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Critical but useful comments on this please: Re. Gigswap myspace group
http://groups.myspace.com/gigswap
"Hello
I started this group to encourage bands I like from outside of Birmingham to get gigs in Birmingham and to help bands in Birmingham to get gigs elsewhere. At present, many bands find it very difficult to get gigs in Birmingham unless they are part of a more popular band's tour; equally, many bands in Birmingham rarely play outside of the city.
Obviously, the main reason for the above is money: Travelling expenses for the band and also the fear that an "unknown" band won't attract an audience. No-one wants a near-empty gig and no band wants to play a gig that costs them money. Perhaps local promoters, wherever they may be, have a knowledge of bands that is mainly local - which is understandable - and clearly can't rely on random requests for gigs from "unknown" bands from elsewhere.
However, there's no harm trying: I've been to several well-attended gigs in Birmingham featuring bands from elsewhere who didn't have the backing of publicists/booking agents etc. but were able to attract an audience.
Hopefully, this group will encourage dialogue between promoters from different town and cities with the possibility of gig swaps, and also gig swaps between bands organising their own gigs.
How anyone uses the group is up to them. Obviously, blanket spamming of promoters is a bit pointless; good targetting of requests is required.
John D Traynor"