ARTISTS ASK: ANSWERED BY RYAN VANGEL (CONCERT PROMOTER AT LIVE NATION)

posted in: Music News

Why is it so hard to book shows in cities where there are plenty of venues to be booked in? Why do venues/promoters never answer emails? What can we do to improve our odds of getting a show, besides schmucking around in our hometown for five years waiting for someone from the big city to find out about us? –Donovan Tuesday (The Aether Tree)

Vangel Sheds Light.

I think the main question is who are you emailing? If you are a new band, emailing the booker for a 600 or above capacity club that does nationals [then] you are probably aiming too high. You should take the progress of the band like rungs on a ladder. If you are supporting bands, work up to headlining a 100 cap room and when you sell that out, [move up to] a 200 cap room and so on. The other problem is national bands almost never allow local bands on the bill as they will have friends of theirs on the bill, or their agent, manager, publicist, record label, etc [will make suggestions]. It is almost impossible for a promoter to add a band to a large national band’s bill as the band will have others in their camp pitching [acts to] them long before the tour is even booked. The best way to grow in a city is to help each other doing shows trades [opening for a strong local band in a different city then having that band open for you in your hometown].

-Ryan

Thanks to Ryan for answering Donovan’s question. If you have an industry related question that needs an insider’s perspective, ask it HERE.

Ryan Vangel’s response is courtesy of OurStage Editor-at-Large, Jay Sweet, who contacted the concert promoter on behalf of the artist. On July 1st, “Plugged In: OurStage Artists” will feature a full Q & A with Ryan.