Dreaming to play festivals?

  Spring is in the air, even though it can't really decide weather to rain or shine. But that's Ireland for you. When the summer gets closer, musicians start to dream about summer festivals. For many musicians playing live is the goal and to get to play a festival in front of hundreds, if not even thousands of people is the ultimate dream. This is also why so many festival organizers get swamped with emails, demos, press packs, EPK's etc. We all get so exited about the idea that we just push our stuff down their throats. Do we ever think what the powers that be, the artistic directors of the festivals actually want? Sure there are some festivals that have very specific application process and if they do, great. Follow this to every little detail. The best way to get them to ignore you is to send in a half filled application. Now here's the thing, I have actually played lot of festivals in the folk scene over the years with Sliotar and other bands I have been involved in. I have got to know some of these festival organizers. And I know how they work. Now this would not go for every festival, obviously. But some of the basics are the same. I won't be sharing the details of these festivals, as I would upset lot of people who have been very good to me over the years:-), but all of the festivals can be easily searched on google.

  But lets just say, one particular festival, who's promoter has booked some of the biggest international acts in the past and in his later years came back to his roots by starting a folk festival. I had a chat with him after Sliotars set on this particular festival, and I was asking how they select their bands. And here is the bad news for all of us sending hundreds emails every year... This particular festival only books bands through recommendations from people who they trust. Even if you send them the fanciest press pack in the world, it makes no difference, and believe you me, they get truck full of press packs every year. How did we get in to the festival? A DJ who works at the festival was touring with us six months earlier. He watched us concert after concert, and only at the very end of the tour did he mention the festival and said he would would recommend us. His word was all it took. Now we have played at the festival twice, and last time we had two concerts on both days of the festival, which is very rare at this festival:-)

  Another festival that Sliotar has worked with for years, the promoter does try to listen to every demo he gets. If he happens to like particular act, he will check out videos on YouTube and he would expect to find several. Or if he happen to hear a band live, which was the case with Sliotar. Even then, you work with their conditions. If you start the negotiations by demanding sky and the moon, he will just laugh out loud. You see these are festivals that offer you a guaranteed crowd, and a big one! So there are lot's of bands competing for the places.

  Also there are one of the biggest folk festivals in Europe, who have three people working full time for them, traveling and scouting out new bands... Now that would be a nice job:-)

  The music conferences are also a big place to get discovered, but they take lot of work to get in to. Usually you need to fill in an application forms which include, among other things your gig list for the following year... How many of us work a year ahead in our bookings? And music conferences are not payed gigs, you cover your own costs, flights, accommodation etc. But you need to think this as an investment for the future.
I am not trying to discourage you from trying to get to play festivals, but for the love of god don't make it your number one priority. I think if you contact all the festivals you'd like to get to play, and ask for their submission policy. Many of them wont get back to you, but some will. And when they do, provide them what they ask. And then move on. Concentrate on doing smaller shows and lots of them, this is what most of those bands on the festival bill have done for years before got where they are now. At the end of the day, festivals book bands that will bring in the audience, can your band do that?

  J.P.