Sellaband the new 'era'
By Johan Vosmeijer, SellaBand CEO
SellaBand artists playing the largest and most prestigious arenas of North America. Could it really be possible? I think this is the single question that fascinated me the most in the past six months or so. I know now the answer is 100% affirmative, but let's cue back some seven months ago, when we received an e-mail at info@sellaband.com that said: "Would SellaBand like to be involved in a major new music program that is about to be launched within many of the largest most prestigious arenas in the United States? The opportunity we can provide will attract approximately 1 million music fans in the first year."
My initial reaction was: Yeah, right... The e-mail also stated that is was "not a spam e-mail." Fortunately, Dagmar was a little less cynical about this e-mail than I was and he got in touch straight away. Cue 7 months and many, many meetings and brain storm sessions later, and SellaBand can now claim to be the exclusive partner to provide a total of 180 performance slots at major arenas in North America, in the Summer of 2009. 'Our' bands will get to tour the US, will get to play at 20,000 capacity venues, as part of a revolutionary concept: ArenaFest, the first ever live social network. It involves professional sports, gaming, contests and music. 90 Different events that will each have a well-known headlining act every night, as well as two SellaBand artists filling the opening slots. Hard to believe, right... But it's all 100% true... In fact we have just hired a Tour Director, who will be in control of the scheduling of the event, the logistics and hiring tour managers, stage hands, etc.
The invitation to participate in ArenaFest arrived at a time when we were doing the first preparation for SellaBration '08 and Dagmar and I realised once more that adding the live element to the SellaBand concept on a more permanent basis would be not just the icing on the cake, but a redefinition for unsigned bands trying to translate their online presence back into the 'real world'. If only we could offer this live platform on a more permanent basis.
SellaBration '08 came and went and during this period, our negotiations with the company behind ArenaFest were underway. Very inspiring brain storm sessions and conversations, but also a bit confrontational at times. SellaBand is going to be part of the huge marketing campaign, surrounding ArenaFest. What is going to be our single most important message? SellaBand has the right to have kiosks at every Arena, to promote the concept and sell the music. Do we have the people to man these concessions?
We thought hard about it, but only for a few seconds. What an amazing opportunity. Not only for bands to play these arenas, but also for SellaBand, to market the concept and put the company on the map, Stateside. The ambition to reach hundreds of thousands of music lovers suddenly became more realistic, as well as the opportunity to come a bit closer to the essence of the original SellaBand concept. The challenge to make it happen was daunting, but at the same time it made us realize that now was the time to implement the changes we had in mind for quite some time, already.
Our participation in ArenaFest is not a 'one off'. What will be rolled out in the Summer of 2009, is only the beginning. SellaBand will also be part of this very exciting new platform for unsigned bands, in years to come. And there may be other, like minded initiatives, where other SellaBand artists can have a shot a showing their live skills to a big audience. The Arena people are incredibly impressed with what SellaBand has achieved in its first couple of years. The concept, the team, the community, and let's not forget the music. 29 Recording artists already. Some of them can expect an invitation to be part of ArenaFest any time, soon.
Last week it all became even more 'real'. When the web team showed us the designs and flow for ArenaFest, and when I traveled to New York to conduct a number of interviews. All embargoed until December 1, of course. One media representative put it as follows: "With adding something as big as ArenaFest, SellaBand is actually redefining what is success for unsigned bands." He hit the nail on the head. As of now, SellaBand not only offers a platform for funding your music, recording a professional album and distributing your recorded music, we have added another crucial element: get out there and play. And not just in clubs and bars, but at major arenas across the United States. SellaBand artists playing the largest and most prestigious arenas of North America. Who would have thought...
Johan Vosmeijer,
November 30, 2008
www.sellaband.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alles leuk en aardig, maar ik wil nu toch eerst eens wat meer revenue zien voordat ik er überhaupt nog geld inpomp
"Een menschenhater, menschenschuwend mensch, die niet gaarne andere menschen ziet; een wonderlijk, ongezellig mensch, vijand van alle vrolijkheid.'
"My voice is nothing, my thoughts are nothing, in many respects I'm like you; nothing"