In essence, Stage Time works to help aspiring musicians on their way to being professionals by pairing them up with experienced musicians on stage, helps create more gigs in the Bellingham area, and believes in fair pay for music performances.
Our Mission
Jazz, blues, and rock are true American art forms. Stage Time honors their legacy while also supporting new approaches to the genres. We believe the best way to support the upcoming generation of performing artists is by giving them stage time.
Through mentorship and opportunities to gain stage time experience in front of live audiences we support the younger generation of musicians as they move forward in their music career. Jam sessions are a big part of this and we hire veteran musicians for the core band so less experienced players can learn from them on stage.
A music scene is nothing without a strong community of players and supporters. Jam sessions help build this community by bringing an eclectic crowd of performers and supporters who might not otherwise engage together in a relaxed atmosphere where musicians find gigs, students find teachers, and new friendships are created.
Musicians are part of the “gig” economy and few enjoy the security of regular employment. Music unions are a thing of the past and the rising cost of doing business has forced venues to cut costs to the point where musicians often play for tips or a free meal. Given the time and skill required to become a professional musician the reality of making a living as a performing artist is grim.
We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy live performances in a good setting at an affordable price. With our help venues can host top tier musicians, and pay them fair wages without charging high door or ticket prices that can keep people away from the performance.
In essence, Stage Time provides meaningful support to local musicians by mentoring up and coming artists, promoting guaranteed compensation, creating and maintaining performance opportunities, and helping present high-quality performances in the Bellingham area
