UnconventionBelfast 6-7 February 2009
Sunday 8th February
Sometimes bands, for business reasons, have to do some extra-creative things they wouldn’t ordinarily be compelled to do. At first, attending Friday and Saturday’s unconvention seemed like it could be one of those things.
We were mistaken. The website tells you to “leave your ego at the door” and indeed this a necessity for there is so much to learn, with no shortage of great people to learn it from.
Cheers to Nick from Penny Distribution, Rich and Jennie, Tracy and Andy for organising. Finally got to meet Andy from The Benjamins, Davy Simms, BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stevens, who seemed a little fatigued (you would be too if you had a nation of musicians vying for your attention all the time!), Jim Gellatly (gent), local promoter Adam Turkington, and too many others to mention for their thoughtful and thought-provoking input.
One issue that is quite close to our hearts (and not for political reasons I might add) is the question of why on earth there is so little community between bands North and South of the border. Surely some kind of creative community between would make the Irish music scene all the more competitive. Would it be possible to remove the need to “go to London”? The streets ain’t paved with gold you know.
We would love to get some feedback about this, as Kitty’s are attempting to bridge that gap with our first Dublin appearance on Feb 23rd (more on that later).
The general consensus of the Unconvention was something that KATCO have always known and aspired to to but which it doesn’t hurt to have hammered into one’s consciousness now and again- keep the faith and work your frickin’ ass off. There are no short-cuts in this business.”150 shows a year” appeared to be the battle cry.
Money is always an issue and the days of the multi-million dollar record deal are long gone, but in effect I find this quite liberating. If you are musician, your career begins the moment you pick up your instrument and walk on stage for the first time. If you are waiting for that curtain to part and some fairy godmother to come and whisk you off to Hollywood then you’d best return to your day-job.
Playing music not enough for you? You shouldn’t be doing this in the first place.
Indeed panellist Tony from ASIWYFA put an interesting spin on things when someone from the floor bemoaned the fact that so many bands have to function on a fraction of the minimum wage. “We’re getting paid to play in a band – happy days!”
Perhaps the most valuable piece of information that we picked up on the day was just how much common ground we share with other bands. We are all essentially in the same boat, and we were intrigued to discover that musicians we have known and admired for years, but seldom had the chance to talk to socially, are daily facing the same struggles and conundrums as us.
Everyone is learning, everyone is working hard for the same meagre returns, and no-one has the right to complain.
It is refreshing to be reminded of this from time to time.
150 shows a year – sounds like fun!
KATCO XX.
