Emergenza

Can I point out (just in case) that Emergenza did not charge 15 for the CD recording. It was the sound company at the venue who charged this. We hire in a private company who organise this with all bands who play using their sound equipment. Emergenza did not profit from any CD sales and this is not something we necessarily agree with either.

What is the deal with spicing a story up to make us look shit? Red Man Walking, you were not intentionally 'put on last' but that was the best slot available to you, as bands are allocated slots in order of enrolment. Damn, you could've wound up with first on! You played it in its very first year in Glasgow and the event was very small and unknown, hence why it was held in Rockers. Not the largest venue in the city but to give them their due, we held a decent gig there and there was a great atmosphere. To say that everyone had left is complete and utter nonsense. Sure, some people leave but most hang around to hear the result at the end. When you entered I told you, you probably didn't stand a chance competing against Glasgow bands but I kindly let you play the city (even although we generally don't allow this). I arranged a better ticket deal for you so you could help fund your trip. You turned up with no fan base and the only other way thru is by winning over other bands fans or having the other bands vote for you. It's not our fault they didn't vote for you. I was kind and considerate towards you, you shook my hand and thanked me for a great gig, saying it didn't matter that you didn't progress, as you were thankful of the opportunity of playing Glasgow, you asked me to bring the event up to Aberdeen, as it wasn't fair Aberdeen bands were missing out. I even said you could help us set it up and there would be some paid work in it for you! Now you're slating us on a forum? Gee, thanks mate. I am sick of bands with sour grapes. Why not look within for a reason why you didn't progress through the rounds instead of blaming us. You've the same chance as anyone else. Soundian, I have already explained the reason for the enrolment fee, (which is one-off, bands can play with us year after year) and where our profits go: venues, reviews, band tours and the biggest stage (after the main stage) at Tauberal Festival, Germany, so I am not going to tread old ground. As for: (plus some strings etc, which they probably won't use because they're a different gauge/make to what they normally use) oh my goodness. Talk about clutching at straws. The majority of bands are glad of the free consumables. I don't expect everyone to accept/like or love this event but some bands really enjoy playing it so why don't you guys just let them do what they want to do, you do what you want to do and stop scraping the barrel, trying to find faults.

Aaah, therein the lies the confusion...we are not promoters. We do not do gigs week in, week out, nor are we tied to any venue but instead we run a worldwide competition. We are Event Managers and as such our job is very different to a local promoter. We travel to meet all bands on several occassions, giving them our sole attention and ensuring we offer the best gigs we possibly can, we pay for the books of tickets (and we do not ask bands to pay for tickets they don't sell, as many promoters would), we pay for posters to help the bands advertise the gig, we organise a top-of-the-range backline for all gigs, we organise all press advertising, we sponsor pages in NME and Kerrang to have our bands reviewed, we book the venue and pay for it in full, we organise and pay presenting and technical staff and we pay for larger venues, where bands often don't get to play, such as the Carling Academy, we pay expenses for top music industry judges to attend these events so they can advise our bands. Bands playing London or Germany do this all expenses paid and we pay for tours across the world for our bands outwith the competition. As you can see, there is a bit more to what we do than just promoting a local gig. I believe we do our part and all we ask is that bands do their part and in return they are paid for their efforts. There's no big nasty plan here! What do you know about us? Have you ever met us or played with us? Obviously not. I see a band on here that has played with us and they don't seem to have any complaints. The proof is in the pudding. Anyway, I have played with many local promoters in the past and it's a case of, you might get paid, you might not depending on attendance. So, my old band had a decent following and most of the punters came in thru us but as the other bands didn't and no-one came to support them, we didn't get paid, as the promoter needed all profits from the night to cover his costs! At least this way you get paid fairly and supposing the night was empty, then it is our loss, not the bands.

No, actually you are paying money to enrol with a company and this is a one-off fee for life. This is to avoid time-wasters. All bands that turn up to their first gig receive Ernie Ball string for bass and guitar, Regal Tip sticks and a Remo drum skin. They also have full use of our website as a promotional tool to plug gigs and play MP3s on our radio show. Enrolment also means they are offered guest slots across the world. For example, Hot Mangu (Aberdeen) recently played Edinburgh with us, Kobai (E.Kilbride) are going on a 6-date tour of Gemany this month and Secrets We've Told (Dundee) recently played 3 dates in New York. Not band for a one-off enrolment fee, eh? As for selling tickets in order to get paid. What do you want us to do? Put on a free gig, charge nothing, sell no tickets and pay all the bands? With what? Shirt buttons and confidence? lol

OK Soundian, well put. At the end of the day the point being the event is at Tunnels, band straight to Carling...all good! Chris, these points have been covered on another post (in trading?) Please refer to this and hopefully this will answer your concerns.

I think you have misread this. This does not mean there was another venue scheduled, only that we are confirming the venue as The Tunnels and due to the response from Aberdeen the bands do not have to play in the Dundee Final but will instead, go straight to the Scottish Final.

Due to a great response in Aberdeen, the event will now be held at The Tunnels seeing the best band straight to the Scottish Final @ Carling Academy, Glasgow. We look forward to a crackin' event checking out the local talent this year in Aberdeen. There is still time to enrol your band: closing date for entry 28th February. www.emergenza.net

Hello Aberdeen, Sorry to hear you don't think much of the Emergenza event. I know this is late but it is the first i have seen this pay to play onslaught. People are entitled to their opinions so here is mine. When I first heard of Emergenza I was not sure what it was all about but my friends band was playing so as ever I went along to The Venue in Edinburgh to support them, as they were mainly based in Glasgow they needed all the support they could get in Edinburgh. With a 30-strong following we didn't think they would get through the 1st round but a gig in The Venue sounded good to me. End of night they walked out in 2nd place with about 80 votes, not band for a weedgie band in Edinburgh! Needless to say what a buzz watching them play to about 1500 in the Carling Academy, they finished 4th overall?( . Next again year I started working with Emergenza while at college and have now been with them 3yrs. Here are some FACTS about Emergenza (pay to play): 1: Emergenza has a 45 enrolment fee. This is a one-off payment for life, bands can enter thereafter at no other cost. On the 1st gig bands get a set of Ernie Ball strings (bass & guitar) a set of Regal Tip sticks and a Remo skin (that is already more than 45). The fee also puts off time wasters which for serious bands and ourselves is a pain in the ass. 2: Ticket Allocation: Bands are capped at 50 tickets so no one can out-sell other bands. Bands sell 50 and get 50 or can sell 40 and give away 10 for free. In the other rounds the allocation and bands cut goes up. A lot of these gigs are busy and regardless of the politics who wants to play an empty gig? Generally this is a great opportunity to increase your fan base and meet other bands you may not have played with before. 3: What we do: Emergenza runs worldwide trying to find some of the best bands to showcase at the International Final in Germany. Here there is a festival which has 50,000 in attendance with the Emergenza stage in the middle of it so maximum exposure. Along the way there is some great gigs at some of the best venues in the country (not always so easy to get gigs in). At Regional, UK & International Final it is indeed judged by the Music Indutry, last year Scottish Final judges, Andrew Hillcoat (Sony, yes reallly), Alex Downie (NEMIS), Dom Fairbanks (Fairbanks Endorsements), Carl Bathgate (Liverpool Academy). the other rounds are judged by crowd and band votes. 4: After the competition this is the not the end for most bands. Every year we are moving further forward with helping bands gig out of their own city. Through this we put on showcase events, guest spots at other Emergenza events and set up tours. Two good examples of this are last year's Scottish finalists Kobai, they are off this month on a 6 gig tour in Germany. Secrets We've Told (Dundee) were on holiday in New York but called the office to see if we could get them a gig, they played 3 gigs in NY and reports back say they rocked. This year also will see many Emergenza events hosting guest bands from across the UK. The Emergenza website is worldwide and can be used as an excellent media tool for promoting your band and gig swapping as well as getting your music played on the radio show. Track 1 is a record label that solely signs bands that have played with Emergenza. So for a one-off payment of 45 this and more that I dont want to bore you any more with, is'nt really a bad deal. On a final note, it is a shame that there seems to be so much towards Emergenza in Aberdeen as it is a city that we enjoyed working in last year and heard some great bands and hope for the same this year

Emergenza is looking for great unsigned bands to take part in a major worldwide competition. Gigs held at Carling Academy, University Sites, London Astoria, Taubertal Festival, Germany. 500K of music equipment up for grabs. 36 bands signed. 150K production deals. 64 cities worldwide. National / worldwide media exposure. Endorsement deals. Opportunity to play packed-out venues and increase your fan base. Share in ticket sales profits: go home with some money in your back pocket! Free strings, skins and sticks for early registered bands. Great opportunity for great bands. Please visit website for further info. and enrolment - www.emergenza.net A SONY/EMI scouting event

Emergenza is looking for great unsigned bands to take part in a major worldwide competition. Gigs held at Carling Academy, London Astoria, Taubertal Festival, Germany. 500K of music equipment up for grabs. 36 bands signed. 150K production deals. 64 cities worldwide. National / worldwide media exposure. Endorsement deals. Opportunity to play packed-out venues and increase your fan base. Share in ticket sales profits: go home with some money in your back pocket! Free strings, skins and sticks for early registered bands. Great opportunity for great bands. Please visit website for further info. and enrolment - www.emergenza.net A SONY/EMI scouting event

EMERGENZA U.K. LTD, Europe & USAs First and Most Successful Band Competition Is Looking for Live Bands From Aberdeen and surrounding areas. o Play to packed-out venues in your city. o Gig at Glasgow Carling Academy and London Astoria. o Play to 50,000 at Taubertal Festival, Germany. o Tour U.S.A with major Columbia/Sony (Ger) bands. o 250,000 of equipment for best musicians. WHY WOULDNT YOUR BAND ENTER? For further info and on how to register your band to the 2005 event visit: www.923band.com