Post by bmp1 on Jan 11, 2009 15:48:31 GMT -5
Hello!
If you'll allow me, I'll give you the story of how I ended up here!
About three years ago, I was enjoying an evening on the deck with friends at a local pub. I walked inside and was struck by music coming from the bar area. Actual talent!?! I couldn't believe my ears, so I stood and watched long enough for my friends to come looking for me.
A few days later, my brother asked me if I still remembered any of my high school French from 20 years before because he'd gotten some MP3s of an amazing band, but he couldn't find any information about them.
I decided to hunt for the music for a birthday present. I inadvertently ran across a email address for the the guitarist. As I learned more, I found that he and I had both grown up as fans of Joe Jackson. We struck up an international email friendship, and I got autographed CDs for my brother for his birthday. In the mean time, I was becoming friends with that guy in the bar at my local pub.
Then I saw that this French guy was to be in LA (we live on the east coast), but alas, he was to be at NAMM, and we couldn't get in. He graciously arranged for passes for us through the company that brought him. A trip to LA to MEET the guitarist became my brother's Christmas present (aren't I a great sister??).
At NAMM (2007), we told this amazing guitarist that his band's music MUST be shared with the US. He told us if we could get some shows booked for them, they'd come. Wow! We told him we knew nothing about how to do this, but we'd give it a go. I decided to try to help with booking and admin stuff for the guy in the bar as well....and he also let me!
The French band, Mörglbl, has now come to the US for 2 short tours, and they're returning for a 6 week trip in the spring. 6 weeks is a lot of work, but we've learned a little bit each time, and we're getting smarter about how we can work with venues to actually get them interested in booking "unknown" bands. I've also been able to help Scott Smith gain some bookings he wouldn't have done on his own, and we've opened up some new markets. (I'll post links in the non-Ironworks section).
Its exhaustive and frustrating work to try to get anything going with so many of these venues. The sheer volume of press kits that they receive on a daily basis is staggering. Cracking through the wall of how to actually establish contacts and relationships is nearly, but not entirely, impossible.
But we're having the time of our lives helping and being involved. I'll be forever amazed that these two artists actually allowed us to become a part of something bigger. It just makes us want to find ways to do more.
And yes, I guess we're a little bit crazy too!
Julie
If you'll allow me, I'll give you the story of how I ended up here!
About three years ago, I was enjoying an evening on the deck with friends at a local pub. I walked inside and was struck by music coming from the bar area. Actual talent!?! I couldn't believe my ears, so I stood and watched long enough for my friends to come looking for me.
A few days later, my brother asked me if I still remembered any of my high school French from 20 years before because he'd gotten some MP3s of an amazing band, but he couldn't find any information about them.
I decided to hunt for the music for a birthday present. I inadvertently ran across a email address for the the guitarist. As I learned more, I found that he and I had both grown up as fans of Joe Jackson. We struck up an international email friendship, and I got autographed CDs for my brother for his birthday. In the mean time, I was becoming friends with that guy in the bar at my local pub.
Then I saw that this French guy was to be in LA (we live on the east coast), but alas, he was to be at NAMM, and we couldn't get in. He graciously arranged for passes for us through the company that brought him. A trip to LA to MEET the guitarist became my brother's Christmas present (aren't I a great sister??).
At NAMM (2007), we told this amazing guitarist that his band's music MUST be shared with the US. He told us if we could get some shows booked for them, they'd come. Wow! We told him we knew nothing about how to do this, but we'd give it a go. I decided to try to help with booking and admin stuff for the guy in the bar as well....and he also let me!
The French band, Mörglbl, has now come to the US for 2 short tours, and they're returning for a 6 week trip in the spring. 6 weeks is a lot of work, but we've learned a little bit each time, and we're getting smarter about how we can work with venues to actually get them interested in booking "unknown" bands. I've also been able to help Scott Smith gain some bookings he wouldn't have done on his own, and we've opened up some new markets. (I'll post links in the non-Ironworks section).
Its exhaustive and frustrating work to try to get anything going with so many of these venues. The sheer volume of press kits that they receive on a daily basis is staggering. Cracking through the wall of how to actually establish contacts and relationships is nearly, but not entirely, impossible.
But we're having the time of our lives helping and being involved. I'll be forever amazed that these two artists actually allowed us to become a part of something bigger. It just makes us want to find ways to do more.
And yes, I guess we're a little bit crazy too!
Julie
