Industry news & advice blog

Manchester music’s movers and shakers give us their unique perspective on the best (and worst) of working with unsigned acts…

Alex McCann is the promoter behind the Designer Magazine nights, and has been organising gigs in Manchester since 2005. He is also a DJ and freelance journalist.

Favourite Manchester bands:  The Heartbreaks, The Mandigans, H.E.Y, Lost Knives, Sandbox, Airship, El Policia, Sleepless Nights, Natalie Findlay, Der Die Das

 What’s the best way for unsigned bands to approach you?
It's MySpace all the way as regards bands contacting us for gigs. I listen to every band that sends a friend request in and if I like I'll be in touch. There's a blog on our MySpace page which has a few questions we ask of bands - if you're after a specific date, message us the information in the blog (and remember to include a contact number and email on it).
 
How can they make an impression?
At the end of the day it comes down to one thing - good songs that I want to play again and again! But, as they say, first impressions count - and the first impression any promoter / fan gets is the thumbnail profile pic on your friend request. Make sure that promo pic, logo or image stands out as, like the old days of having CDs sent through the post, that pic will depend on whether I click on the link straight away or leave it in the pile for a week and in that time you could have missed out on a gig, review or opportunity.

It’s not the be all and end all, but an active MySpace page does help. If you see a band whose play count is up each day and they're obviously connecting with fans by commenting back and forth it does make much more of an impression.

What’s your biggest bugbear when it comes to dealing with unsigned bands?
The biggest bugbear is without a doubt last minute pull outs from bands. And, from speaking to other promoters in Manchester and across the country, it’s always this point that crops up over and over again.

The moment a band books a gig with a venue or a promoter it should be taken more seriously than just a hobby in a garage. When you've literally spend the past month working on a gig and then a band pulls out the day before because of a sniffle / their day job has called them away on work / they forgot about a holiday, it really is unacceptable.

In the same way hype can spread across a city if a bands amazing, if a band has a habit of pulling out from gigs or being unreliable word soon spreads.
 
Top tip for unsigned bands:
Talk to your fans - whether that be after a gig or online via MySpace, Facebook or Twitter. 

Support other bands on the scene! Greater Manchester is a big place so if you get on with a similar band help each other out.

Act professional and remember the band is a 24/7.

Check out Designer Magazine's MySpace here