Emma Scott is a Radio Presenter and Gig Promoter with over twenty years of experience in the music industry. She has hosted and produced many shows on major radio stations including Kerrang! Radio, Q Radio and Heart giving some of today’s biggest bands their first ever piece of radio airplay when they were starting out. Emma has organised gigs for over five years under “Emma Scott Presents…” at O2 Academy and The Slade Rooms in Bimingham.
Emma also runs Break Your Band- seminars where she helps bands to get radio play and gigs and gives feedback on demos. The next seminar will be Feb 27th in Wolverhampton. Book tickets here.
This is the second part of the interview with Emma. Read the first part How To Get A Song On The Radio.
You organise gigs under “Emma Scott Presents”. Tell us a little more about that. How often do you organise them and where?
I’ve been putting on Emma Scott Presents gigs since Sept 2007 and they are still going strong.
I have over 1000 bands in my files waiting for a slot, which is amazing. I need to put on more!
They take place in Birmingham and Wolverhampton at the moment and I’ll be branching out into different areas soon. I have around 3 per month. Each gig features 4 or 5 of the best bands in The Midlands (and sometimes beyond) who have impressed me!
How should a band approach you if they wanted to play on one of your gigs?
Bands should contact me through my website to ask for a gig. They need to give me as much detail about their band as possible and include a link where I can hear them. Bribes help;-) www.emmascottpresents.co.uk
What makes you choose a band? What are you looking for?
Same as with radio play – Quality of the band always comes first. The attitude of the band is important. Someone who asks nicely for a gig would be chosen over another band who abruptly says “We’re in a band, give us a gig!”. Where the band are from is important. A band from Birmingham is better to play a gig in Birmingham, and likewise for Wolverhampton bands – they’re better to play gigs for me in Wolves.
What are the common mistakes the bands do when approaching you?
- They forget to include their band name
- They forget to include where they’re from
- They don’t give links to hear their music
- They book too many gigs in the same area.
- They don’t reply to emails quickly enough!
What are the common mistakes the bands do on your gigs?
- Arriving late for sound check!
- Promising a lot and delivering NOT a lot – that can be the number of people they say they’ll attract to the gig, and also how good they actually are live!
- Drinking everyone elses beer and water!
- Borrowing other bands’ gear and breaking it!
More good advice from Emma!
Agree that it’s very important not to tell a promoter that you can fill a venue if the truth is that you struggle to even put in 10 people.
The gig will be very embarrassing and there is not much chance of a second try. (Unless you suddenly get massive that is.)
Best to stick with support slots and club nights until you can really make a impact with your own show.
- Chris
It’s good to keeping in mind that you’re in this together. The promoter will promote the night, and bring new audience to you. Now you need to do your part, and bring everyone you can.