suburb pubs pay often better fare than downtown pubs and they have less competition) and you should do just fine.
 
That sounds like a good tip. Are these licensed live-music bars? do they have their own PA systems usually or are bands expected to provide it?
 
I seriously recommend you to start on your own before contacting booking agencies. They won't be interested anyway until the audience has "found" you (it's a Catch-22, i know).
 
That sounds like the best deal for a local band that knows it's way around, a bit more difficult for an 'outsider'... I was hoping the agency option to make it easier to find gigs, at least from abroad, but I guess they want it easy for themselves too!
Don't know how many pub owners will want to deal directly with a band that's in another country... We'll see, beginnings are tough I guess ;-)
 
Thanks for all the info and great tips guys!
 
Jose
www.m4-music.com