Famed Concert Promoter Dave Hart

Concert promotion is a lost art. Although it's probably easier just to post a MySpace bulletin to tell your friends about your upcoming show, imagine booking major venues such as The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, Poplar Creek Music Theater in Chicago, Pine Knob Music Theater in Detroit and Merriweather Post Pavilion in Baltimore. David Hart has been working since the 1970s with legendary Filmore East promoter Bill Graham. Soon after, he began his industry career as an agent for the Graham-owned Millard Agency, an agency representing Santana, Billy Joel, The Kinks, Janis Joplin, The Beach Boys and many others. Hart began producing approximately 200 concerts a year for Monarch Entertainment in West Orange, and since then his career has constantly been going strong in the industry.

Performer discussed the ins and outs of the concert promotion world with Hart who offered his insights and specifics of this oft-overlooked position.

Q: What exactly is a promoter's job?

A: A concert promoter is the person who connects the public with the artist for live performances. He negotiates for the act with the agent, picks the venue, sets the ticket price, plans and implements the advertising campaign, puts the tickets on sale, provides the staffing and stagehands, backstage accommodations, controls the day of show expenses and hopefully gives the artist and the audience the best live experience.

Q: How has it changed in recent years with huge corporations such as Live Nation etc.?

A: The concert business was made up of local promoters who are experts in their cities and regions across this country and around the world. Now the business has been overwhelmed by national and international organizations, promoting whole tours. The handshake no longer holds up. You better have an email. If a promoter backs out of a date, he'll have trouble with the agent and a lot of other artists.

Q: How was it working with Bill Graham?

A: Bill Graham was a fanatic about making the experience the best possible for the audience members as well as the band. What a great rule to live by in this business!

Q: What's the best advice you can offer?

A: Do everything you can do to work live. There's no better way to connect with an audience. When you do establish yourself as an act that can attract a crowd, get good people around you (agent, Manager) to insure righteous treatment.

Q: What has been your most exciting booking?

A: I can't choose just one...

Rolling Stones, Pontiac Silverdome 1989

Bruce Springsteen, Rutgers U. 1977

Luciano Pavarotti, Garden State Arts Center, 1982

John Mayer, Maroon Five, Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta 2004

Aerosmith, Guns `n' Roses, Pine Knob Music Center, Detroit 1988

Lewis Black, Carnegie Hall, 2005

Run DMC, Greek Theater, 1988

Earth Day Merriweather Post Pavilion, 1988

Ringo Starr, Radio City Music Hall, 2006

Lalapalooza, Starplex, Dallas, 1993

Jeff Beck, Capitol Theater, NJ, 1979

Billy Joel Kean College, NJ, 1979

Elvis Costello, Rutgers, 1980

Grapes of Wrath- New Rochelle, 1966 (my first)

Go Kart Records - NYC Punk etc.

Go Kart Records was started in 1993 and has since been one of the premiere indie labels for pop punk, hardcore and straightforward pop. The label's founder Greg Ross started the label initially as he realized "that you didn't need to be rich, famous, or even smart to run a record label." Ross then "cashed in his bar mitzvah bonds and put out his first 7" EP."

Their near-annual sampler series Go-Kart vs. The Corporate Giant series is widely sought after by punk fans worldwide. Go Kart is also credited as very first label to release a commercially sold compilation of MP3s known as the Go-Kart MP300 Raceway, featuring 2 CDs filled with 300 songs from 150 punk, pop, hardcore and rock bands ranging from the famous to the obscure.

Since then, Go Kart Records have released over 100 records and are still going strong in an age where indie labels are garnering more attention for solid music over trends.

Submissions: The label accepts demos and are signing bands but adheres to the "don't call us, we'll call you" ethic.

Mailing Address:

Go-Kart Records, P.O. Box 20, Prince St. Station, New York, NY 10012.

Email: info@gokartrecords.com

Web: www.gokartrecords.com

Pete's Candy Store

The mass exodus of hipsters from Manhattan to Brooklyn, particularly to the neighborhood of Williamsburg, has created a refuge for bands and clubs for them to play at, regardless of genre. One of the cutting edge venues of the Brooklyn scene is Pete's Candy Store, a lounge/music venue that hosts bands from genres ranging from alt-country to acoustic gypsy music. Located in an old soda parlor, Pete's is split up between the main lounge area and the music room, which is located in the back and made up to look like an old train car. Booker Jacob Silver has been brining in acts to Pete's for three years and the music space a "quiet listening room, perfectly suited for singer/songwriters." The room itself holds about 50 to 60 people, and the stage is tiny. A trio with a drummer is perfect, while a quartet is pushing the stage's limits and anything over a quintet will have a band members sitting with the audience. Performances are unpaid, so performers can pass around a tip jar so they can buy some candy. Also, sound for the venue is DIY, but all bartenders know how to help so don't be afraid to ask for help. Aside from music, Pete's also offers fun activities throughout the week. Tuesdays are reserved for bingo, "Quiz-Off" on Wednesdays allows patrons the chance to show off their knowledge for prizes (like money towards a bar tab) and a Spelling Bee every other Monday makes for a F-U-N night. Though a popular nightspot for locals, many people from across the East River come into Williamsburg to grab a drink and hang with the club's artsy clientele, so don't be intimidated by crowd. On second thought, bring some Chuck Taylors, just in case.

Address:

709 Lorimer St. Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, 11211

Phone: (718) 302-3770

Booking Contact: Links with mp3's can be emailed to booking@petescandystore.com

Web: www.petescandystore.com

IN THE NEWS

New York's ivy-league all-stars Vampire Weekend will be on tour for the duration of the summer. The band is scheduled to play at a series of festivals across the U.S. through the months of July and August, with a brief two-show-tour of Japan.

www.myspace.com/

vampireweekend

New York mainstays Mindless Self Indulgence have announced two US tour dates for July. The shows, one in Troy, NY and one in Hartford, CT, will take place during the band's brief homecoming between two UK tours.

www.mindless

selfindulgence.com

Cobra Starship will be taking their hoodies and bling on the road this summer. The New York natives have signed on for a three-month Warped Tour stint before breaking off in late August to embark on a tour of Australia and New Zealand.

www.myspace.com/

cobrastarship

BK funnyman MC Chris will be spreading his brand of comedic hip-hop across the nation this summer. Touring in support newest album MC Chris is Dead, he will be on the road, non-stop until this coming November.

www.myspace.com/mcchris

Fresh off a NME nomination for best new indie band, New York's MGMT will be stopping in at this August's Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, and features Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Gnarls Barkley, Cat Power and Wilco, among others.

www.myspace.com/MGMT

New York's more Morrissey than Morrissey foursome, The Bravery, will be out on tour throughout the summer.

www.myspace.com/

thebravery

Midriff Records now features the Get Help blog. For those of you who aren't familiar with the band, which consists of Tony from The Beatings and Mike, formally of NYC's Strikes Again, the blog offers MP3 downloads, quick-witted insights and previews the band's upcoming full-length release due out on Midriff later this year.

www.midriffrecords.com/

gethelp

New York's The National will be living up to their name this summer by spending the better part of it touring with indie brethren Modest Mouse and REM before departing for Europe in late July.

www.myspace.com/

thenational

Gypsy-madmen Gogol Bordello will take their antics on tour this summer. Belying their naturally nomadic natures, the New Yorkers have scheduled shows everywhere from Greece, Russia and Japan to the more familiar environs of Burlington, VT and Providence, RI.

www.myspace.com/

gogolbordello

Foul-mouthed NY diva, Princess Superstar is currently offending, ah, that is to say, touring Europe.

www.myspace.com/

princesssuperstar

The fast-rising New York group Battles will be taking time off from their European tour this summer to return home for both Bonarroo and Lollapalooza.

www.battles.com

Brooklyn experimentalists Hurcules and Love Affair have announced more dates for their European summer tour.

www.myspace.com/

hurculesandloveaffair

New York's Young Love is in the studio putting finishing touches on his newest album.

www.thisisyounglove.com

New York's The Age of Rockets will be out on tour across the US through August.

www.myspace.com/

theageofrockets

Punk veterans The Casualties are currently spreading New York cheer across Texas, Arizona and the Midwest.

www.myspace.com/

thecasualties

Joseph Burke, better known as Brooklyn's one-man digital music-image mélange Obfusc, will be releasing his new album Cities of Cedar this month.

www.myspcace.com/obfusc

Brooklyn indie band Grizzly Bear has announced dates for their August tour.

www.myspace.com/

grizzlybear

New York's The Virgins have been added to New Jersey's All Points West festival which takes place early this August. Other performers include Metric, Underworld, Girl Talk, Sia, Mates of State and Chromeo.

www.APWfestival.com

Brooklyn's Yeasayer will be yet another band logging many flight miles this summer. The band will begin July in Europe, return to the U.S. to play several festivals and then return to Europe for the rest of the summer.

www.myspace.com/yeasayer

Throughout the summer, Midriff Records will be making available new Eldridge Rodriguez material for free on their website. The free digital singles will be offered for a limited time with no strict or particular timetable or advance notice. Check the Midriff Records website regularly or else miss a chance to download demos, album outtakes, random recordings, new arrangements, live cuts and remixes by E.R. and his crew.

www.midriffrecords.com

Dead Letter Box, a heavy metal band is currently working on a new album under a self-produced and engineered label. They are playing an upcoming show on July 3 at the Ace of Clubs in New York City, and promise to play a "vulgar" cover song that can only be experienced live.

www.myspace.com/

deadletterbox

The 8th Annual Village Voice Siren Music Festival will be held at Coney Island on July 19. The independently produced and leading New York City outdoor music festival will include renowned artists as well as local and emerging ones. The festival is known for showcasing new and upcoming indie rock bands, as well as hosting bands that remember starting out the same way.The Voice recently released the festival's roster which will include Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Broken Social Scene, The Helio Sequence, Beach House, Times New Viking, Jaguar Love, The Dodos, Annuals, Film School, Parts & Labor, Dragons of Zynth, These are Powers and more to be announced.

www.villagevoice.com/siren