http://www.bsarootsmusic.com

Coffee Talk With Benet Schaeffer

Benet Schaeffer has been a part of the St. Louis music scene since it began gaining momentum in the mid-70's. Beginning as a rock drummer in avant-garde bands like Wax Theatrics and Go Dog Go, he began to explore roots, blues, and R & B Styles while working with Billy Gayles, a master of blues drumming styles. With all this current success, Benet started a St. Louis booking agency dedicated to providing outstanding live musical entertainment talent to clubs, venues, and concert halls of all types, as well as corporate functions, wedding receptions, and many other events. Wedding-Club.com had the pleasure of interviewing Benet over coffee talk.

WC: After all your success as a musician, what prompted you to start your own live entertainment booking agency?

BS: After finishing college (in BS,BA at SLU), I continued to perform.Ý Many of my friends and associates who are musicians, were struggling to get work.Ý I thought that instead of pursuing a computer oriented career, I could do some good for the artist community in St. Louis.Ý I think it is true that artist are rarely good business people only because they have dedicated so much time to being an artists.Ý In some cases, I found that the most dedicated artists would rather delegate the business side of things.Ý This way I can use my business degree in support of artists in a service capacity. Ý

WC: What genres of music do your entertainers represent?

BS: Generally, what is known as American Roots Music.Ý That encompasses a wide range of styles.Ý Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Swing, Rockabilly, Motown, Zydeco (New Orleans R & B) and Jazz.Ý I work with a few artists who are proficient at playing Latin styles as well.

WC: For people not familiar with booking agents, can you briefly describe what you do?

BS: I am essentially providing a service for artists and the buyers of that art.Ý I am a broker who can assist a client in covering more ground than they could by themselves.

WC: What are the benefits of going through a booking agent rather than trying to find a band yourself?

BS: As I mentioned, I can help a buyer cover alot more ground, that is, introduce a prospective client to alot more bands or different bands than if they were working alone.Ý Since I personally still play in a band that works alot, I have a ground level knowledge of many elements of the situation like the rooms where receptions take place, what the acoustics are like, what bands are getting good feedback, who is breaking-up, getting together, changing members, etc.

WC: Why do you think it has become so popular to hire live entertainment for weddings in the past few years?

BS: Well, a wedding is in part an opportunity to create an important positive memory for the families and friends of the bride and groom.Ý Having quality live music at the reception not only gives the families and guests a point of reference, but the level of fun is higher.Ý We have had couples who come out to hear us on their anniversary every year and bring the wedding party.Ý It is a great way to "relive" the big day.

WC: Do your musicians have to fulfill certain requirements before you represent them?

BS: Yes.Ý I try to avoid what I call "weekend warriors", bands who have no long-term committment to music. I have long-standing relationships with the bands that I book now, but the things I look for in bands that I am unfamiliar with are, 1) do they have a CD rather than tape 2) do they have a high quality band photo and 3) an updated songlist.
I do not represent acts that book themselves in multiple locations on any given night.Ý This is problematic because they work from a stable of players and the band that plays the Smith wedding can be totally different than the one at the Jones wedding, though they have the same band name.Ý This takes something away from the uniqueness of the event.

WC: If someone was looking to hire an individual musician rather than a five piece band, would you be able to help out?

BS: Yes.ÝI know many talented soloists.Ý If someone insists on having a Harpist, for example, at the ceremony then they should be prepared to pay what the soloist is asking.Ý Certain instrumentalist who specialize are rare and in demand so the price can be steep.Ý Sometimes a band that is hired can be broken down, or a soloist from that band paid a small margin more to play the ceremony or cocktail reception.Ý This can save money and be more efficient. continued....