How to find and secure gigs, navigate the visa requirements, customs, merch, etc. Presented by Robert Baird of Baird Artists Management, Performing Arts Consulting Services for Artists, Agents, Managers & Venues; Lianna White, Executive Director of the Canadian Federation of Musicians; and Genny deMerchant of You Will Love It Live, a booking agency for performing artists for the U.S. and Canada in pop, R&B, jazz, classical, folk and theatre. Hosted by Paul Ryan of Limelight Management.

Clinician bios:
Robert Baird is President of BAM! Baird Artists Management Consulting in Toronto, and an acknowledged expert in international touring including visas, withholding and taxation. For many years, Mr. Baird ran a booking agency in Toronto, Canada with an international roster of performing artists in musical theatre, instrumentalists, vocal artists and performing groups in all genres. He is former President of NAPAMA (North American PerformingArts Managers and Agents), and served on the Executive Board as VP ofFestivals and Events Ontario (FEO). Mr. Baird is Past- President of OAPN(Ohio Arts Professionals Network) and served as APAP (Association ofPerforming Arts Professionals) Showcase Coordinator and BoardTreasurer of The King’s Singer’s Global Foundation. Mr. Baird is an A.F.M.Booking Agent and an Acceptance Agent for the I.R.S. He is well-known for his columns on “Crossing Borders” in International Musician and IFEA’s“ie”. BAM now represents The Slocan Ramblers, a bold, dynamicBluegrass group and Switchback, an iconic American roots group.

Genny DeMerchant (Principal/Agent) Genny is a classically trained singer who grew up surrounded by music, playing the violin and piano, and has a deep love for all things “live”performing arts. Prior to starting the booking agency, Genny spent over 15 years in arts marketing and programming, working in a broad range of organizations from a symphony and a producing theatre company to performing arts centres including the Rose Theatre Brampton and Centre in the Square in Kitchener. Approaching bookings with experience on both sides ofthe table provides a great advantage to facilitating conversations between artists and promoters, ensuring both sides feel understood and fully supported from contract to curtain.

Facebook Page @ Youwillloveitlive
Instagram @ Youwillloveitlive

Liana White is the Executive Director of the Canadian National Office of the AmericanFederation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (CFM). In addition to her position with the CFM, Ms. White is Chair of the Board of Women in Music Canada and is a long-time member of the Canadian Labour Congress Women’s Caucus. In these roles, Ms. White has been collectively serving the interests of professional musicians and labour for 28 years.In her capacity as CFM Executive Director, Ms. White is involved in every aspect of the union’s operations, some of which include lobbying, negotiating agreements, andmentoring musicians in all aspects of their career.Ms. White has served as an advocate of general labour interests for all Canadians for over10 years, with a concentrated focus on women’s rights on the global scale, having servedas a Delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, and the TradeUnion Confederation of the Americas. On the heels of the “Me Too” Movement, Ms.White was instrumental to the formation of a committee responsible for spearheading industry-wide discussions on a Code of Conduct which was adopted by many entities in the recorded and live music sector.

@cfmusicians
www.cfmusicians.org