“Panos’ Brew” is Sonicbids founder/CEO Panos Panay’s weekly (or more) post about whatever happens to be on his mind. Look for musings and observations on entrepreneurship, the state of the music business, his experiences with members, interesting things he’s seen in his travels, or just about anything else.
For Raw RSS Feeds
Over the past year, especially over the member dinners that I’ve hosted, I’ve heard from many indie artists that the thing they want the most are opening slots for major artists.
These are of course not always easy to get as opening slots, especially for artists with big draws are coveted by just about everyone: the headlining bands themselves who want to get someone they like on the bill (Peter Bjorn and John opening for Depeche Mode); the manager of the headliner who wants to promote a new band they signed (U2 and PJ Harvey back in the day); the agent who wants to bundle two bands for one price (I did that many a time in my past life) and of course the promoter, the sponsor, and just about everyone else.
I am happy to announce that today we launched a pilot program with Live Nation that will enable Sonicbids bands to open for Creed in 13 different markets:
Aug 6 Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette Pavilion
Aug 8 Buffalo, NY Darien Lake PAC
Aug 9 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Pavilion
Aug 11 Saratoga Springs, NY (Albany) Saratoga PAC
Aug 13 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center
Aug 15 Wantagh, NY(Long Island) Nikon@Jones Beach Theatre
Aug 16 Holmdel, NJ (New York City) PNC Bank Arts Center
Aug 18 Boston, MA Comcast Center
Aug 20 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
Aug 21 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion
Aug 22 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Aug 25 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug 26 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
Our goal from the relationship is to open as many opening slots, for all kinds of shows, and for all kinds of genres (mainstream and not) over the coming year. (We also don’t plan to act as taste editors of which headliners “deserve” Sonicbids opening slots; that’s not our job.)
This of course follows a number of recent listings where we’ve had bands open for artists like Motley Crue (Scarlet Sins); Kings of Leon (The Jakes), and a listing that’s still open where Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops, will select an opening act for the Ben Folds show.
We work hard to make sure that selected bands get paid (opening bands for Creed will get $500 each; $1,000 for Ben Folds); and of course are given within reason the amenities that any opener would get: sound, lights, PA, catering, etc.
Ultimately we see these relationships as a win for everyone involved. Indie bands get to play on stages and in front of crowds that normally they would have had no chance of doing. The headliner gets and the promoter get to reach and embrace an audience (the indie band’s fan base) that normally may have shyed away from more “mainstream” shows.
More to follow.
Panos
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}