By Alexandyr Kent

akent@gannett.com

Having success as a musician is not just about playing good music; it's also about building a bigger market for it.

That's the basic premise behind Tipitina's Music Office Co-Op/Shreveport, a nonprofit business incubator that will open Friday at 700 Texas St. in downtown Shreveport.

For a $10 monthly fee, musicians and digital media-makers (including filmmakers and photograhers) can gain access to and training on computers, the Web, fax machines, copy machines, and word-processing, digital media and Web-design software.

"The goal of the co-op is very simple: to put more money in the pockets of musicians and other media professionals," said Todd Souvignier, head of operations for Tipitina's Foundation. "How we do that ranges from helping them get e-mail, getting them on the Web, getting press kits together ... ."

Regular office hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phone lines are being hooked up Wednesday: (318) 934-0000.

Tipitina's Foundation has already established a co-op with the legendary New Orleans club. Souvignier released a economic impact survey in 2004 which demonstrated significant benefits for members.

"We've repeatedly shown about a 30 percent increase in musician earnings as a direct result of participating in the co-op (in New Orleans)."

Dan Garner, an experienced local musician, has been hired to manage the Shreveport co-op. He believes it will open up new opportunities for local musicians and media-makers.

"This incubator makes them think of it as a real business," he explained. "It make them think about the possibilities of things like licensing, publishing, and copyright."

Souvignier said market realities require musicians to work harder to be successful. "The idea of sending a demo to Warner Brothers and getting a deal, those days are over. This is the era where you need to finish your product and release it yourself and create a track record for yourself. Once you've marketed yourself, then maybe major labels will come to you."

Shreveport's Downtown Development Authority has already earmarked $40,000 to support Tipitina's. Janie Landry, DDA's deputy director, said the co-op fits into their efforts to strengthen the West Edge Arts District. "From our standpoint, the music co-op will be a great addition to the West Edge and will benefit musicians in the Shreveport and Bossier area," she said.


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