How To Get Your Band Playing Overseas, Despite Sounds Australia Funding Cuts

As the second annual Australian Music Week conference descended upon the stunning seaside suburb of Cronulla, The Music was on ground at the summit's first panel for 2016 — Sounds Australia Presents: Best In Showcase.

Moderated by Sounds Australia's Millie Millgate, Footstomp Music's Graham 'Asho' Ashton, East Coast Music Association's Andy McClean, Western Canadian Music Alliance's Robyn Stewart and Showcase Scotland's Lisa Whytock, here are the ten top tips we picked up to get your band playing abroad and what to do when you get there, despite the impending funding cuts that Sounds Australia is facing.

1. make the most of your showcase trip

"Go to a conference but also play other shows in that territory. Reciprocity is still everything, make connections with similar bands overseas, offer to open for them, sleep on their couch and offer to let them do the same when they come to Australia." — Asho

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2. be confident

"Tailor your elevator pitch when you go international — don't make references to Australian bands they may not know. Manage your tall poppy syndrome, be confident, tell people why you're there." — Millie

3. have a game plan

"Prove that you're export ready, that you're doing well back home. You need a strategy, a team behind you and set your own objectives on why you're going. Show that there's buzz on your band in that territory. And your music just has to be exceptional, people don't say that enough. It's the music business — you need music, you need business, together." — Andy

4. sound engineers are your friend

"If you can, project your artist name behind you, but I also strongly advise you bring a sound engineer with you. You don't get sound checks or line checks at showcases. Having someone at the door with download cards as people walk out the door, little things like that really help too." — Lisa

5. do your research

"When you meet delegates, do your research. Don't send a mass email and expect replies from people who don't even program your genre of music." — Robyn

6. your setlist is crucial

"The way you approach your showcase set list is totally different to your normal shows. It's about capturing attention. It's about starting incredibly strong to keep people there. It's not the place to do your introspective 10 minute spoken word piece. At the end of the set, it's about standing out from the other acts you'll see that week. Be unique, on and off stage." — Asho

7. try to get to Scotland

"Showcases like Celtic Connections pay really well, we give you minimum of 150-200 pounds per musician, which is a total anomaly, but because we're selling tickets to the general public we can." — Lisa

8. who are you?

"During your showcase, you need to say your name, say your name, say your name, beginning, middle and end. You can't afford to be late on because especially A&R reps work to the minute on their schedules." — Millie

9. Schmooze the delegates

"Sign up for networking events, where you get 5-10 minutes face to face time to tell delegates to come to your showcase. Before the meeting, send them an email with your music, tell them you're gonna be meeting them that weekend. Be prepared. A handful of bands reached out to me for AMW telling me to come to their showcase and I will, because they made the effort." — Robyn