Keeping It DIY

Keeping It DIY

21 July, 2008
by: Domzig

There has been an outbreak of keeping things DIY recently. In almost every pub you come across some bunch of kids are sticking up flyers and drafting in their mates death metal bands. In fact the practice has become so widespread they seem to be running out of pubs and shows are now cropping up in almost every warehouse, car park and council flat kitchen on a weekly basis.

How these people are doing this needs investigating, so I decided to do the normal Spoonfed thing and ask our mate Tiger Reid to shed some lights on the life of a DIY promoter. In between making sure that bands get their booze and consuming massive amounts of coffee she promotes a night called This Is Music at The Macbeth so I guess that makes her super-qualified.

Why are you named after an animal?

My parents are hippies and they liked the idea of me being bullied as a child. Character building they called it. I am a girl as well; everyone thinks it's a boy's name.

You are the busiest person in the world; just what is it that you do all day?

I don't think I am the busiest person in the world, that's Bill Gates.

I work for a management company during the day, which I heart (www.fourthfloormusic.com). I work on Damn Shames, Orphans and Vandals, Basement Jaxx and White Williams. It's so much fun working on a varied roster as well as acts in differing stages of their career. I spend half the day organising, planning, listening to new bands and then the rest on Facebook, Myspace, Drowned in Sound, Pitchfork and of recent Spoonfed.

How do you find the time to put on shows at the Macbeth?

Come on, there is always enough time in the day. It's not that much work. Plus I do it while I am at Fourth Floor so it's easier. I guess I am always thinking about it though. When I hear a new band or someone I meet is in a band I think 'would we like to have them play or DJ sometime'.

How much time to spend worrying about people showing up?

I spend a lot of time worrying about people showing off.

No seriously, you win some you lose some. Sometimes it's rammed and then other times it rains. We never win if we go up against a Moshi Moshi night at Hoxton Bar and Grill, for example. Me, Steve and David (the new co-promoter from Prolifica) always make sure we treat the bands well. And the kinds of bands we book are lovely and tend to invite lots of their friends.

How do you go about choosing a line-up

Well, we either do nice twee/indie line ups or heavier/nosier line ups. I usually have a band or booking agent I have been hassling for ages to play. I have a list and think about what bands would go together. Then approach them and try and work around a budget that's realistic. Its great when you finally get a cracking line up sorted.

Is there anyone you’d really want to put on?

I would really want to put on some more American acts; we have our first with Jay Reatard in May so we are all really excited about that. I would really like to get No Age over to play a small show and most of the bands that Upset the Rhythm get.

I have a real soft spot for Scottish bands as most of the smaller bands have never played a good London show. After all, the night did start in Scotland two years ago. (www.myspace.com/thisismusicedinburgh). This month Copy Haho are coming to visit us.

At the moment, I am trying to book Errors and Broken Records from Scotland, and I would like to put on Comanechi, Fryars and Your Twenties from London. Watch this space I guess.

Any tips for anybody looking to start a night of their own?

Just do it, it's not rocket science really.

Don't take it too seriously.

Have good flyers.

Don't do it if you want to make money. Me and Steve are lucky if we enough money to buy each other a tequila.

Make sure you get celebrities down to your shows. we've had Bob Fossil, David Gorman, Spider Horrors, and Johnny Borrell so far.

Ever thought of moving to New Cross?

Are you joking? It's miles away. Me and my friend Robin went once, all the way from Highgate. To this day I don't know how we made it. Plus, This Is Music is about The Macbeth, we couldn't move. This is officially a lock in. How could we move?

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Domzig