Starting something artistic: does it have any risks?

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I have been writing poetry for a while now and have some ideas to put them to music (nothing concrete though as I would need to team up for that with people that have the skills for it). I see arts as a good medium to spread your ideologies and make people think about important issues by writing about politics, society, human rights, etc.... To make people think and somewhat do something ideological seems rewarding to me and this is what motivates me to write.

However, is there any way to keep it as a rewarding thing without any pressure or risks? I have a few friends in bands and poetry scene, they are famous only in their own town and totally unknown outside of their area so we are not talking about professional artists who have any serious success.
But even for them, on relatively low scale success and strictly local attendances, have to sign deals for insurance, renting halls, etc... And those are only local artists who see it as a hobby without any success outside of their own area of town.

That sounds disencouraging for me really. Is it really the case that, even when you're doing something artistic only on amateur basis, that there is no way around dealing with legal obligations and thus risks (because once you sign anything you can be considered responsible if anything goes wrong)? If this is all a necessary evil and could even include putting yourself in legally blurred cases or risks should something go wrong, then it'd be quite disencouraging to go on with artistic stuff.

As some people here do artistic things and a few seem to even do it quite seriously (unlike my friends who rarely perform outside of their own town) , is there really any flip side of the coin that could even involve taking legal responsability and risks in case anything goes wrong? Or am I worrying for no reasons here?

PS: I just ask out of interest. I have some texts written but the idea of forming an artistic project is still vague. I have some ideas to start from but will probably not try to realise anything before I've completed my next relocation which is priority for me now.

well.... there's any number of sites that will give you free legal advice..some are worth the price...

If you want to get people to listen, there has to at least be an element of entertainment there. Rage against the Machine and the Clash wouldn't have gotten anywhere if you couldn't dance to it..

avoid preaching, unless you have a very committed audience. Remember, you need to enlighten, not condescend. Insulting the audience doesn't guarantee repeat business..

Sometimes the pace and rhythm of the poetry will suggest a musical form (for at least the beat..., sometimes the opposite takes place as well.

It can be done. You might want to pop the occasional 'non-message' number in there; not only is it variety, but having the same subject, or range of subjects, can cause people to get bored.


...and always leave them wanting more....

Crackpleasures you should go ahead . I also write poem , and some could be put to music.
See if you can perform your poems without music like a talent show or coffee house.
Keep your poems together like on a thumb drive or notebook. I hope I was helpful, and good luck.

Well, I am not sure in what form I want to go ahead with it. I have time to think about it as relocation is my priority now, starting something to move abroad again in a few months time is not useful at all. Once I am somewhere new where I will stay for at least 1 or 2years, then I want to make my plans more concrete. Not sure in what form yet, either I need to gather a few artistically minded people who can make something more out of my poems (for example by putting them to music) but maybe I would go for more something like a political organisation. I just have to think about the best output really

But regardless if you start something artistic or something non-artistic, in what way do you put yourself to legal risks? For example the people who are in a band here, do you have to form a sort of non-profit to be able to insure the members and book places to perform? Is there any risk of getting into debts, or are there enough ways to just realise your artistic plans without having to worry about anything other than the actual output of your writings?

The issues arise when the group begins to perform in public venues; the process of getting together, gelling, practicing, even recording... isn't so much an issue for insurance. I've never heard of a band forming a non-profit; some incorporate to deflect liability from them at an individual level. Debts will only come if you spend, so be aware and keep track of your expenses. Be an artist; if success comes, then deal with the irritant trappings at that time.


M.