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Welcome to Papercut, a zine, and community for women in music and those that experience misogyny in music.

 

We work in a few key ways to make the music industry a more equitable place.

 

COMMUNITY BUILDING

 

Although originally a women in music community, we've now expanded to welcoming people across the gender spectrum. If you are down with the spirit of the Papercut we welcome you to join our online community of like-minded music folks who want to grow, share, and make things better. 

 

EDUCATION

 

Knowledge is power, that’s why papercut offers educational events to our members. Taught by members for members, we create opportunities for our members to build their skills and to share their skills within the community. Find our events calendar here and/or reach out if you want to teach a workshop. 

 

ADVOCACY

 

Since its founding in 2017, Papercut’s purpose is to take action through intersectional grassroots activism to make the music industry a more equitable space. We aim to eliminate discrimination and create equitable access to opportunity in the music industry. 

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

 

Seattle has the highest-paid computer workers and the lowest-paid arts workers in the country, with artists making an average of $11.87 per hour. That’s not okay. We want to change that, that’s why Papercut offers career support to members through booking, promotion, and other paid opportunities. You can hire us to help you with your next music event by reaching out here. 


 

 

our history

What started as a quarterly happy hour grew into a nearly 1000 member online community-based in the Pacific Northwest. Formerly Womxn in Music, papercut was established in 2017, founded by Nikki Barron & Sarah Gerritsen. Nikki Barron is a music marketing and business expert with over 15 years of experience working with independent artists through her brand kittenteeth, is the Marketing Manager for The Crocodile and the Communications and Outreach Manager for SMASH, a healthcare nonprofit for musicians. Sarah Gerritsen is a songwriter and performer, fronting the project Sarah Gerritsen and the Shadow Catchers. 

 

Our current board is comprised of our founders as well as Leigh Bezezkoff (Tractor Tavern), Ailisa Newhall (Mägi Ensemble), Amanda Winterhalter (Townhall, Amanda Winterhalter), Desiree Jones (General Mojos, Marigolden Macrame), and Tayler Lynn (Vaudeville Etiquette, Tender Tide).

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get involved

If you are interested in joining our private Facebook follow this link. If you are interested in volunteering your time please use the contact form below. If you would like to donate to our work you can do that via Paypal here.

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code of conduct

We’ve crafted these guidelines to ensure everyone participating is part of a movement that empowers. Take a second to review them. Please respect our community and moderators, ultimately we decide what’s appropriate for this community.

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eggos not egos

We are a respectful, helpful community. Everyone has to check their ego at the door. Remember: we all started as beginners, no matter how far along we are now. Be a jerk once, shame on you. Be a jerk twice? You'll be banned. If the comment does not move the conversation forward, do not leave it.

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R-E-S-P-E-C-T

We’re a vibrant community of many types of people who all have the right to feel comfortable, safe, empowered, and respected.

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No Self Promo

Don't post "listen to me" links or links to your shows in our comments. If you only come here to ask for listens and promote your shows this isn't the group for you. This isn’t a place to pitch commercial or for-profit services and events. Do not spam. If you want to post your release to papercutmusic.org please use this form: https://forms.gle/wqWKeugScSyAoANT7

 

Just don't

  • Abusive or discriminatory verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, ethnicity, or religion

  • Deliberate intimidation

  • Harassing

  • Inappropriate physical contact at our events

  • Unwelcome sexual attention

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anti-racism statement

papercut is committed to the ongoing learning and unlearning necessary to be an antiracist organization. Our volunteers and staff pledge to create and expand opportunities for artists as well as for music communities that have historically been overlooked. 

 

papercut acknowledges our white privilege and the entrenched systemic racism that we, and our organization, have benefitted from and have enabled through conscious or unconscious inaction. The arts and culture community has perpetuated white supremacy through appropriation and tokenization, such as recruiting Black people for shows and performances without integrating them into positions of leadership. Black art is a driving cultural force that has been colonized for the benefit of white people, that is why papercut is obligated to dismantle systemic racism in our arts community and understands the urgency and importance of this work.  

 

papercut commits to: 

  • Articulate the necessity of cultivating a deeper understanding of the communities that we serve, and incorporate their perspectives, needs, feedback, and priorities into our strategic decisions and leadership.

  • Support the Black community with access to space and resources and evaluate all decisions through a racial equity lens. 

  • Prioritize intentional recruitment and hiring practices by expanding recruitment outside existing networks.

  • Create antiracist policies within governing and management documents. 

  • Commit to the ongoing practice of antiracism as individuals and as an organization by fostering a culture of accountability and receptivity to learning.

  • Actively support the anti racism efforts of other arts and culture organizations.

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