Recently I've been thinking about what it means to be an independent promoter, one that has been entirely unfunded (by any public bodies, ACE, Councils etc) throughout the massive 18 years that I have been running gigs - a promoter that works across multipe venues and Festivals - and a woman.

I'm sure some people will say my gender is irrelevant to these considerations, but I can definitively inform you that it has impacted upon the way I am viewed by the established (and often publicly funded) music eco-system that is headed by men.

Maybe its my fierce committment to my independence. Maybe it is that I know my artist's, my audience, and my own mind. An assertive woman with expertise & high standards is often described by men as being 'difficult' - whereas male counterparts who have the same attributes are are called 'decisive'. These systemic concepts are embedded within society, and most often make themselves known through 'unconcious bias' - which by its very nature is very difficult to call-out. 

(See his fantastic article about gender informed perceptions in leadership bias for further reading: Leadership Bias in 2022: Difficult Women vs Decisive Men)

In my 18 years of running gigs, I have put on many artists that are now household names including: Scroobius Pip, Kae Tempest, Ed Sheeran, Bessie Turner, Eliza Shaddad, Let's Eat Grandma, and so many more. I was the first person to sell-out the Norwich Arts Centre in 2008 with a completely local line-up - despite being told it wasn't possible. I have worked at over 70 different venues (and sold-out large numbers of them), everywhere from pubs, to churches, to community halls, to houses, gardens, fields, woodlands, festivals and even the occasional subway. Im not sure there is anyone quite like me, who has operated so successfully for so long, without public funding, or the support of one venue. Nor have I been supported by any local council, any development officers, or any other regularly funded ACE organisation.

I know what works (cos I have run hundreds of events) but I know I will always have more to learn. I am a personal alcohol licence holder, an events nerd who loves reading about the updates for the Purple Guide, I love geekling out over music/festival industry news, and I've become a H&S convert too. Despite this success, this level of wide-ranging expertise and clear pattern for spotting new talent early on, I have been over-looked by those who have the power to make a difference. Last year I saw an article in the Ipswich Star about an upcoming Festival that stated that two men were the only people putting on original music in Ipswich in 2012/13/14. The years myself and Cad Taylor created & ran 'Switch Fringe' 16 days of original music & live performance. (Along with loads of other independent, grassroots, self-funding promoters & art makers in Ipswich. We were not the only ones making amazing events happen during this time). 

I wonder what it takes to be recognised (or even acknowledged) for the work women do in the music industry?

Dare I ask for this recognition?

If I do I am just too 'difficult' to work with.

I am assertive, passionate, committed, hardworking and decisive. 

Don't call me difficult because I have high standards and am not afraid to stand-up for myself.

No one asked me to do this. I am not asking for your pity or sympathy. I will continue to do what I love until I cannot. But I saw a clear need and stepped up. Having female-led events translates to more women on stage, and more women in the audience. Both of these I can attest to after my latest gig at The Smokehouse proved - all but one named ticket holder was a man - and the line-up was significantly female-heavy (with two women on stage for every man).

This is a concious choice. I deliberately consider gender when I book my events (along with talent, to predict the obvious kickback). I look at other line-ups & venues in the area and wonder why this thought appears not to have crossed their minds. There is one consistent factor that each of these gigs has in common. Please do not tell me that there aren't enough/good enough female artists to put on the bill. When I ran my hugely popular Festival stage for a decade, my line-up was 75% female every year. Didn't spot that? I didn't talk about it. I just did it.

What did I do differently you might ask? I actively looked for talented female artists. I ran regular open mics to create platforms for them to hone their craft. I ran an 'open application process' where anyone could get in touch. (No gatekeeping). AND I replied to every single person who applied to play on my stage. Unfunded. Unsupported. Independent.

So yes, I am proud of what I have achieved. I am decisive, assertive and clear about what is important to me, the artists I book, and my audience. I am extremely proud of the ability to create warm, friendly and beautiful events where everyone feels welcome. To just open your doors is not enough. What action are you taking to to create spaces where women are welcome? Does the sound tech still assume that the female lead guitarist in the band is just girlfriend or a groupie? Did that guy are the front really make a lewd comment about a woman in the audience, loudly for all to hear? Did you do anything? Thats the real kicker here. Opening your doors and saying 'all are welcome' is not enough.

I am at a challenging point in my career right now. The pandemic hit me hard, and I lost all of my biggest contracts (mainly with Festivals) due to a whole bunch of reasons (that may or may not be accurate representations of what actually happened). Its interesting to note that women suffered far more career set-backs during/after the pandemic than men. Have a read of this article from PRS that relays the situation so eloquently. From my own personal experience of the past few years, I can count the large number of women who have left the music industry, very often being replaced by men who will work for less.

What can be done about this? I hear you cry! Well, this is my plea to the men in charge, to the gatekeepers, to the publicly funded bodies with the resources and support to make change happen. We need you. Music needs you. Challenge your own unconcious bias. If a man wrote this article would he be conisdered an agitator, a taste-maker, an expert.

What do you call me for writing this? 

x