Not as you’d expect perhaps a discussion of the merits or otherwise of joining the Premier League and the pitfalls that that can have for a team – as a Leicester City supporter I know only too well the feelings of doom that usually begin in late September! No this is an article about the tricky yet essential business of promoting gigs. In particular, gigs that on the face of it shouldn’t be too difficult to sell and then prove to be anything but easy. I don’t have much of a track record in this area and many would call me a fool for dipping my toe into such murky waters but hey I’m generally an optimist and usually believe that anything is possible given a bit of hard work and attention. Last year I promoted the lovely Mr Bruntnell and Small Town Jones. We didn’t sell out but broke even and all had a good time. I could pay the artists the top end of their request and had enough profit to buy them a crate of beer too.
So when I was approached to see if I wanted to promote another band that I liked (important that bit) in the same venue in May this year I thought for a moment and then signed on the dotted line (important that bit too…). Pete had been a phone call and a vague figure. This was a little bit more business-like and a lot more expensive. The venue was the same price but the band… well… and they set the ticket price. Did they know my market? Still, I persevered. After all, we had six months. We’re now three months away from the actual date and the booking agent has been in touch asking how many tickets we’ve sold.
Oh dear, four…. but there’s plenty of time… isn’t there …? Yes… I think so.
So now I’m thinking about numbers a lot. To break even I need to sell, deep breath Keith… seventy. F**K! I’ve created a list of potential purchasers. It’s a very simple list. In column one, I email everyone I know. In column two, I email everyone I don’t. It’ll be fine. F**K! So dear reader, if you fancy a good night out in May in Bedford I can recommend The Hanging Stars on the 15th, I’d buy you a drink but I might be a little hard up. Here’s the ticket link. Please come… I beg of you.
So I’ve been listening to The Hanging Stars a lot and I’m very taken with the new Brown Horse as well, it occurs to me that that’s a Loose collective. The radio show features lots of new stuff Kassi Valazza (more Loose!), Fruit Bats, Waxahatchee, Dan Raza plus all the usual nonsense. As ever …..
