This is the third post in a series of Perfect Porridge-endorsed independent band marketing tips.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, South by Southwest Music Festival occurs each March down in Austin, Texas.
This year the Music Festival is March 18-22, 2009, and tomorrow at midnight is the deadline for bands who want to apply to SXSW ‘09.
In addition to the 1500+ bands who play the festival showcases, each year hundreds of lower profile bands gig in makeshift venues across the city (parking lots, house parties, busking, etc.).
Apply here or here with Sonicbids, who will help you with all the details
For bands considering whether or not they’re ready for SXSW, or if it’s right for them, Sonicbids interviewed Brad First, Festival Coordinator for SXSW, about specifically where an artist’s career should be in order to be seriously considered to perform at SXSW, how much time is spent on every submission and what they look at in your EPK and more. Listen here.
Personally, even if you don’t get accepted for an official showcase, I recommend you make the spring break trip to Austin, use Better Than the Van to find a place to crash and work your butt off to find a bootleg gig to play.
Thousands of fans flock to the festival, hundreds of record label execs are snooping around every corner AND now you have a news hook for your local market.
Here are some ideas:
- Find out if there is a [Your State/City] Band gig at SXSW already or a [Your State/City] label showcase and see if you can get 20 minutes at the front of the set.
- If not, set one up.
- Before you leave for SXSW, send out a media blast to your trusted writer friends and let them know you are going to SXSW.
- Ask them to be sure to include you in their roundup of local bands heading to the festival.
- Reach out to regional/national media about the [Your State/City] band concert angle.
- Organize a “SXSW Send-Off” concert with other local bands who are headed south.
- Publicize the hell out of it.
- Write a SXSW-themed song and share it with your internal and external lists.
- Keep a roadtrip tour blog and post to it everyday.
- Bring along a camera and post 3-4 “from the road” video snippets during your trip down, there and back.
- When you get back home, instantly “friend” other bands you met on MySpace, send them e-mails and figure out a time when you can gig together in each other’s markets.
- Organize a “Home from SXSW” concert with other local bands who were in Austin.
- Publicize the hell out of it.
This will be my third year at SXSW, so be sure to let me know where you’re playing, too.
