Hometown to National: How to Grow Your Band
Developing your band from dive bars to a national act seems overwhelming — but building up your hometown base is the foundation of your entire career. Until you are generating a big buzz in your hometown, you aren't yet ready to hit the road. How do you grow your audience and get noticed by venues? How do you manage your tours so that you make a profit? Explore the many avenues a musician/band should consider on their route to turning their hobby into a career.
Presenters
Michael Creamer/Creamer Management, Berklee College of Music.
Michael is a Grammy Nominated Artist Manager based in Boston, MA. Michael has been managing bands for over 20 years and currently represents Kim Taylor, Mean Creek, Oteil Bubridge, Letters to Cleo, Superdrag and Kay Hanley, to name a few. He has worked with both indie artists and major label artists. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2009 for Best Historical Box Set for The Woody Guthrie “My Dusty Road” which he helped produce. Michael has successfully had his artists songs placed in Film and TV. Michael also produces many successful charity events including Theo & Paul Epstein’s “Hot Stove, Cool Music”.
In November 2011, Michael began working at Berklee College of Music's venue, Cafe 939 as Talent Buyer/Venue Manager.
Last Call Agency, Publicity & Promotion www.lastcallagency.com
Susan began working in the music industry in 2002 managing clubs, then on to managing, booking and promoting artists in Boston and nationally. She has worked with many award-winning bands and solo artists, and also co-manages the band Mean Creek from Boston. Susan was the PR Director at the legendary Club Passim from 2006-2011 and is on the nominating Committee for The Boston Music Awards, The Americana Music Association, and is active in many other areas in the music industry.
Michael began working in the music industry in 1998, selling tickets and merchandise for local bands in his CT hometown. He moved to Boston in 2003 and earned a B.S. in Music Industry at Northeastern University. During this time he managed bands in Boston and New York, and received numerous awards while working for Warner/Elektra/Atlantic. He is currently the Talent Buyer for Boston's Brighton Music Hall, the first venue in the city to host Foster the People, Fitz & the Tantrums and other notable break-out acts in it's inaugural year.
Homegrown and unconventional is how I would describe my so-called fabulous life in the music industry. Truth is; it’s fabulous and has been ever since I booked my first band when I was 17. The band was called Destiny. I rented the K of C, booked the band, sold over 300 tickets, made a profit and avoided any police smack downs. The seed was planted and I went on to do the following: go to college, have a college radio gig, intern at the #1 rock station in Boston (WBCN), do voice-over work, land a waitressing job at the Hard Rock Café, graduate from Northeastern University, market the Hard Rock Café, intern at the infamous Rat in Boston, book the Rat in Boston, promote various bands, book various bands, go back to my alma mater and book their new private/on-campus venue, graduate from Grad School, at Northeastern University, do a brief stint at Harvard, land the dream job at Berklee College of Music, manage and book The Red Room @ Café 939. My parents NEVER thought I would graduate college let alone grad school and have a life in music let alone the fact that my dad thought I was a bookie for a very long time.
Music and the various people in this industry excite me and get me out of bed each day. I would fail miserably if I couldn’t listen to music, loudly, every day and totally LOVE what I do. I am YOU, I get YOU and I hope that I will say something that either makes you laugh, makes you think or validates your existence in this so called fabulous life that brings us here today!
Wednesday, March 14
