Artist Followup: Hometown Heroes Open For The Goo Goo Dolls
posted in: OurStage Updates
In October, Tulsa, Oklahoma pop-rockers Stars Go Dim won the Grand Prize in the Subway Fresh Artists Competition with their song Get Over It, which awarded the band the incredible opportunity to open for The Goo Goo Dolls at the Star 103.3 Jingle Ball in San Francisco, CA on December 10, 2010. In addition to the to the performance, SGD will also receive $1,000 cash and a songwriting session with professional songwriter Evan Bogart, famous for writing hits for artists the likes of Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Adam Lambert! The guys in the band got the incredible opportunity to meet the members of the Goo Goo Dolls, as well as share the bill with Hedley and former American Idol winner Kris Allen. Leading up to the show, the band was featured and interviewed on Tulsa’s rock radio station KMOD, which also broadcast their winning single Get Over It to thousands of listeners. The band later performed at a local Subway in their hometown, drawing a crowd of dedicated local followers. We caught up with Michael Wittig, bassist for Stars Go Dim, after the show to hear all about their experience.
OS: How did your performance go? What kind of increased buzz have you guys seen up to and after the show?
MW: Our performance at the Star 101.3 Jingle Ball with the Goo Goo Dolls and Kris Allen went awesome. We’ve been told we played very well. I don’t know about the other guys, but I rocked the bass that night, ha.
OS: How did the audience respond to your set?
MW: The crowd was very receptive and showed it spending their hard earned money on us after the show. I was surprised by the amount of CDs/shirts we sold. We took pictures with some of them after the show and have kept in touch with some via Facebook since the show.
OS: How did it feel to have the opportunity to open for the Goo Goo Dolls? Did you get to meet them?
MW: We were very excited about the whole thing. The Goo Goo Dolls have had so many hits and great songs. We did get to meet them. They set up a private meeting for us with them and had a photoshoot. The guys were very friendly and encouraging. John even gave us a shout out on stage during their set.
OS: How did you get your fans to come and judge in the competition?
MW: We asked them very nicely 🙂 Many of our fans have become good friends of ours. We made sure that a handful of them were able to attend the show on us. And when that doesn’t work blackmailing sometimes helps get those extra votes.
OS: What do you think is the most important way to market yourself as a band?
MW: Be personable with fans and give them your time. You just might get their time in return and win huge contests like this. Oh, having good quality music helps too!
OS: How do you plan to use this opportunity to further your career?
MW: Every time something great like this happens, it just helps build our story. Not many independent artists can say they’ve played with John Mayer, Chris Daughtry, Jason DeRülo and now the Goo Goo Dolls. Being able to add this to our history just makes it easier to land new opportunities. Being a part of events like this opens doors.
OS: What has been the most exciting aspect of this whole experience?
MW: Being recognized by Clear Channel and the Goo Goo Dolls out of so many other great artists. Also, getting to meet and watch the Goo Goo Dolls perform. It was pretty cool to watch them play Name and their other hits live. We travel so much we don’t really get a chance to “attend” concerts for fun. We definitely look up to them and their songwriting.
Stars Go Dim is scheduled to be interviewed by local radio stations in and around their hometown in the coming weeks, and their story has been picked up by a local paper who will cover their entire experience in the Subway “Fresh Artists” Competition from start to finish. Stay tuned to the airwaves for word from this up-and-coming band. Click below to check out the video of the band’s meet and greet with the Goo Goo Dolls.