Brian Tarneyshow promoter

Finding bands to play his venue:
I prefer a Website with streaming audio files. Obviously word of mouth is important also. If there is a buzz about the artist around town, that can help quite a lot in getting the artist a gig. I prefer to communicate with artists via email. I personally am looking for unique and creative artists that put alot of effort into their live show. As a promoter I often come across bands that are incredibly boring and after their set they wonder why no one was paying attention to them.

What not to do if you expect to play there again:

Be respectful. Don't break any of the venue's gear. Do not walk into the club with an attitude. Most of the time, the promoters (and the soundmen) are putting on these shows as a labor of love. There is rarely a profit to be made.

Getting paid:

With local events, the artist covers the PA / soundman fee which is a set amount. After that fee, the artist takes the rest. The venue incurs the cost of the doorman, print ads, radio promo, monthly calendars, etc.

Promoting the show:

The bands need to put alot of effort into this, because really it is all just a popularity contest. What I mean by this is you have to go out, network and promote your band constantly to get people excited about what you are doing. It is important that the bands flyer for the show and put alot of energy into the more grassroots promotional end. People that stay in all the time and are antisocial will not acheive big crowds even if they are making exceptional music.

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