TM Krishna's article in The Hindu

saramati · Post by **saramati** » 03 Jan 2009, 15:22

While reading the views of all the above, and as an afterthought after attending lots of concerts:-

the teacher or the leader of the team is the one who always appreciates the juniors.

in TMks concerts, i have always observed that the moment his violinist starts to play, he says audibly "bale" or "sabash". while on the
one hand, yyou can take it as an encouragement on stage or appreciation, on the other hand, the violinist or the mridanga vidwan themselves would know their worth, and do they need the approval of the singer in this fashion, that too, so frequently during the concert.
just my view, stand corrected, if i am wrong.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 03 Jan 2009, 21:12

The concert is the singer's. You can imagine it to be something like the singer's the director of a movie, and the other vidwans and the singer themselves are all actors in it. The other vidwans need to guess what the singer wants and do it ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Â

i_srinivasan · Post by **i_srinivasan** » 05 Jan 2009, 02:09

Oh well! TMK is quite an intelligent musician who somehow manages to hog the limelight. This is pretty much in-line with the Semmangudi school that provides joy to the listeners through music and has the 'X-factor'

Arguably this could have been done more discretely by TMK with other vidwans but then surely this might not be recognised by the layman.
Hopefully atleast a few things mentioned in his article get sorted next season rather than this being just a PR/promotional exercise

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 05 Jan 2009, 06:28

Speaking to someone who organises concerts somewhere in the States, I was told that the majority of artistes split the money 70/75-15/12.5-15/12.5. One duo apparently took 2 lakhs and paid each accompanist Rs 250. I really hope this problem gets addressed because people just cannot survive on 250 rupees a concert (and these were all big vidwans) even if they play for 5 concerts a day every day.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 05 Jan 2009, 22:27

... ... ... One duo apparently took 2 lakhs and paid each accompanist Rs 250.

We often discuss, under various headings, whether behaviour or character of musicians should affect our enjoyment, attendance, respect etc. I think that, if I was aware of an artist performing such an act of greed and meanness, that they would not find me in their audience.

Even 70/15/15 seems mean to me.

One can say that there is only one XYZ, vocalist, but there are dozens of mridangists and violinists who can fill the places by XYZ's side, but that is not the point, because only one of each does, and a specific one of each put in the same hours of effort to produce the evening's concert.

sramaswamy · Post by **sramaswamy** » 05 Jan 2009, 22:57

bilahari wrote:Speaking to someone who organises concerts somewhere in the States, I was told that the majority of artistes split the money 70/75-15/12.5-15/12.5. One duo apparently took 2 lakhs and paid each accompanist Rs 250. I really hope this problem gets addressed because people just cannot survive on 250 rupees a concert (and these were all big vidwans) even if they play for 5 concerts a day every day.

Thats truly atrocious. The violinist and mridangist are vidwans in themselves. It is a sad state of affairs if the statement above is true. Infact I think the violinist is in some ways tougher because he has to anticipate and follow without the benefit of having planned what to play in advance. I seriously hope that this situation improves. Or else the organizers should start paying all the artistes individually.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 06 Jan 2009, 00:29

Yes 70/15/15 is also mean. I heard someone say that the main artist should get more than an individual accompaniment, but less than the total of all accompaniments, which makes sense. Something like 40/30/30 if both accompaniments should get the same share. But of course, it all depends on the kind of accompaniment they gave.

About the 2 lacs - 250 rupees thing and the argument sramaswamy gave: I wonder why violinists don't stop accompanying altogether and give vocal or if possible violin solos instead. I'm sure most of them can sing, some even better than some vocalists. Btw, even atrocious seems an understatement.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 06 Jan 2009, 00:45

Srikant1987, how many violin soloists get primetime slots (violin trinity excepted)?! The mrudangists are even worse off because they cannot even supplement their income with solo recitals... I really think it's pivotal that accompanists should have a secure day job first, though carnatic music is such a vast expanse that having a day job would probably rob them of valuable practice time (which is exactly the conundrum some violinists are facing, according to a friend). I agree- atrocious is a gross understatement of the state of affairs.

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 06 Jan 2009, 00:50

And sramaswamy, I completely agree that division of pay has to be left to the (hopefully less partial) organizers who after all are the actual "employer." But of course that would only work IF (and it's a big if) the organizers are truly objective, honest third parties who don't succumb to the probable threats and nuisance of selfish main artistes.

saramati · Post by **saramati** » 06 Jan 2009, 10:48

I agree with bilahari's views. Organisers should start paying the artistes separately. But an observation of mine after a concert recently : The artiste was a leading female vocalist. No sooner had she completed here concert, a representative of the organisers walked up to the stage, and handed over individual covers to the vocalist and the accompanying vidwans. While the action of paying individually was ok, doing so in full public glare, kind of robs the etiquette. so, i thought.

srinivasasarma · Post by **srinivasasarma** » 06 Jan 2009, 18:21

We understand the concern and appreciate the boldness of shri TMK, the young talented vocalist.
The samething prevails everywhere - in cinema line too. Rasikas for Sanjay, TNK, TNS, TVS like that
and they go for the performances basing the main artist - so in a way he/she is the crowd puller - and
so he/she is entitled for more amount. Assuming a person can spend 50000 rs. for a concert, and TMK
demands 40000 rs. for him, the balance 10000 rs. should cover the rest- it amounts to much lower
amounts to accompanying artists. So the main artists could reduce his/her demand and suggest more
amounts to accompanists; or he/she can give abt 30-35 pct. of their income to the acc.artists
separately ! Someone should set an example - it will be spread, slowly but surely.
--
reg. the mistakes/misdeeds of artists, in the interest of their reputation -we the rasikas have no say,
they have the right to have a code of conduct. but accepting 2 concerts and going late to the 2nd concert,
it is again linked to the first point MONEY.

srikant1987 · Post by **srikant1987** » 06 Jan 2009, 21:58

Did you mean TMK or TNK?

srinivasasarma · Post by **srinivasasarma** » 07 Jan 2009, 17:10

sorry - TMK