A guide for the inexperienced booker or the booker's guide to the galaxy

May you be a band member seeking gigs or an aspiring booker for others, erm, yeah.
you might find these tips useful:

* the best time to write to either venues or promoters is about three months in advance - it's not too early and not too late. that's what i found from my experience. but it differs from one promoter to another.

* don't send exaggerated superlatives or press quotations, write a short description yourself. make it simple and to the point, depending on whom you wish to impress that is.

* you can send a photo or a couple, just throw them into the package. it's pretty, it's colorful and it's not very hard.

* don't send mp3's directly, send links. a myspace address or a website will do.

* don't send demos by mail, that is actual cd's. you'll soon realize it's damn expensive and that nobody bothers to listen to them these days, clubs claim that a lot of people still send cd's by mail, i think it's a waste of time and money.

* always look for a similar band/band you like from the city where you wish to play.
they might have the right audience for you. ask to share the bill with them, later when they come to your town, you'll help THEM out.

* think of your target audience - is you music arty? try art spaces, galleries and so on. party music? talk to party collectives. queer? talk to a ladyfest.

* for places to stay you can either try couch surfing, or if you're left winged and socially/politically involved, you can always seek autonomous collectives, squats and so on. or in the worst case - there's always hostels or your cosy little van.
some places have a room for guest bands, they will tell you about it themselves.
clubs obviously don't. but they also usually pay more.

* most importantly - don't hesitate to ask for help! ask everyone you think might have more information than you do. yes, that means - other bands. most people will like to be able to assist.

for a list of booking collectives and venues in Europe ask me via e-mail:
marycheeses at gmail dot com

A treasure

Today I found a box underneath my coal oven, it was almost hidden away, casually laying there, waiting to be spotted and taken out for examination.

when I opened the box I found dozens of tapes with various mixes and albums. some date back to 1998, maybe even earlier.

The only unintentional gift I found before of the previous inhibitor of my room was a Rolling Stones cassette in the purple stereo on the shelf. but this? this is astonishing!

She must have left in a hurry, leaving all that behind, never claiming it back.
All that history, her personal history!

I read the labels on the tapes, only a few were familiar, Tori Amos' "Little Earthquakes", Tom Waits' "Blue valentines" and "Mule variations" (the only indication of the last years in the entire collection).
she had lots of random Jazz and Punk compilations, some Hip Hop and Electronics, European 80's pop music and a very random David Bowie compilation.

"If they mated" galore : the unplugged series

and just like that the quality of the writing goes to hell.
so be it. it was a hell lotta fun making them up!

(Gaby S. Moses and I discussed them together, thanks mate).