Hey, I know. How about you apply for SXSW, huh? HUH?!? They are looking for unheard of bands just like yours and the only reason they bother to have the festival is so they can turn each band that plays there into an international success. There is an application fee but hell just consider that an investment in your future.
Sarcasm aside, the original point of SXSW was to showcase up and coming bands. Last festival (2012) SXSW was very proud to announce Lionel Ritchie would be performing. ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!?!? It has been 40 years since he was up and coming and 20 years since he had a hit. I wonder if he had to pay the application fee?
If you are a band thinking about applying for SXSW take the time to look at who is playing and wonder “did they have to go through the same application process as me” because there are less than 2000 slots and a shit load of major acts performing. Each big name they put on the bill, reduces your chance of playing by one.
Have you ever heard of the band The Cringe? They are, at best, an un-interesting bar band. I saw them perform twice at SXSW and found out they play there often. The singer is married to (TV celebrity) Rachael Ray. The grocery store chain Whole Foods has a huge endorsement deal with Rachael Ray. The home office for Whole Foods is located in Austin and puts on it’s own showcase each year. I am not even going to pretend I don't understand. Basically this undeserving band (The Cringe) is handed this spot because of nepotism, and your chance of being chosen was reduced by one.
So lets say you have been paying the application fee for years, I highly recommend that you should go to Austin this coming March. One thing you will see is showcases sponsored by music schools, or Universities with large music business programs. I saw at least 3 of these in the 2012 rendition of the festival. In these showcases you will see 18 year old music students that have only been playing for a few months ACCEPTED INTO SXSW while you were denied. Are they any good? It doesn’t matter. As long as they are attending a school that pays to promote at SXSW, they will get to play either way.
After March 2012 SXSW boasted on their web page that over 20,000 bands applied and nearly 2,000 got to play. Yesterday they posted their list of the first round picks for SXSW 2013:
http://elizabeth.cmail2.com/t/ViewEmail/y/9D97D9464D5A1033/302A604FEE1C829614399806BE9B4083
What was the last great band to come out of Texas. I am sure the state has churned out more than its fair share of over hyped crap (e.g. Bright Light Social Hour, Butthole Surfers), but I can’t think of the last really great act from the lone star state. Maybe it was Pantera? According to the SXSW list, Texas has more great bands than any other place on Earth. 15% of the first round draft picks are from Texas. Is it because they deserve it? No it’s just more nepotism. Each un-interesting, can’t write a song to save their fucking life, related to the right person or sucking off the right person, band that is pre-approved reduces your chance of being selected by one.
Who is left? The remaining group of bands that get selected is an extremely small group. Strictly speculating, I would guess it’s like 0.000000001% of the bands that get chosen. Those bands are not
1. Already a platinum selling artists.
2. Associated with a showcase’s sponsor
3. A local band that has made the right friends
4. Sucking the right SXSW cock, going down on Rachael Ray, or just related to the right person connected to SXSW.
And despite the four strikes against them, they still get picked. They may not be famous (i.e. Broncho from the 2013 list) but each and every one of them have the “right” recognition. SXSW doesn’t have the balls to make a decision without other reliable sources such as NPR or Pitchfork determining before hand that this band is okay.
Let’s say that is you. You over came all the odds and you get to play. The idea is that by allowing you to perform while 50 other allegedly equally promising bands are performing at the exact same time all over town, a record executive will see you and say "Son, I am going to make you a star." Based on what? What evidence is there that anybody is ever “discovered” at SXSW? I know that in the 1990’s (when the festival was new) it happened occasionally. But in the last ten years, what AMAZING artist was discovered at SXSW? Don’t know? The answer is none, not one. Don’t believe me? Here is the list.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_by_Southwest
People like to spread urban legends about so and so was discovered there. They will tell you Nora Jones was discovered at SXSW. Nora Jones is Ravi Shankar's daughter and she would have been discovered if the only place she played was Nebraska. This wikipedia page lists The Polyphonic Spree as having been discovered there but The Spree was formed by Tripping Daisies front man Tim DeLaughter, they were a Texas band already connected in the Austin scene, and they are another example of over hyped Texas bands that never really amounted to anything.
DON’T PAY THE FEE!!!!! Tell every band you know “DON’T PAY THE FEE!!!!” It is pay to play, except that you won’t ever get to play.
Having said all that, I highly recommend you attend SXSW. As a matter of fact get you some house party gigs. You never know who you might meet. Record executives go to house parties. And the over all experience of SXSW is a damn good time.
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