Stage Time's goal is to help talented young musicians become working professionals who can make a real living in music. We do that by putting them on stage with the best veteran musicians we can hire, where they learn the working side of music that lessons and school programs can't fully teach.
Where We Are Now
Right now, Stage Time is focused on one thing and doing it well: our weekly Sunday jazz jam at The Hotel Leo. Every Sunday, aspiring musicians from middle school through college sit in with a house band of seasoned pros in front of a live audience. They learn to count off a tune, trade fours, come back in with the head, read the room, and recover from mistakes. Our near-term goals are to keep the jam strong every week and to pay our veteran musicians what they're worth.
Where We're Headed
As our support grows, we want to bring that same experience to more young musicians in more ways.
Clinics and master classes. Bring in top professionals to teach, mentor, and share how they got where they are, from improvisation to running a band, working with venues, and being a professional on and off the stage.
More stages. Add jam sessions and student showcases at other Bellingham-area venues, each built around a house band of veteran players, so more young musicians get regular stage time.
Pros in the schools. Bring veteran musicians to local school music programs for workshops and performances with students, complementing the work music teachers already do, and invite those students to the jam.
What It Takes
We pay our musicians real money. Each of these goals depends on the same thing our jam does: hiring the best veteran musicians and working to pay them what they're worth. As funding grows, so does what we can offer. If you'd like to help us get there, your donation goes directly toward the professionals young players learn from.
All of Stage Time’s operating costs are donated by our founder and Scot’s Scripts, so your gift goes directly to the musicians and programs.
Why It Matters
When young musicians learn from seasoned pros, the whole music community gets stronger. Young players grow into working musicians, players push each other to get better, and audiences grow as more people discover how much they enjoy live music. That's the kind of scene we want Bellingham to have for generations to come.
Have an Idea?
Everyone we've talked with about Stage Time, from venues and musicians to music lovers, has shared ideas for what we could do next. If you have one, or want to help make one happen, get in touch.
