So you’re one of the lucky handful of acts to perform as part of a huge internationally attendee music conference. Your set is tight you’re ready to unleash it onto the world, you’re producing the best stuff you’ve ever written and there’s not better time than now.

But before you start signing management deals and playing showcase events you have to be prepared? Are you able to cut your set to a tight 20 minutes? Has your manager been doing the hard years getting the right people to attend your show? Do you know music conference etiquette?

Well we caught up with four local and international seasoned music conference pros to chat about how bands ca make the most out of the playing a music conference, so read up and rest assured you’re in good hands. Both Zan and Glenn will be in Brisbane from the 9th – 11th September as part of Bigsound 2015. For more info visit www.bigsound.com.au.

Zan Rowe: Zan Rowe is the presenter and producer of triple j Mornings, weekdays from 9am-12pm on triple j. Zan has worked in community and public broadcasting since 1996, with a passion for music journalism and programming. Over her career she has particularly championed new music, attending the annual SXSW Music Conference and – within her show and also in print media – has explored the context of new music within a larger cultural and historical context. Zan has a passion for speaking with those who create, both on stage and behind the scenes.

Glenn Dickie: Glenn Dickie is the Export Music Producer at Sounds Australia a position he’s held since 2013. Glenn has spent his whole life in music, working as a touring musician playing drums in some known but mainly unknown bands; as a radio host on Melbourne’s Three Triple R FM (Best Of The Brat); as record company executive working across promotion and publicity, marketing and A&R; and as the co-founder of the iconic international showcase brand THE AUSSIE BBQ. Over the years Glenn has worked with literally hundreds of international and local acts helping to develop and enhance their careers.

Remember It’s A Showcase, Not A Show

Glenn: “Most important thing to remember when playing at any showcase event is that “IT’S A SHOWCASE, NOT A SHOW”. For the most part playing at showcasing events will be some of the worst shows you’ll play.

Shared backline that may not be in the best condition by the time you get to it, tight change overs, no sound checks, limited audience attention spans, PAs and for that matter sound engineers that are working around the clock over multiple days and in some cases venues and stages that are only subject to live music in this capacity during a showcase conference.

[include_post id=”456656″]So it’s important to manage your expectations and go in with the mentality that this is a showcase of what we can do not the full scale show with all the bells and whistles. Although you might get a couple of facebook posts or tweets from fans saying the sound was shit or that you didn’t play their favourite song, the industry WILL and DOES understand. If you can pull off a great showcase then the industry that you’re trying to capture should be impressed enough to see a proper gig down the track.

The it’s a showcase not a show message is even more important for your crew who you are paying to give you the best possible experience and who have YOUR best interests in mind but maybe not that of the event itself. As a manager/band you need to let them know of the restrictions that they need to work within AND more importantly you have to be respectful and mindful that it’s a really tough gig for them too.

Ultimately if they make you run over time because they’re not listening to the local in-house engineer at all or they are re-patching the whole desk it will reflect badly on you and not them. I could go into a whole other top five just relating to mangers and crew to be honest.”

Invite The People You Want To Attend

Zan: “Let the people you want to be there, know about it. Beyond sending out a digital press release announcing the showcase you’re playing, if you have a particular journalist or DJ you want to see you, shoot them an email a week before the conference. Music industry are drowning in emails, a little reminder is always helpful and often appreciated!”

Simplify

Glenn: “This is not the time to overcomplicate things. Remember that you will, in most cases only get a 15-20 minute change over which includes the band before you also clearing their gear from the stage, you setting up, the techs setting mics and then squeezing in your line check.

By keeping your set up as simple as possible you’re alleviating the possibility for anything to go wrong during your set. If you use in-ears I would attempt to get away with not using them like thousands of bands before you have had no trouble doing. If you use computers have a backup, if you use guitar pedals have fresh batteries even if you use mains power, have back up guitars for when a string breaks.

Do whatever you can so that you’re not stuffing around for 10 minutes in the middle of your set waiting for a computer to reboot or to change a battery in a pedal because people will leave.”

Be specific about playing times

Zan: “I know the dream is to get punters to a show and keep them there, but those rules don’t apply at a conference. Industry are keen to see as many acts as possible, and this’ll mean running from venue to venue. Help out those timetables (particularly at unannounced / and pre-Big Sound parties) by telling people what time you’re on.”

Timing Is Everything

Glenn: “From the time you take to set up and pack up to the length and order of your set including the amount you talk in-between it’s important to think in advance about all these elements to your showcase.

You will gain so much more out of these types of shows if you prepare for them in advance, and one of the most important things to practice is how quickly you can set up and pack down. This is especially significant for any acts with a large number of members or with electronic gear, or god forbid, both!

[include_post id=”456006″] You want to be able to set up quickly and so that you can get a half decent line check and figure out any potential glitches. You need to take into consideration how long your set time is and how long they actually go for live. You need to take into consideration how long you need to talk for to introduce who you are, what the song is called and additional shows you might be playing and where your representation is standing in the room.

This leads in to another Sounds Australia mantra “you must finish on time with no exceptions!!!” yep three explanation marks. If you go over time you are making it difficult for every other acts playing after you, all the crew and the hosts of the event. It’s probably the worst thing you could do at these types of events.

Luckily Australian artists are renowned around the world for being respectful of this, a reputation which often sees us getting calls to see if any Australian acts are available last minute if another international act is not able to make their spot on a show. Australian acts are great at working together, so it’ll only work against you and get you a reputation if you start being the idiot that’s always complaining and running over time because it’s all about you.

Lastly timing of your set list is also very important. Again let me remind you of that transient audience and the fact that if something goes wrong that you might not be able to play your last song. With this in mind I would not recommend playing “your hit” or focus track last and in fact do not be afraid to play your focus track twice. One you’ll know doubt have fresh ears hearing it both times and for those that do hear it twice it allows the track to get stuck in their head.”

Be Prepared

Zan: “Being one act amongst four or five on an evening’s line-up, and having minimal changeover time between sets means there’s no or little time for sound checking, and no time for things to go wrong. Double check your gear before the show, and always have a plan B. If something monumentally fucks up, let the crowd know. Better to tell a fresh audience the truth than let them think that’s what you sound like all the time. Conference shows are whirlwind, and music industry veterans of them are forgiving.”

Say your Name, Say your Name

Glenn: “Think like Destiny’s Child. It might sound so obvious but showcase events have a hugely transient audience who might only catch two songs if you’re lucky and they are still an excellent tool for industry looking for new acts to discover something they’ve never heard of.

This means you have to assume that people will hear one song before they leave but they might want to hear more, so let them know who you are and where your representation is standing so they can get in touch later. Internationally it’s also a chance for music fans to discover their new favourite band from Australia so you need to tell people who you are clearly and regularly, like after every song.

[include_post id=”456987″] It’s also good to remember that every single song you are playing is a new one to this most transient of audiences so don’t bother saying “this is a new one” and why are you playing new songs anyway? You should be playing your best songs along with whatever tracks you are actively working at media in that country, in the same way it’s time to simplify it’s also not the time to experiment.

It’s a little different at Big Sound where it’s a mainly local audience but if you’re overseas there’s a high probability that every single song is new to them besides maybe one. It is very genre specific in terms of how much to speak between tracks but keep it minimal and keep it clear. Name of act, name of song, name of manager and where you can find them in the room, social media tags and locations and specifics about your focus track.”

Approach Your Set List In A Different Way

Zan: “You’ll have half hour set, but most people might see you for twenty minutes; arriving late, leaving early, or deciding to catch something else if the gig isn’t doing it for them. With that much competition in a small geographical area, it’s all about showing your best work. Don’t save all the “hits” till the end.”

Mind Your Manners

Glenn: ” Pleases and thank yous go along way. Remembering the sound person’s name goes a long way. Not complaining about anything over the mic goes a long way and if you’re an artist, appreciating all the hard work that your team has done for you goes a hell of a long way. Ie: Don’t be an arsehole!”

Have fun

Zan: “The best thing about Big Sound, and most conferences around the world, is that you have an audience hungry for music, in it for the long haul of a night full of gigs, and always up for a surprise. Dive in and make their, and your own, night.”

For The Managers: Don’t Be The Tour Manager

Glenn: “We often see managers with their acts helping to carry gear from venue to venue and helping them to set up on stage and then guitar teching and then helping the band unload. No! No, no, no, no, no. This is not effective use of your time and is not what a manager should be doing and not what an artist should be expecting of their manager.

[include_post id=”418873″] The only time the artist should be seeing their manager is in the audience surrounded by all the very important connections and they have made and brought to the show. The more time schlepping gear around with the artist, the less meetings and networking you’re doing for them.

The more helping them set up on stage and then guitar teching or holding spare space bars the less you’re watching and working the room and watching the room is as important as watching the band in terms of knowing which songs get a reaction and who turns up. Work that room and work the conference and use the lead up to help prepare your act for the fact you won’t be there to hold their hand, or hire one of the many excellent Australian tour managers so that you don’t to worry at all.”

Glenn and Zan Will both be in Brisbane from the 9th – 11th September as part of Bigsound 2015. For more info visit www.bigsound.com.au.

Photo: Taken from the BIGSOUND Facebook page, credit: John Stubbs.

 

 

 

 

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