What is the Gig Fund?

The “Keep The Music Alive Empowerment Initiative”, also known as the NOMAF “Gig Fund”, provides direct financial assistance to local non-profit organizations so they can employ New Orleans’ musicians for their events.

While we encourage our grant recipients to leverage NOMAF sponsorships with other event sponsors, our support also serves as financial incentive for organizations that would not otherwise be able to pay musicians. Once an organization accesses the impact that LIVE music has on the overall success of their event, our hope is they continue providing employment opportunities to musicians in the future.

This creates a tangible economic impact and – more importantly – supporting the tradition bearers of our great city.

We also partner with community groups to ensure that musicians most in need for employment are hired for NOMAF-sponsored events. This often includes elder musicians, emerging bands, and musicians experiencing health issues that are inhibiting their ability to
gain employment.

How is the NOMAF Gig Fund related to our NOMC healthcare mission?

While health care remains our primary mission, viable employment for musicians is essential to their physical health and mental well-being. Any musician will tell you their favorite ‘therapy’ is playing music for themselves and others.

A crucial component of the NOMC’s innovative services is to engage those we serve as community “Thought Leaders” by providing employment opportunities. While building these relationships, we are also gaining the trust of people who may be apprehensive of traditional health clinics.

NOMAF is committed to addressing noise induced hearing loss suffered by musicians and audience members. By applying for funding, organizations agree not to exceed the sound output maximum of 100 (dB) decibels or more than 30 minutes during their event. We periodically dispatch personnel to NOMAF-sponsored events to ensure that our applicants comply with our standard.
We also encourage smoke free envirnoments for our musicians to perform in.

How Can You Help?

All NOMAF-sponsored gigs are funded by individual donations. The largest of these is a loyal supporter in NYC who donates $100,000 per year to sustain outreach and empowerment activities. Other donors to this program include Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Phish, Widespread Panic, Threadhead Records (Ca.), The Orchard (NYC), Amoeba Records, New Orleans Parrotheads, German Rotary Club, NOMAFans in Seattle, JASS Aspen, Superfly Productions, HBO’s Treme Series and The Cape Cod Jazz Festival.

Funds Disbursed to musicians via the Gig Fund:

• Gig Fund Related Article