The Reason I Have To Charge £1 Entry

I never wanted to have to do this. I had hoped to keep this as a free night, but that just isn’t possible anymore. I’m not happy about taking your money on the door, but I can promise you nights that are definitely worth parting with your cash for.

For those of you unfamiliar with Lickity Split Presents, the night combines Sheffield’s finest live, unsigned music with a selection of boutique stalls from independent fashion designers. The reason I created this night was purely for my love of fashion and live music, and I also wanted to bring something a bit different to the Sheffield music scene. 

I really want to give musicians and independent designers as much exposure as possible and have a good time in the process. I’m not interested in making any kind of profit from the talent of others, but I can’t afford to be out of pocket after every event. I have been holding this event for free for over a year but I can’t keep it running on empty for ever.

The problem I’m faced with is the promotional costs of running an event. Flyers and posters cost money. I need the flyers to raise awareness about the events and, unless I charge on the door, I have no way of making that money back. If I don’t charge then I can’t afford the promotion, which severely limits the amount of exposure which musicians, designers, and the night itself receives.

I have considered and tried alternatives, but charging on the door is the only realistic option I have left. I have tried suggesting voluntary donations on the door, which hasn’t been particularly successful, and I have also thought about charging designers to hold a stall. However, as far as I’m concerned, charging designers would be as bad as a pay-to-play system for bands so that option was ruled out too.

I hope that you lovely people, who have been loyal followers of the Lickity Split Presents events over this last year, understand why I have had to do this and will continue to attend and support the nights.

The upcoming event on the 9^th December 2010 will be the final free event. From the 17^th February 2011, all events will be £1 entry on the door.

Why Lickity Split Presents

I’ve been having a love affair with music and fashion. It’s been going on for some years now and I can’t imagine ever giving either of them up.

I’ve always loved live music for as long as I can remember. I love it for the same reason I love playing vinyl records. I find the crackle of the needle as charming as I find the small imperfections of a band playing live. I like having something there in front of me. I like holding records and reading the lyrics on the sleeves and I like watching the faces and the movements of the people on stage, even if the sound isn’t perfect. I like being involved in music, absorbing myself in it. I listen to music all the time; at work, on the way to work, at home, at parties. But nothing compares to discovering a really good live band or, better still, seeing a really good live band that you have hand-picked play live at a night you’ve organised and promoted. Just like spinning a few records in my bedroom can in no way compare to watching a whole room dance as I play them.

I’ve also been taken with fashion since I was old enough to dress myself. Like music, fashion is a way of expressing yourself. There is as much creativity, individuality and attention to detail in making a dress as there is in writing a song.

When I decided to start promoting music nights, I was desperate to breathe some fresh air into the Sheffield music scene. I wanted to do something different from the monotonic pattern of so many other events. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s noticed that the majority of live music nights have become about as stale and dry as an expired Kit Kat? I’ll openly argue that a string of hit-and-miss bands, with an indie mix tape for the changeover isn’t an event, but it seems to be the way that 90% of music nights are run. The problem is that very few promoters are willing to take on the risk, or the extra work, of doing something different. As long as the bands drag enough people through the door, they’re happy.

With so many small, unsigned acts in this city, aside from taking someone else’s word for it, the only way to really find the ones worth watching is to get out there and watch live music on a regular basis. But that’s not as easy as it sounds when decent Sheffield music venues are dropping like flies, particularly if you have to stand through a lot of dirge in the same old setting before you get even a glimpse of the hidden music gems.

This is why I came up with the idea to combine independent fashion designers and live music in one event for ‘Lickity Split Presents’. Having these two creative elements under one roof seemed the perfect way to bring something unique and interesting to live music promotion. For each event I hold, I only book bands I have listened to and actually like, which ensures you in the audience will never be subjected to any bog standard ‘filler’ music. I also give all independent designers an opportunity to hold a free stall. This ensures that the bands can get the biggest possible audience, the stalls can make a bit of cash selling their wares, and everyone gets some much-needed exposure. I charge the smallest amount possible on the door (in fact, for over a year I have been running the event for free) and I very rarely make any profit.  In the end, all I want is to give you a decent live music event. I want to give you ambience and art, I want to play records in the changeover, not a mix tape and -most importantly of all- I want you to fall in love with live music and fashion as much as I have.