For the Business, Band and
Musicians of ROOTS AND
WISDOM
The fear of Jah
is the love of righteousness, the spirit of Jah,
which is the beginning of ROOTS AND WISDOM.
And the beginning of ROOTS AND WISDOM runs a deep root.
Wisdom Ogbor grew up in
Nigeria
, West Africa where he absorbed the sounds of his childhood which later guided
him to always bring musicians together to work in unity in the manner that
will nurture the spirit of that music of
Africa
and
more.
During the years, distinguished musicians have banded together in the name of
ROOTS AND WISDOM to play this music and support good international relations
with this music, between the peoples of the world.
In the year 2004, the growth of the music of ROOTS AND WISDOM and its
organization demands that a structure be displayed which emphasizes important
points and clarifies the business of ROOTS AND WISDOM.
This information is therefore public for the members that consist of
the touring band of ROOTS AND WISDOM, the session musicians and all business
associates.
The name “ROOTS AND WISDOM”
is used to promote and market the music played and generated by
Wisdom Ogbor, and also when accompanied by other
musicians on tour or in the
studio. Therefore, “ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC exists as a promotional office
which recruits for ROOTS AND WISDOM, and sells the services of ROOTS AND
WISDOM. Anyone who books a show
for the band ROOTS AND WISDOM is furthering the services of ROOTS AND WISDOM
MUSIC and is contractual also to the band.
ROOTS AND
WISDOM MUSIC will promote and sell the concept of ROOTS AND WISDOM and its
products under the following categories:
1. LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES,
2. MUSIC COMPACT DISCS,
3. VIDEOS,
4. DVDs,
5. MINI DISCS,
6. WEBSITES and all other formats of mass communication.
The office of
ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC is responsible for:
- Generating
contracts for the band members, agents, venues, or business associates.
- Bookings
/ liaisons
- Transportation
– land, sea, air, space
- Promotions
– posters, flyers, websites, radio, tv,
print
- Sound
- Personnel
– staff
- Organization
– management
- Contacts
– phone, e-mail, travels, mailings
- Investments
– group or individual
- Copyrights
– publishing and licensing
1. CONTRACTS: A binding contract
is generated and filed on all transactions between ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC,
band members, agents, vendors, promoters, venues and business associates.
This contract stipulates clearly the nature of transactions and
compensations for the parties involved. Any
transaction announced publicly, but not bound by contract is void.
2. BOOKINGS: Booking is the
oiling arm which greases the machinery of ROOTS AND WISDOM live performances.
Anyone who is willing and able can book a ROOTS AND WISDOM concert with
consultation with the booking office of the band. Anyone
who books a ROOTS AND WISDOM concert one or more times is free to call
themselves an agent of ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC if they intend to go on booking
more shows and can acquire materials and compensations that are related to
their work of booking ROOTS AND WISDOM. All
bookings must be by contract and in advance, to allow time to schedule,
rehearse and sign contractual agreements of all band members.
3. TRANSPORT / ACCOMMODATIONS:
All bookings must take into account that equipment and personnel must be
transported to venues for events (sometimes far distances) and also
accommodated. Contracts must
reflect that these costs do not interfere with the contractual pays of other
parties. These costs must be
calculated independently and paid according to their weight.
4. PROMOTIONS: ROOTS AND WISDOM
MUSIC will consistently be active in all medium that exposes the music of
ROOTS AND WISDOM to the public. Promotional
efforts that cannot be handled in-house must be contracted out, with
sufficient materials released, to aid in the work.
Recognized efforts are directed towards posters, flyers, websites,
radio, television, print media and merchandising.
5. SOUND: The sound and
equipment required to present a live concert of
ROOTS AND WISDOM is a minimum of the following, which is also
considered independently in the contractual estimate of every live
performance.
- A
Stage with enough space to accommodate a minimum of 8 musicians and their
instruments
- 15
microphones with stands. (Boom stands and regular stands)
- A
minimum of 2 double 15” Medium speakers with tweeters (Indoors)
- A
minimum of 2 subwoofers (Indoors.)
- A
minimum of 6 stage monitors. (Indoors. Measure outdoor sound by expected
capacity, and consult your local sound person).
- A
sound mixer with a minimum of 24 channels.
- A
minimum of 3 power amps of at least 1500 watts each.
- All
connecting cables
- 1
guitar amplifier with a minimum of 500 watts (ROLAND types with chorus).
- 1
keyboards amplifier with a minimum of 500 watts.
- 1
bass amplifier with a minimum of 700 watts.
- Purified
bottled water on the stage for all musicians
- 3
backstage rooms for musicians to change clothes and use the bathroom.
- Lemon
tea with honey in the backstage rooms
- Purified
bottled water in backstage rooms.
- Meals
cooked with seafood only and vegetarian meals.
- Dry
towels in backstage rooms and on stage.
- Transportation
for a minimum of 10 group members to and from venue of live music
presentation.
- A
minimum of 6 rooms in a decent hotel or home with enough space for
musicians to relax.
- Breakfast,
lunch and dinner for 10 people during the period of the live music
performances.
- A
space to sell CD’s and merchandises at the venue of live music
presentations.
- A
minimum payment, equal in any currency, to US$3,000.00 or as negotiated.
- STAFF:
A small body is required to run the office of ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC as
operations grow, but a complete membership is required to present ROOTS
AND WISDOM live for operations to grow.
While ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC is, at present, coordinated by Wisdom Ogbor,
a few agents and volunteers, the band ROOTS AND WISDOM must be contracted
and be fully staffed by the following:
- Lead
voice and guitar: ______________________________________________
- Keyboards
or supporting guitar: ______________________________________
- Bass:
___________________________________________________________
- Drums:
__________________________________________________________
- 1st
Supporting Voice / Percussions: ____________________________________
- 2nd
Supporting Voice / Percussions: _________________________________
- Engineer
/ Driver / Packer: ___________________________________________
- Guest
/ Assistant:___________________________________________________
All ROOTS AND WISDOM members must be contractually bound according to their
roles and talents, and must be present to work at any ROOTS AND WISDOM events
or functions. Following are the
definitions of the roles of the band members:
- LEAD
VOICE AND GUITAR: This is
the roots of every ROOTS AND WISDOM song that is performed
by Wisdom Ogbor, and then other parts are
developed for and by accompanying musicians in these forms.
- KEYBOARDS
or SUPPORTING GUITAR or SAX: This is needed to complete a full melody that
resonates from the lead voice and first guitar.
The parts that call for more lead instruments are the duty and
responsibility of the person who will be contractually recruited to fill
this position.
- BASS
GUITAR: The bass guitarist will be expected to endure long simple, but
complicated grooves of African rhythms that must cooperate with the drums
and percussions to deliver the music of ROOTS AND WISDOM.
Sometimes the bass licks are derived from the chemistry between the
lead voice, guitar and drums. The
bass player must be ready for the innovation and the flexibility required
to do the job.
- DRUMMER:
Sometimes the efforts of the drummer with the lead vocals and first guitar
can fulfill the sensations of a “light” concert.
But the drummer and the bass guitar together form the engine that
drives home a live performance. The
drummer is subjected to learn and play back rhythms that may not agree
with most conventional modes of playing.
Practice and perseverance and a willingness to be open will help
the drummer contribute more to the band effort.
At times, the music of ROOTS AND WISDOM is sufficiently interpreted with
only the 4 members named above. These
members are exclusively contracted. Some
tours and engagements will be undertaken that, due to insufficient economic
resources, will only include these four members.
But a full ROOTS AND WISDOM concert must also include the following:
- 1st
SUPPORTING VOICE AND PERCUSSIONS: Priority should be given to a
female voice and talent under this category.
This voice is to compliment the lead voice and to play clear
percussion instruments like the clave stick or agogo
– cowbell. Dancing and an
ability to choreograph the band in simple likeable dance movements, adds
good weight to the credit of this candidate.
- 2nd
SUPPORTING VOICE AND PERCUSSIONS: This candidate is a voice master and
leader in playing percussion instruments like the djembe,
congas, djun-djun.
This role calls for a percussive lead in some songs and sometimes
magical solos and collaborations with all the voices and first guitar, or
with the drummer, the bass player or keyboard player.
- ENGINEER
/ DRIVER / PACKER: This position is the most important for any ROOTS AND
WISDOM live event and road tours to be successful.
The engineer with one assistant is responsible for gathering,
setting up, breaking down and packing up of the band equipment at every
live engagement. With good
arrangement, the engineer or the assistant will also drive the band
safely, maintain the instruments and the equipment of the group and help
in providing security or sales help while the band is playing.
- GUEST
/ ASSISTANT: To assist the engineer and the band in very strategic
functions to help take the pressure off of everyone when their tasks are
very heavy for them.
ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC AGENTS
AND REPRESENTATIVES:
The business of promoting, selling and moving the music of ROOTS AND WISDOM is
so vast and sometimes needs many hands on deck to keep moving.
As such, it is necessary to work with people who are representatives or
agents for ROOTS AND WISDOM. Members
of the band are encouraged to work as representatives in addition to playing
the music as a way to earn more money if they wish, or just to
big up the band. All
representatives must express their interest to be such, and work by contract
on all revenues generated for the band. Please contact us at interviews@rootsandwisdommusic.com
if you wish to be an agent or representative.
- MANAGEMENT
/ ORGANIZATION
As an organization, ROOTS AND
WISDOM is registered and is recognized as a tax paying entity in
Mexico
and the
USA
. The office of ROOTS AND WISDOM
MUSIC keeps a record of all tax papers. All
payments and receipts for services connected with ROOTS AND WISDOM are
transacted and recorded by the office of ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC.
This office is the source of all official news, releases,
announcements, accounting, contracts, and recruitment decisions on behalf of
ROOTS AND WISDOM or ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC.
- CONTACTS
The office of
ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC will manage the data base for all business contacts.
Communications such as post office mailings, emails, travels, and phone
calls that help generate business will be maintained and updated to
effectively service the needs of the organization.
All contact info for ROOTS AND
WISDOM business: www.rootsandwisdommusic.com
In the
USA
:
P.O. Box 292
,
Missouri City
,
Texas
,
77459
,
USA
.
In
Mexico: e-mail:
message@rootsandwisdommusic.com
- INVESTMENTS
An investment
package has been developed for ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC.
Investments can be attracted also through band members and/or their
contacts as long as all agreements are backed up by contracts.
- COPYRIGHTS: Rights such as publishing and licensing
are strictly explicit and protected by law and contracts.
Anything due to any musician in the form of royalties or sales from
music in which their participation is protected, shall be paid
appropriately as the funds become available.
ROOTS AND WISDOM is a member of BMI for publishing and royalties.
Protection of rights in regions not represented by BMI will be
sought.
ROOTS AND WISDOM
Musicians / Technicians / Office Contract
In as much as the band ROOTS AND WISDOM requires
the services of a __________
_________________for live
presentations, studio work, promotional purposes or office work, this
agreement is hereby entered into, between ____________________________, a
_______________________________________ and independent artist /______________
and ROOTS AND WISDOM MUSIC, for this mentioned services.
As a professional and independent artist, this
musician /_______________ agrees to render a remarkable contribution as a
_________________________________ for all contracted shows of ROOTS AND
WISDOM, and for shows that are scheduled for legitimate promotional purposes,
(Some additional services such as studio sessions that are not for
promotions are covered under a separate contract), from this date:
(day)_________ (month)______________(year)____________(Mon., Tue., Wed., Thur.,
Fri., Sat., Sun.)
To this date:
(day)_______________ (month)________________(year)____________
(Mon., Tue., Wed., Thur.,
Fri., Sat., Sun.)
or only for this specified date:
(day)_________ (month)______________(year)____________(Mon., Tue., Wed., Thur.,
Fri., Sat., Sun.)
For the specified services, the management of
ROOTS AND WISDOM agrees to pay the musician /__________________ the sum of
_________________for _____Each Show,
______Every Week, _______Every 2 Weeks, _______Every Month, for a total
of __________________________ for a season of
________________Weeks / Months. (Payments made with checks will become
payable as soon as the checks are cashed.)
CONDITIONS:
1. Band rehearsals and
sound checks are as important as a live show itself. This contract requires
that you are present to learn your part at all rehearsals and/or sound checks.
Failure
to
be present at a rehearsal or sound check is a serious breach of this contract
that could result in loosing half or all the monetary value it carries.
2.As
an independent artist, you are required to provide your own instruments, and
the spare parts that help maintain and keep the instruments functional. Your
instruments are to be set up and tuned at least 60 minutes before practice or
a sound check begins.
3.Transportation
is provided from designated departure points to events, and back to designated
arrival points. Management does not provide transportation for non-band
related businesses.
4. You are responsible
for any property or equipment you damage while on band duty and will
compensate for such with your own personal funds when your contract alone is
not enough
5. Consumption of alcohol
or illicit drugs is not allowed on stage. The band does not endorse the
possession, consumption, or distribution of illicit drugs and will summarily
punish any one caught breaking this rule.
6. Music is a mission of
love and peace for ROOTS AND WISDOM. When we cannot feel love and peace
anymore with ROOTS AND WISDOM, it will show. When we cannot find love and
peace from our work, it is time to talk about it, resolve it, or give a notice
of change, and change, and find peace and love, and do music.
We Agree,
and we sign this contract in the location of ___________________________, in
the state of ___________________________________, this date:
(day)_________ (month)______________(year)____________(Mon.,
Tue., Wed., Thur., Fri., Sat., Sun.)
Musician’s full name
and Signature:____________________________________________
Address and Contacts:__________________________________________________
Management Sign.________________________________________________________