Find a Patron!

One way to support your or your band's touring and recording endeavors is through a patron.

Patrons were a common concept in Europe in the 1800's, when it would be impossible for a musician to support himself by paid shows. Instead, the artist's patron provided for all of his supplies and lodging, and the musician/composer would write and perform solely for his patron and his patron's guests.

 As royalty became more confused, noblemen had less funds and the patronage system began to crumble. Artists began to move to specific locations and charge admission for shows, and these measures evolved into the common audience system we use today.

However, if you've gone to a ballet or theatre production recently, you've probably seen the portion of the playbill where the names of large donors are listed. 

Musicians and bands do this too!

Patrons are people with extra funds and a love for the arts and for philanthropy. 

They understand that artists may struggle to make ends meet. They also see potential in an artist or group, and believe that with a little extra funding, a group could make a huge leap in their artistic production. Patrons are willing to give a good bit more than the average fan; their funds are intended as support for the artist/band, rather than payment for a service.

My friends of the band Life Size actually were able to find a patron willing to fund their album release and some beautiful recording sessions. 

The relationship between the artist and the patron is closer and a little more in-depth than the relationship between the artist and the fans. There's common times when the patron will ask how the artist/band is doing, and the artist may produce some examples of his music for the patron that is never published to the rest of the world. 

The relationship actually strongly resembles the relationship a child has with an aunt or uncle that has bought him a paint-set or model kit for his birthday. In this case, though, the art produced and growth stimulated is intended to help spread the beauty of art further around the world than just within the small sphere of the artist and patron.