okay gang, the chances are good that if you are reading this, you already know who both Redscroll Records are and what Manic Presents is. to wit: Redscroll Records is a great record shop and label based in Wallingford (they’re putting out the upcoming Reduction Plan LP!), and Manic Presents handles the booking of shows at College Street Music Hall, the Space Ballroom, and Manic Mondays at Cafe Nine (among others). in a new podcast, the folks at Redscroll talk with Mark Nussbaum and Ben Levesque from Manic Presents. so, if you are just a fan of local Connecticut music, the podcast is worth a listen to hear how the sausage is made — what a day in the office is like at Manic, how they try to get bands on local shows, and who some of their favorite locals are!
however, if you are a musician in Connecticut, i think the podcast is a must-hear. there’s lots of advice about all the stuff that musicians hate dealing with. nobody gets into writing/performing music because they have a deep desire to network and promote themselves, but Mark and Ben’s suggestions are pretty straightforward. for example, give yourself a web presence, make sure your songs are easy to access through bandcamp or soundcloud, and list your contact info/email on your facebook or bandcamp pages. oh, and if/when you introduce yourself to them via booking[at]manicpresents[dot]com, be professional and honest. give clear-eyed answers about what kinds of shows you’ve played, what your usual “draw” is, what kind of music you write, and what other bands you may have shared a bill with in the past. spots at Cafe Nine and Space Ballroom will get you an audience that you may not otherwise have access to, even at the very best diy spots.
want to know how Manic got started? which national act is easiest to work with? which band had a speaker catch fire mid-show (in the early years)? which bands are Manic’s “white whale” gets? check out the podcast here: http://redscrollrecords.com/2019/09/rsr-pc-025-mark-ben-from-manic-presents.html
oh, and in case you are wondering who some of their favorite local acts are… they speak highly of the booming local music scene, but they highlight Spit-Take, Laundry Day, Snake Oil, and Kidnapped as some personal favorites.j
for more adventures in booking, check out the Redscroll Records podcast episode with Seventh Circle, too.
