Frequently Asked Questions

The goal of the Fair Trade Music Campaign is to set a socially agreed upon minimum compensation for musicians working in Portland, Oregon. Through recognition of participating establishments and use of the publicly recognized Fair Trade model, this campaign will provide the music-going public with a point of reference for the value placed on music and musicians by the establishment they are attending. This will help customers know that the money they pay at the door is finding its way to the musicians providing the entertainment.

When artists are able to make a living with their art, it allows them to improve their art and increases the incentive for creativity by allowing them to focus on their art. The Fair Trade Music Campaign will help to improve the creative culture of Portland by lending support to the musicians who live here. The campaign is likely to draw further positive attention to our local music scene and draw more artists and more fans, a plus for everyone involved.

There is an obvious breakdown in the system if a musician cannot earn more than the national poverty level, especially with hard work. The concepts of dedication and work ethic are not eliminated or disregarded in the system we are advocating. It is, in fact, an amplification and recognition of these ideas. Our goal is to increase the rewards for this hard work, and involvement in the campaign is a proactive step toward that increase.

Portland musicians are at the heart of the Fair Trade Music Campaign, spearheading it through their union, the American Federation of Musicians Local 99. The scope of the campaign includes musicians, venues, local media, merchants, community organizations and the general public. A current list of Participating Venues, Endorsers and Sponsors can be found by following the respective links.

To find out more you can join the mailing list to receive up to date information about the Fair Trade Music Campaign and get involved.

We recognize that competition does, by nature, increase the level of difficulty in accomplishing a task. However, it also filters groups and performers without a serious interest or dedication to their craft, resulting in an improved quality of life for all of the residents of Portland by continuing their support of dedicated artistic and creative endeavors.

The idea of incubation and fostering creativity can be applied to our campaign. Many potential lower tier venues are presently and traditionally involved at the community level in bolstering support for musical creativity.

An increase in compensation will breed competition for a common and tangible goal, instead of the vague and ungrounded notion of exposure which is of different value to virtually everybody.

The first hour is higher than the additional hours because when musicians perform a show, it takes them at least an extra hour on either side of the performance to haul gear, set up and tear down. That is time spent working as well and musicians deserve to be paid for it. Additional hours do not require extra hauling, setting up or tearing down of equipment.