Live Bands and Gigs

U23D’ premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, before going on general release in the US and Canada. It opened in Ireland and the UK in February 22.  

The International Herald Tribune find it eyepopping, giving the audience the experience of being present, as the camera swings around Bono’s face, then rises over and down the 60,000 concert goers.  

The video was shot during U2’s visit to South America and was directed by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington. It doesn’t compare with a traditional video as you get the feeling of being on stage with the band one moment, and next you are at the back of the stadium, like you’re flying around it. 

Pearl Jam will be going on an East Coast tour with their stay in Manchester, and will include performances from Florida to Massachusetts. The tour will include a two-night stay at Madison Square Garden.  

Summer Tour Dates: 

JUN 11 West Palm, FL Cruzan Amp

JUN 12 Tampa, FL St. Pete Forum

JUN 12-15 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo 

JUN 16 Columbia, SC Colonial Ctr 

JUN 17 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Amp.  

JUN 19 Camden, NJ Susquehanna  

JUN 22 Washington, DC Verizon Center! 

JUN 24-25 New York City, NY MSG Arena  

JUN 27 Hartford, CT Dodge Amp.

JUN 30 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center  

 

WebMediaSource.com

Without a doubt, the most frequently asked question to the A&R community is—how can I get noticed by the people making the decisions?

I believe your efforts start on a local level with knowing the correct protocol and tactics for maximizing your profile. The age old saying of “Build It And They Will Come” is really the best motto to live by when you are trying to get noticed.

Following are some very helpful hints and suggestions that should be implemented in your plan of attack for building a following and getting noticed.

#1. The Golden Rule: Never ever send your package to a label that doesn’t accept unsolicited material. This applies mostly to major labels and managers.

#2. Your Press Pack: This is your connection to the music community which will be buying your independent piece of product, booking your band, writing or reviewing your material or perhaps just forwarding it to a friend. It should include the following: Your product (CD, cassette, video), properly labeled with all the necessary information—band name, song titles, contact person (crucial). And make it legible.

#3. Your Photo: This is a big one. Make sure you have an up to date picture of you or your band (the spandex and chains from 1986 won’t do any good in today’s market place). The community wants to know what you look like now! This is show biz and image is everything. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, just current. This quite possibly may end up in a local trade paper or magazine or it may be used to promote your image at a local club or on the internet. So please make sure you present yourself in the best light.

#4. Live Shows: Make sure your live show is intact. If you’re not ready to perform live, DON’T!. The millions of people who haven’t seen you yet won’t mind waiting just a little longer for you to get it together. In many cases you only get one shot with people so make it count.

#5. Fanbase: Growing your fan base and keeping them informed of your developments is paramount. This is sometimes the most prominent element that labels and managers look for. How many people are you drawing to your shows? How many people are on your mailing list? How many units have you sold independently? How many T-shirts have you sold? Make sure at every show you have a place where new fans can sign up for your mailing list.

#6. Local Press: Include the local press in your plans. Find out who writes tape, CD and gig reviews and send them your stuff. Invite them to a show and get them excited. They can become great allies for publicity and hype.

#7. Local Resources: Exploit all your local resources , like music stores, high schools, colleges, festivals, holiday events. Build locally, first.

#8. Network!: Seek out those people in your neighborhood who are connected, or who know someone—possibly an attorney, manager, or even your local record store. You’d be surprised just how close you are to a direct contact in the industry.

If you are an artist seeking to grow and spread your music, these suggestions can help you. A career-minded artist never rests on his laurels and must keep reinventing himself. It’s a much better bet to start out small and grow step by step. Your foundation is the key, not the amount of your first advance.

So, to repeat what I said earlier—BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME!

Jamie Talbot is an artist manager and independent A&R consultant. He was formerly a manager at SDM and Big F.D. Entertainment where he worked with such acts as Guns N’ Roses, Goldfinger, Danzig, The Gap Band, The young Dubliners and X. He was also an A&R scout for Roadrunner Records. In addition to being on the TAXI A&R staff he currently writes the “In The Know” column for the A&R Registry.

Website Promotion – Promote your local band over the internet. If you don’t have a website for your local band or garage band, Get One. They are a valuable tool for indie promotion in today’s internet world. Click Band Website Design to see our band website packages. Once you have your web address, start submitting your website URL to local band listing websites. Do a search on your city and see what sites list local bands and show dates. For Example, try searching: (Band Listings Pittsburgh, or Concert Calendar New York). Email the site and ask to have your web link added. Also, e-mail any concert calendars and have your band gigs and shows listed. You would be surprised how many you’ll find in your area. Also email your local clubs with your website and see if they would like a press kit.

If you already have a website designed for your band and need Affordable Server Space to host your bands website just click the IPowerWeb link just below. We use their service for all our sites and have been completely satisfied with their service. I think you’ll find there prices to be some of the best around, especially for the band on a budget.

E-mail your local Newspapers - Have your show dates added to local newspaper concert listings. Most papers will list your gigs for free. Contact any free papers that list band show dates. Also, See if they will do an article on your garage band or review one of your gigs or your CD.

Band Manager – Look into having a band manager who will help out with promotion an help book you indie act. Has someone that you have known has taken an interest in your garage band or career? See if they would help book your indie band for free or a fee designated by you. Watch out for people that get to meddlesome in your band and try to control your band goals. Negotiate for fees charged for such services.

Battle of the Bands – Send your demo and press kit to any local battle of the band competitions. Most competitions locate up and coming talent in the area for their Battle of the Bands. The great thing about these competitions is that you can network with the promoters, other bands involved, and get exposure. Many of the competitions or gigs are promoted on the radio and through other means. The winner usually gets a decent prize like studio time or free promotion,. Have your business cards ready at every portion of the competition.

Source: MediaWebSource.com

The Wembley heroes bring their triumphant 12 months to a close on the other side of the planet. Next year, the moon…

We all witnessed it: there was the fire, the trapeze artists, the huge TV screens and the giant satellite dishes that flanked the stage; there was Matt Bellamy’s red lab coat, the smoke from the pitch and the mere fact that they’d even thought about flying in on jetpacks. There was the way that, a mere 30 seconds into ‘Knights Of Cydonia’, every last one of the 150,000 people present over those two nights in June realised they were witnessing modern stadium rock at its gloriously excessive pinnacle. There is the way our ears are still ringing. Everything about Muse at Wembley seemed so… final. Like, where on Earth can they go after this?

The answer – at least until that gig on the moon – is to its other side. Or Down Under, as we call it on Earth. The Greatest Live Band In The World Ever’s journey since July has taken in Japan, Korea, the US and Russia, and now they’re ending the year in Oz.

Read more from nme.com

From Rock and Roll Daily, your non stop music news source

This weekend’s rock list, Best Live Band Playing Right Now, got an awesome and terrifying response from you all – thanks for all the nominations. After careful consideration, here is our final list. Now go see these guys!

1. The White Stripes
2. Radiohead
3. Pearl Jam
4. Rage Against the Machine
5. U2
6. Metallica
7. Flaming Lips
8. My Morning Jacket
9. The Hold Steady
10. Arcade Fire
11. The Raconteurs
12. Wilco
13. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
14. Red Hot Chili Peppers
15. Gogol Bordello
16. Kings of Leon
17. Muse
18. Dave Matthews Band
19. Tool
20. LCD Soundsystem

Source:  RollingStone.com

5. Invite Press
Having a local journalist do a story on your performance can be a great way off gaining exposure, as well as add to your portfolio. If you live in a small town or suburban area with a decent art & entertainment scene, some journalists go out to random venues just to post pictures or write short clips. Either way, you should always be on top of your game and meet these people. If you are doing a major benefit, you may be able to get local news coverage.

6. Tip Your Waitresses And Bartenders
I do not care what your policies are on tipping people when in the general public, but you should ALWAYS tip when you are a guest performer in their establishment. Tipped employees remember those who do not tip and will hold it against you. Do not forget that they are working just as hard for you. I always tip 15% – 20% of my tab, but you can also consider giving your servers a flat fee for the entire band. Even if your entire tab is comped or you are just drinking water, you should leave a tip. This will establish good relations with your co-workers for the night (and future gigs) as well as keep things professional.
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Why should one gig equal one gig when it can equal five? Here are some quick tips to make the most out of your gigs:

1. Get A Banner
Having a banner is an often overlooked, yet effective way to get your band name out there. You will be surprised at how many people will hear and see your band but have no idea who you are. You can have a banner made by visiting your nearest office supply store or going old skool and painting over an old beer banner. Be sure to include a link to your website at the bottom. Banners will usually range between $20-$150 depending on the graphics, size, and material. Be sure that it is big enough to be clearly scene by audience members, yet portable. Keep your atmospheres in mind also. How often do you play in a dark club or daytime outside?

2. Avoid The “Band Table Of Doom”
Your girlfriend will be there for you after the gig, audience members may not be! I am surprised at the number of bands that I see get off stage, go directly to their band table (which is sometimes BEHIND the stage) and not talk to anyone. I once saw a guy go off stage, immediately had his girlfriend wrap her arms around him, and did not move until it was time to go back on stage. That was very unwelcoming and I felt like I would be intruding if I tried to network.

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One of the world’s best known punk rock/love song factories is set for a reunion tour that would take you down memory lane as they play their love songs to live audiences this year. The specifics are not yet made public but they have confirmed their commitment to the move and welcome the support of their many fans. They have put their differences behind them and are preparing to face their loyal fans with their most loved songs. Their rise to fame was cut short when the band and it’s members couldn’t reconcile their differences that ended in a high-profile court case.
The band’s 30th year anniversary was a good time for the comeback as their lead Tony Hadley has made it known that all of them would be taking part in the tour. they say they’ve buried the hatchet and are again ready to face the music which had them fighting for the stuff they loved most, the music and their songs.

John Lennon appears in TV ad campaign! Yep, you heard it right, the Beatles legend appears in a commercial for the “One Laptop per Child” non-profit group which through what else, digital techniques has his voice and movement altered to make him plead for support of the program. Next, we have the famed Kurt Cobain Fender Mustang guitar he smashed on stage on the band’s first US tour. Well, it sold for $US 100,000 to a collector and music buff (trash is cash after all). And last news, Warner Music has begun removing free videos of their artists from YouTube after long negotiations about new royalties royalties for their use. Deemed as a cash stream, these videos from greats like Madonna, Linkin Park, Led Zepplin and others, have long been in demand yet the studio says it hasn’t received word on a better offer so bye guys, better luck next time.