French Quarter Festivals, Inc. announces the launch of the 2012 Musician Sponsorship Program, a new initiative designed to help keep the „largest free music festival in the South‟ a high quality event that celebrates the best of New Orleans culture, while keeping it accessible to everyone and contributing to the economic well being of the French Quarter, the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana.

French Quarter Festival, now in its 29th year, has grown to be the largest free music festival in the South, attracting over 500,000 people to the historic neighborhood each year. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is a self-sustaining non-profit organization. Festivals are made possible through sponsorship, participation fees and onsite beverage and merchandise sales. The production budget for this free event is over a million dollars, including costs for employing NOPD officers, sanitation, firewatch and EMS personnel.

Musician Sponsorship Program:
taking good care of local musicians and building for the future

Nineteen of the twenty stages at French Quarter Festival feature Louisiana Artists exclusively! The 20th stage is an „International Stage‟ featuring Traditional Jazz musicians from around the world. Over 800 local musicians perform annually at French Quarter Festival. For decades, entertainment sponsors have been third parties who agree to pay musicians for their performance in exchange for publicity and various other sponsor benefits. A recent survey of musicians showed an unbelievable myriad of „payments‟ – everything from online fundraising, Facebook appeals for sponsorship, to gift certificates, shopping sprees, studio time, a weekend stay at a camp across the lake, a restaurant tab – even babysitting. Notwithstanding, the survey revealed one vital fact – musicians absolutely love playing French Quarter Festival and look forward to it every year. In response to the survey, artists also conveyed just how much they look forward to the new Musician Sponsorship Program that French Quarter Festivals, Inc. will manage, removing the sponsorship burden from them.

French Quarter Festival‟s new program will facilitate the relationship between Artists and Sponsors, eliminating the Musician‟s responsibility in securing a Sponsor and freeing them to focus on their performance. Because French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, sponsorships are tax deductible – another great benefit for sponsors.

With the launch of this program, Louisiana businesses are invited to truly participate in this annual community celebration, making a major impact, and enjoying the benefits of sponsorship. Contrary to what many think, a free music festival is not really „free‟, but the French Quarter Festival has grown to become the „largest free music festival in the South‟. It continues to be voted „locals favorite festival‟ year after year and is third in economic impact for the City of New Orleans (Mardi Gras ranks number one and the Super Bowl is number two, when it is held in New Orleans).

French Quarter Festival is not just a fun, high quality event. It annually generates over $300 million in economic impact with over $15 million in direct tax revenue going to the city and the state as a direct result of the festival. Over 500,000 people attended French Quarter Festival in 2011.

According to Marci Schramm, Executive Director of French Quarter Festivals, Inc., “There is something very special about this type of support. Music sponsors come from all corners of our community and from all over the state. They share a love of local culture and care about preserving what makes Louisiana so special.” Current music sponsors include everyone from beloved brands like Zapp‟s, to heavy hitters like Chevron and Northrup Grumman Corporation. The family of music sponsors also includes law and accounting firms, doctors, veterinarians, restaurants, hotels, retail shops and many more. “Like the diverse styles of music heard at French Quarter Festival, we also embrace an eclectic mix of sponsors who love the celebration and what it does for the community,” added Schramm. “Music sponsorship is rewarding and fun for those who participate – a sponsor can do as much (or as little) as they wish to tell the world that they support French Quarter Festival. Some sponsors love to get up on stage and introduce „their‟ band while some just like to hang a banner during the sponsored act‟s set.”

Sponsors may sign up at the „Shorty‟ level ($500) or as „Pops‟ ($20,000) – or anything in between. Supporters truly help keep New Orleans music alive, while being recognized by over half a million people at the annual French Quarter Festival.

Contact French Quarter Festivals, Inc. at 504-522-5730 (email: georgia@fqfi.org) for more information about the Musician Sponsorship Program.