CULTURAL SUPPORT | OUTREACH | EDUCATION
THE CAYMANA
"Places like this do not exist"
FOR THE CULTURE
The Caymana started life in 2017 as an informal way of supporting touring musicians we knew with somewhere to crash for free in between gigs - bedding down for the night in the storeroom above our garage studio.
From that basic beginning, the idea has expanded to become a wider ranging program to support emerging musicians and independent grassroots music projects wherever possible.
ALL MOD CONS
At the beginning it was just a basic place to shelter overnight in a sleeping bag on some old sofa cushions. There wasn't even a staircase and you had to use a ladder to get up there.
Over the years we added a fridge, a shower room and even a staircase...and it’s now used regularly by a range of bands and solo musicians as a place to bed down for the night before moving onto the next tour stop.
We christened it 'The Caymana' after a long running in-joke about a short-lived 'tropical' cream liqueur brand from the 1990's.
FOR THE CULTURE
The Caymana started life in 2017 as an informal way of supporting touring musicians we knew with somewhere to crash for free in between gigs - bedding down for the night in the storeroom above our garage studio.
From that basic beginning, the idea has expanded to become a wider ranging program to support emerging musicians and independent grassroots music projects wherever possible.
ALL MOD CONS
At the beginning it was just a basic place to shelter overnight in a sleeping bag on some old sofa cushions. There wasn't even a staircase and you had to use a ladder to get up there.
Over the years we added a fridge, a shower room and even a staircase...and it’s now used regularly by a range of bands and solo musicians as a place to bed down for the night before moving onto the next tour stop.
We christened it 'The Caymana' after a long running in-joke about a short-lived 'tropical' cream liqueur brand from the 1990's.
GIG ECONOMY
More music is being listened to than ever before, however more independent venues are shutting down every year, and streaming has become nothing more than a fantasy revenue stream.
Even successful artists with record deals, management, and festival appearances are struggling. By comparison, the path for emerging and grassroots musicians looks almost impossible.
This is without generative AI entering the chat...
“Staying at The Caymana quite literally made a tour we did last year possible.
Having a space to stay for free is gold to any touring band, and for it to be as comfortable and well equipped as it was really made a difference too.
Places like this do not exist.”
TOM TAYLOR - CUT CAPERS
ROUGH TRADE
A recent Guardian article (25th April 2024) on “the cost of touring crisis” highlighted just how extreme the chasm is between the top 1% of touring acts and the majority of relatively successful bands - those with regular radio play and festival appearances.
A five-piece band that recently crashed with us were looking at an overnight cost of £600 for accommodation with the gig fee being £1000.
That's pretty much everything gone after food & petrol.
VICIOUS CIRCLE
THE ECONOMY OF SCALES
In his early years Ed Sheeran famously slept under an arch outside Buckingham Palace for a few nights and caught up on sleep on the Tube:
“I spent a week catching up on sleep on Circle Line trains. I’d go out and play a gig, wait until 5am when the Underground opened, sleep on the Circle Line until 12, go to a session – and then repeat.”
Whether you're a fan of his music or not maybe together we can - at the very least - try to help stop the next generation of Ed Sheeran's sleeping on the Circle Line between gigs.
SNARE B'n'B ?
Some of the bands that we have supported have now gone on to much bigger things. For example, Bristol 9-piece CUT CAPERS are Glastonbury regulars, have just supported the Brand New Heavies at The Royal Albert Hall and have recently headlined at their hometown O2 Academy Bristol in 2025.
So, yeah, one place can help to make a difference...but it is still only one place.
WHAT NEXT?
The idea now is to showcase what we have been doing with The Caymana in order to both draw attention to the economic pressures of being a touring musician and to inspire others to maybe run their own DIY schemes as part of an informal network of free to stay 'crash pads' for touring musicians.
The Caymana will always be the foundation of our cultural support program - and it will remain a flagship initiative - but the plan is now to do more.
Watch this space...and sign up to the the 'Outer Limits' newsletter for more info and regular updates.
GIG ECONOMY
More music is being listened to than ever before, however more independent venues are shutting down every year, and streaming has become nothing more than a fantasy revenue stream.
Even successful artists with record deals, management, and festival appearances are struggling. By comparison, the path for emerging and grassroots musicians looks almost impossible.
This is without generative AI entering the chat...
THE ECONOMY OF SCALES
A recent Guardian article (25th April 2024) on “the cost of touring crisis” highlighted just how extreme the chasm is between the top 1% of touring acts and the majority of relatively successful bands - those with regular radio play and festival appearances.
A five-piece band that recently crashed with us were looking at an overnight cost of £600 for accommodation with the gig fee being £1000.
That's pretty much everything gone after food & petrol.
ROUGH TRADE / VICIOUS CIRCLE
In his early years Ed Sheeran famously slept under an arch outside Buckingham Palace for a few nights and caught up on sleep on the Tube:
“I spent a week catching up on sleep on Circle Line trains. I’d go out and play a gig, wait until 5am when the Underground opened, sleep on the Circle Line until 12, go to a session – and then repeat.”
Whether you're a fan of his music or not maybe together we can - at the very least - try to help stop the next generation of Ed Sheeran's sleeping on the Circle Line between gigs.
"The Caymana has meant that the artists I tour with can reach a whole new audience."
WILL LAIKIN - TIGHT LINES
SNARE B'n'B ?
Some of the bands that we have supported have now gone on to much bigger things. For example, Bristol 9-piece Cut Capers are Glastonbury regulars, have just supported the Brand New Heavies at The Royal Albert Hall and have an upcoming headlining show at their hometown O2 Academy Bristol in 2025 - while Ferg's Imaginary Big Band are regulars on the jazz festival circuit and made their debut at Ronnie Scott's in 2025.
So, yeah, one place can help to make a difference...but it is still only one place.
WHAT NEXT?
The idea now is to showcase what we have been doing with The Caymana in order to both draw attention to the economic pressures of being a touring musician and to inspire others to maybe run their own DIY schemes as part of an informal network of free to stay 'crash pads' for touring musicians.
The Caymana will always be the foundation of our cultural support program - and it will remain a flagship initiative - but the plan is now to do more.
Watch this space...and sign up to the the 'Outer Limits' newsletter for more info and regular updates.
THE OUTER LIMITS
The Outer Limits is a monthly email broadcast from Zeitwarp Studios featuring exclusive art drops, upcoming exhibitions & installations, and news on everything we are doing to support and promote grassroots culture via The Caymana.
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