Attention bands:
If you are not already tuned one of the best local music show in Santa Cruz, check out Local Brew on KZSC (88.1 FM) on Saturdays from 9 a.m. - Noon. If you have new music or upcoming shows to share, contact the show via their Facebook page or by emailing localbrew@kzsc.org.
In the meantime, tune in this Saturday and spread the local music gospel.
Way back in January SCRS hosted a ‘Getting on the Radio’ panel. It was awesome. It was also winter flu season, so a lot of people emailed and said they were sorry they could not make it. Here are the top things I learned as well as an audio link if you feel like listening.
Audio Link: http://www.scica.org/visual-arts/scica-music-lecture-series-how-to-get-your-music-on-radio/
We *hope* to find someone to help us edit down the video, but don’t hold your breath for that, right now, focus on reading. Featured Guest Panelists:
“Sleepy” John Sandidge [DJ - KPIG & KZSC] Lois Rosson [Program Director - KZSC Santa Cruz] Geo Warner [Volunteer Coordinator for Music Programming KUSP] Sandino Gomez [Free Radio Santa Cruz]
1. Getting your own radio show on Free Radio Santa Cruz is the easist way to get your music heard. They are also the only local station that will take digital files
2. If you send KZSC (and 99% of non-commerical radio) a CD in a paper sleeve, it will not make it on air. It must be a digi or a jewel case. If you have to, hand make a few of your sleeves into this format for radio.
3. When your CD arrives at KZSC it goes to a processing locker, it gets labeled and put into the air room for general staff to play for about 2 months. After that, it gets added to the perminent collection, or it gets purged.
4. For all stations, always list what tracks are not FCC compliant on a sticker on the CD.
5. Forget commercial radio for now, they won’t even look at it. Instead make a connection with a non-commercial DJ in your area.
6. Email is the best first contact. Introduce yourself, let us know to expect your CD.
7. Follow-up to break through the noise. Try not to be annoying but following up shows the station that the musician really cares about being played and that can shift you to the top.
8. If you are producing a CD - remember:
9. If you are sending a CD - remember:
10. College and community based radio is poised to take over. They are the only station around that still have a real local focus and mean something to communities.
Thank you Santa Cruz Music Community for coming out to our panel on Monday. My excitement and energy for working in the music community was inspired anew.
As promised I have attached my festival spreadsheet to date as well as my personal notes. I tried to mostly include festivals that already have 2013 dates but there are plenty more to add. Send me any updates/additions and I will keep it current. A current downloadable PDF will live here - http://www.santacruzrehearsalstudios.com/promotion.php along with other resources referred to in my panel notes.
Please feel free to share this information in any way, shape or form, as long as you don't make money off the info without giving me a (large) cut.
If you have additional resources to add to my section (favored web designers, graphic artists, photographers, etc.) pass them on. If you or your band is not represented here http://www.santacruzrehearsalstudios.com/sc-bands.php (or is misrepresented) please forward that along as well.
Again many thanks for everything, especially the generous donations to help us cover the room rental cost.
Plotting the next meet-up now.. stay tuned for January.
[slideshow] Art of the Application: Applying to National and Regional Music Festivals
Monday, November 26 - 6-9 p.m. Santa Cruz Institute Of Contemporary Art @ The Tannery 1050 River Street #127 RSVP on Facebook
Open to all local musicians or those that love them. Cash donations will be accepted to help cover the room cost but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. We will also accept unopened candy and booze.
I have never met a musicians didn’t want to play the ever elusive festival. Let’s pool our knowledge, and make everyone smarter on all aspects of the process – from packaging yourself beforehand to promoting yourself once you get on the bill. We’ll share some stories, you can ask some questions and if you give me your email address I will share my spreadsheet with all the festivals and deadlines I have compiled. Questions – email jenn@santacruzrehearsalstudios.com
Panel:
Robert Cray, Peter Rowan and Flaco Jiminez were among the very first artists Tom Miller brought to Santa Cruz back in 1979, when he began his 10-year stint booking OT Price's Music Hall. He later booked Henfling's, before moving on to his present gig booking Don Quixote's International Music Hall in Felton.
Graduate of Berklee College of Music’s Artist Management program, Dan Sheehan started VEG Presents (Vibes Entertainment Group) in 2011. He is the co-producer of the California Roots Festival as well as manager to local artists including THRIVE, Matt Masih & The Messengers and The Whiskey Avengers.
Jeff Sloan two time Grammy Award winning artist and engineer has made his home in Northern California after escaping Oklahoma in 1987. After working on the road for many years now serves the entire bay area music scene with his live sound engineer, production, stage managing and back line technical skills. He is planning on dying a starving artist!
Andy Zenczak is a freelance producer/recording engineer and owner of Gadgetbox Recording Studios. Over the past twelve years he has worked with over 300 bands and songwriters, mixed over 1000 songs for commercial release and is on a constant crusade to help local artists get the viability and exposure they deserve from their music.
Moderator:
Jennifer Gallacher has worked in the music industry for the past ten years as the director of marketing and promotions at Dancing Cat Records and most recently as the owner of Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studios and manager of local band Wooster. In addition she is the publicist for Club Fox in Redwood City.
Bands, if you are not already on Earbits commercial free online radio, get it done. Submit your music here. Earbits has a mission to provide an amazing music discovery platform and connect artists with their ideal audience. They are super committed to the musicians they work with. The site is super simple and user friendly.
Send us a link once your music so we can take a listen.
Starting this week, the Grammy Foundation will be accepting online entries for titles released between Oct 2010 and July 2011. The first round of submissions will be open from July 6th - 27th, 2011. The Grammy Foundation announced in their April press release that categories have been updated.
Click here to submit your release.
Want to play the Haight-Ashbury Street Fair? Here is your foot in the door.
Complete blog can be found on The Good Times Making Noise site.
The Ugly Mug 4640 Soquel Drive Soquel, CA 95073 831-477-1341
Connect with The Ugly Mug on Facebook. All ages
• Booking contact: Dick Brundle of Fiddling Cricket Concerts - 831-475-4938 or brundle@attglobal.net
• Preferred method of contact: Start by introducing yourself at one of the shows (either at The Ugly Mug or Mission City Coffee Roasting Company). One you make a oersonal connection, than email.
• Timing: The acoustic music series only runs twice a month (usually 2nd and 4th Wednesday) so they are booked at least a few months in advance.
• Genre: Folk, traditional, bluegrass, old time, blues, Americana, Celtic, world music and eclectic mixes.
• Sound: in-house sound system and a designated sound engineer.
• Capacity: You need to be able to draw at least thrity of your friends, but they can hold up to about sixty.
• Schedule: Doors @ 7 p.m. - show from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Tickets are always $10 at the door and artists gets lion's share of door proceeds (no need for a tip jar).
• Misc: Food, beer and, of course, coffee are available at shows (no laptops).
I recently received an off the cuff tutorial from a booking agent at a Bay Area venue. They agreed to let me share thier typical sentiments with you. I decided to keep their sharing anonymous to protect their right to future rants without reprecussion. There are so many gems in here it is enough to make your head spin.
Bands take heed!
How to Query Club Booking Agents
Figure out how each club agents wants to be contacted.
Agents differ in the way they like to be queried and it’s up to you to figure out the right way to query each one. Some prefer, phone, some prefer email and some have specific call times. Remember it’s about the way they want to do business, not the way you want to do business. I personally do not like to be sold on the phone; I just want the facts in writing so I can easily reference them. Others are the exact opposite. Usually you can figure out the way an agent wishes to be queried by visiting the club web site or by simply asking her/him. Bear in mind that many agents have multiple roles and limited time and that you are likely to be one of hundreds the query them annually. Don’t take it personally if you don’t get a quick response. Just be persistent and a bit creative until you develop an effective working relationship. In my dual role as booking agent for musicians, I can name at least three CA club bookers that most people can never get a response from. I can get an answer in 15 minutes from each one simply because I figured out the right way to query them and they appreciate it.
Be Clear and Concise with your message.
If you are calling on the phone, start and end with your name and number. If querying by email, put your band name and available date in the subject line. This may seem like a no brainier but 90% don’t do it. This is the single biggest way to stand out and expedite a response. Vague email subjects and lengthy babbling messages followed by hastily left names and numbers are a clear red flag that you will be a pain in the ass to work with. Or worse yet, I may just bury your message until I have time for it and we all know what happens to buried messages. Remember, you are selling your band, not your personality, so get to the point.
Tell me what I want to know.
I want to know what your draw is, at what ticket price and what exactly you will do to help promote your show. If you have prior plays tell me about them and don’t bullshit me cause I probably know the booker at that venue. If the prior was part of a package or it was the venues grand opening, don’t act like your band sold it out. If you are just starting out, developing your fan base just be honest about it and the agent will be in a better position to help you.
Show me what you can do.
Send me exactly what you would send the press, speak to me the way you would a reporter, reference your successes, have a website with sound bites and tour history, and good photo’s and press releases. Impress me that you have a fan base and what it takes to get them to my venue. This is 2010, not 1973 and if you don’t have a grip on your own promotional efforts, and expect a club to do it all for you, you are in for a rude awakening.
Don’t waste my time:
Here is a typical phone message I get 20 times a day.
Hello – I am so and so and I am with the band such and such and we are a really great band, we play this and that and one of the guys used to play for so and so. I grew up in blah, blah, blah, and I really like your club, I used to go there to see so and so. We have played their several times and the old booking agent/Owner really liked us and the fans liked us too and we would like to play their again, or if we could be an opener in the big room. Anyhow, you can check us out on our My Space page (or some other social networking site I have to sign up to, to see). Call me back because I would like to talk to you about it. My name is garble and I am at 3817654647 (left as fast as possible, requiring three listens to make it out). And I am thinking “what kind of music? When did they play? What date are they available? Was it a package or did they headline? And what the hell is garbles name and did they say 47 or 07? Is that the impression you wish to make?
Spare me the guilt trip
I could care less how many times you have called or emailed, I get 30 calls and 100 emails a day and if I am not getting back to you there is probably a good reason (see above), or I just flat out don’t have the time. You whining about it may gain you sympathy from your mommy or therapist but all it does to me is let me know that you are a thin skinned little cry baby with limited initiative that will be difficult to work with. Do you want the gig or do you want to make me feel bad. It’s your choice.
Follow up
Simple rule – do what you say. If an agent is asking for something, that request will serve as a test to see how capable you are. If you can’t follow up with the agent, how are you going to follow up with press or tech advancing or virtually anything? It’s your career so act like it.
Book again
If you come in and do a decent gig – don’t wait to re-book it, call me the next day. This lets me know that you want to grow with my venue and that you want to be part of my regular programming. Don’t wait till one month out or go play at three other local venues without the courtesy of even a phone call. Believe me, unless your name is Eric Clapton my club will do just fine without you, but having a regular gig in your back pocket is money in the bank and your fans will appreciate it too.
Don’t jerk me around
The us vs. them days are history. If you think you are gonna beat me up for gigs or squeeze me on fee’s, or denigrate my marketing team or staff or another venues team to somehow imply that you can do better than you have done, you will not be playing my venue. There are so many great bands out there looking for gigs that bookers like me can simply choose to work with people they like and people that are capable of growing in this climate. I literally have no real competition for 40 miles in my sized venue. You can get on board or not, it really does not matter to me. Attitude has no place in 2010, we either work together or I work with someone else. I am not in business to make you money, I am in business to bring great music to my community and put butts in seats. If we do that, the lion’s share of the money goes to you and your fan base grows. Its win win for both of us.
Complete blog can be found on The Good Times Making Noise site.
Don Quixote's International Music Hall 6275 Highway 9 Felton, CA 95018 831-603-2294
Connect with Don Quixote's on Facebook Seated listening shows are under 21 with a parent.
For many bands the holy grail of shows seems to be "the festival". Here is California, we are particularly blessed with many an epic festival within driving distance. Here are a few of the upcoming application deadlines for a few or our favorites.
Don't wait - decisions for 2011 are being made NOW.
This is the first post in a new series. If there are other festivals you would like to see addressed, please leave a comment and we will try to include them in our next post.
Strawberry Music Festival - Performers interested in playing the Strawberry Music Festivals are welcome to submit CD's and promo packs any time of the year. Booking for the festivals begins in October and is completed near the middle of February. Please mail submissions to:
Strawberry Music Festivals P.O. Box 664 Jamestown, CA 95327 Attn: Charlie Cran
Please Note: No booking or communication is conducted via e-mail. You will not receive an e-mail response to any inquiry.
Mateel Summer Arts and Music - In addition to the annual Summer Arts and Music Festival, they also put on Reggae on the River, Hemp Fest, Humboldt Hoedown and the Winter Arts Faire. Their website contact page does not give an exact procedure for booking but I would start by mailing your package to:
Talent/ booking - Justin Crellin PO Box 1910 Redway, CA 95560
Sierra Nevada World Music Festival - Artists interested in performing at SNWMF 2011 should send their promo packets to the address below. Please only send materials that are commercially available (no CD-Rs).
SNWMF 2011 PO Box 208 Ryde, CA 95680
Monterey Bay Reggaefest - Artist Submissions: Andre Smith (831) 394-6534 asmithmbrf@aol.com
Monterey Bay Reggaefest PO Box 1607 Seaside, CA 93955
Live Oak Music Festival - The Live Oak Music Festival Entertainment Selection Committee accepts artist applications from July 1st through October 31st for the following year’s festival. If you wish to be considered, please review our web site and either apply through Sonicbids or send an email between July and October to booking@liveoakmusic.org. Please include an EPK, including video and audio links, a brief description of your musical style, web address, and number of performers in act. The Entertainment Committee does not guarantee a response to inquiries. Thank you for your interest in our fundraising festival for the non-profit public radio station KCBX, serving San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
Complete blog can be found on The Good Times Making Noise site.
The Abbey 350 Mission Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Show schedule on their MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/theabbeysc
Open-mic once a month. Sign up at 7 PM, show starts at 8 PM. People can and do get booked from the open-mic. Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/theabbeysc
Boccis Cellar is starting a reggae night one Friday a month (maybe more later) and now is your chance to get in on the ground floor. Boccis's already has music 7 days a week and are looking to start a new theme night.
Details:
If interested, email Toby Gray at Boccis@GMAIL.com. Make sure to include a link to your band's web presence and/or MP3s.
KZSC really is the best thing since sliced bread and one of our favorite shows is The Rising Tide on Friday nights from 8:30 - 10:30 with DJ Passive Theory. In a beautiful display of community building, DJ Passive Theory has generously offered to host interested SCRS bands on his show for a live interview/performance. Get your feet wet in the station by emailing him at afrobombasticbassist@gmail.com with "Attn: Playing on The Rising Tide" in the subject line along with your band's name.
DJ Passive Theory also happens to have a super cool blog that can help you stay up to date with who is who and where they are playing. Check out The Rising Blog for rising musical minds...
Tips on How to book a show at The Blue Lagoon
923 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz CA
(831) 423-7117
21+ with ID
Full text of this blog is available on the Good Times Making Noise blog.
Tips on How to book a show at Henflings Roadhouse Tavern
9450 Highway 9
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 336-9318
Full text of this blog is available on the Good Times Making Noise blog.
21+
Stand out show for Kim = French punk rock
Full text of this blog is found on my Good Times Making Noise blog.
Here are some Santa Cruz specific outlets to promote your show through:
Postering (printing and distribution): Clutch Couriers
Blogs: Santa Cruz D.I.Y Cruzio Weekend Santa Cruz
Daily Papers: Santa Cruz Sentinel - Add your event on thier calendar and check out which music writer covers your genre.
Weekly Papers: Good Times Santa Cruz Weekly City on a Hill (UCSC) The Voice (Cabrillo College) The Valley Post Connection Magazine Press Banner
Monthly Magazines Your Music Magazine 831 Magazine Santa Cruz Magazine
Radio KPIG KUSP KZSC (email calender listings to calendar@kzsc.org) KAZU KSCO FRSC
Event Websites www.beeets.com www.centerd.com www.localmusicvibe.com
I would suggest following and sending your show info to the following (but if you do, make sure your show is on thier calendars first).
@centerdinSCruz @YourMusicMag @santacruzshows @BestofSantaCruz @scsentinel @beeets @santacruzweekly @cityonahill @LocalMusicVibe
Full text of this blog is found at the Good Times Making Noise site.
Seabright Brewery 519 Seabright Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-426-BREW (2739) http://www.seabrightbrewery.com/
Wharf House Restaurant 1400 Wharf Road at the end of the Capitola Wharf Capitola, California 95010 831.476.3534 http://www.wharfhouse.com/
Mailing Address 4165 Portola Dr Santa Cruz CA, 95062 (831) 475-9197
Now that ALL bands are on Facebook I want to share a little tip that some excellent pages have overlooked - the vanity URL. Just like you can have your www.myspace.com slash band name, so too can you have your www.facebook.com / band name.
For example, SCRS has www.facebook.com/santacruzrehearsalstudios - this way it makes it super easy for us to promote our FB page / put it on a flyer/ ad, etc.
To get this nifty vanity URL just visit - www.facebook.com/username/
If you make one, send me a link, comment, email or written letter so I can post it on our site.
My latest Good Times Making Noise blog is up featuring info on this Saturday's record store day including info on how your band can book yourself a nice little in-store of your own.
Streetlight has a great schedule of live music all day:
April 17, 2020 Record Store Day 7 Come 11 (Funk/Jazz from SC) – 1:00 Special Guests – 2:00 Special Guests – 2:30 DJ Rob Monroy (House from SC) – 3:15 Pillow Fights (Pop-Punk from SJ) – 4:00 Rodent (Gothic/Industrial from SC) – 4:30 Tetherhorse (Folk/Bluegrass from SC) – 5:00 DJ Tom LG (45s from the 30s, 40s and 50s) – 5:30 Stellar Corpses (Psychobilly from SC) – 6:00
