2010 Music Showcases

As of February 5, we can confirm the following have accepted (and there are still another five that have yet to confirm) they are of course subject to change.

32 AUSTRALIA ARTISTS CONFIRMED TO PLAY

An Horse
Beaches
Bliss & Eso
Shannon Bourne
Cassette Kids
The Chevelles
Children Collide
City Riots
Crayon Fields
Dappled Cities
Dash and Will
The John Steel Singers
Paul Dempsey
Nathan Gaunt
Grand Atlantic
Darren Hanlon
Karnivool
Kate Miller-Heidke
Love of Diagrams
Marty Willson-Piper
The Middle East
Oh Mercy
Pets With Pets
Pivot
Sally Seltmann
Shannon Bourne
Sherlock's Daughter
Summer Cats
Vasco Era
Via Tania
Washington
Whitley

14 NEW ZEALAND ARTISTS CONFIRMED TO PLAY

Bachelorette
Bang Bang Eche
The Brunettes
David Dallas
Die! Die! Die!
Gin Wigmore
Kingston
Lawrence Arabia
Mr Sicc
The Ruby Suns
Steriogram
Surf City
Miho Wada
Young Sid

Musician’s South by Southwest Survival Guide

A set of Frequently Asked Questions on how to make artist submissions is at http://www.sxsw.com/music/shows/apply/faq

So you know the numbers and competition, in 2009 over 10,500 artists applied with over 2500 outside of North America, including 200+ Australians, 40+ from NZ and 15 from Hawai'i--our territories that IMMEDIA! handle. Over 70 from these three territories were invited.

Of the 1800 artists that played over five nights in 85+ venues, 31 were Australian, 11 Kiwis and five Hawaiian.

It is highly competitive, and not beting from the US, you MUST have a US visa (approximately US$2500-$3500 per band), you must arrange all your own transport, accommodation and instruments and you get one hour to set up and play before the next band in the night's lineup at that venue takes over the stage.

An excellent article on the state of play with US visas was published in the Boston Phoenix June 23 2008 at http://thephoenix.com/Boston/News/63473-Immigrant-song which I urge you to read if you are not familiar with the labyrinth of visa applications.

It is not for the unprepared, nor for frivolous submissions. You should only apply to showcase at SxSW if you already have the funds necessary (Figure $20,000 for a four piece) and if you are at the right point in your career to benefit from playing there. Going up against 1500 other artists means you must have resources to be heard above the noise, have recordings, airplay and market recognition in your home country to be appropriate and also have the backup of management and other support to take advantage of the opportunity.

Generally we suggest either the manager or a key band member go to SxSW the year before applying to understand how it works, how competitive it is and how the Australian and New Zealand artists, managers and labels work the event from the showcases to the national stands in the trade fairs and through publicity or promotion.

You'll find further information on the Australian/NZ SxSW website at http://www.themusic.com.au/sxsw/showcase.php.

Here is a lengthy primer with tips on how to apply and increase your chances for success.

SXSW 2010 SHOWCASE APPLICATION PRIMER

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST MUSIC AND MEDIA CONFERENCE
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA
MARCH 17-21, 2010

INTRODUCTION
The following document offers a concise primer for non-USA artists on the South by Southwest Music Festival showcase application process. Please read this carefully and share with members of your team.

FOR INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, ALL ROADS LEAD TO SXSW
South by Southwest is one of the largest and most prestigious music industry events in the world. The list of talented artists and industry luminaries who attend SXSW each year speaks for itself. In 2009, over 1900 artists, including over 570 international artists from 49 nations - representing every imaginable style of music - played before more than 13,000 registrants from around the world at 88 of Austin's premier stages ranging from the most intimate clubs to the outdoor stage located at Auditorium Shores.

What you may not realize is that SXSW Music showcases offer artists unique opportunities to make their musical vision a reality. The people who write about music and the people who can put it in a film, play it on the radio or television, or produce a CD are all at SXSW. You know it's one thing to hear about how talented an act is, or how great someone's new material is, but it's another thing altogether to see and hear it for yourself. The opportunities for media exposure have never been better with SXSW being covered by hundreds of national and international media outlets. Television crews, film makers, radio programmers, music magazine journalists, newspaper writers, podcasters and hundreds of independent bloggers will be in Austin reporting on every facet of SXSW and laying claim to having heard the next big act before anyone else.

WHO SHOWCASES?
SXSW prides itself on presenting a music festival program that is hip, adventurous, eclectic, and challenging to the musical tastes of the 13,000 professional music delegates and more than 25,000 consumers in attendance. Delegates (and consumers) take gig-going very seriously and everyone criss-crosses downtown Austin each night to check out as many bands as they can. Musical genres represented include Alt Country, Avant/Experimental, Bluegrass, Blues, Conjunto, Country, DJ, Electronic, Hip Hop/Rap, Jazz, Latin Rock, Latin, Metal, Pop, Punk, R&B, Reggae, Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Ska, Tejano, World, and other styles not easily defined!

TIPS BEFORE YOU APPLY:
* The international artists that get the most out of SXSW are those that have prepared a marketing strategy for the US and are using SXSW to achieve very specific goals. They are also generally the ones who are poised and ready to translate domestic success into international success. Don't apply frivolously just to see if you get accepted if you can't go.
* SXSW recommends that you consider whether you are at the right point in your career to benefit from a showcase. Going up against 2,000 other artists means you must have resources to be heard above the noise, have recordings, airplay and market recognition in your home country and also have the backup of management and other support to take advantage of the opportunity.
* Depending on many different factors, a showcase at SXSW could cost an act upwards of US5,000 per person in travel, accommodation, visa application fees and other costs, so take time before you apply to research potential sources of funding. This does not include marketing or promotion costs. Budget at least A$20,000 or NZ$25,000 to have available if you are accepted as this is typically what the exercise costs.
* You may find opportunities to apply for local funding to help defray a small amount of costs but in general grant aid opportunities are limited, demand outstrips supply and strict eligibility criteria apply. With the current economy, government grants are tightening.
* SXSW recommends that any artist applying to showcase intends to have in place a business representative who will register for SXSW in their own right to work on the artist's behalf. There are no free registrations for band managers, label staff or crew and band members who play get only limited access to SxSW events such as the trade fair and conference.
* Read the showcase FAQs at http://www.sxsw.com/music/shows/apply/faq

THE SHOWCASE APPLICATION PROCESS

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2009
SXSW accepts international showcase applications from August 3 until November 6 2009. Sonicbids is the official online music submission partner of the 2010 SXSW Music Conference and Festival. To apply online via Sonicbids, log in to your Sonicbids account (or create one - you'll receive a 6 month free trial when you apply for SXSW) and choose SXSW in the "Top Opportunities" listing. We'll use your Sonicbids Electronic Press Kit to listen to your music and review your press materials. You won't need to upload any additional materials.
http://www.sonicbids.com/sxsw

The early application cost is US $30 through September 25, 2010. From September 26 the cost increases to US $40. To be considered for a showcase, you must have your application and Sonicbids EPK completed with your music and press materials uploaded by the appropriate deadline. We strongly recommend you complete your application and upload materials sooner rather than later. We cannot evaluate your music to consider you for a showcase until you upload it.

TIPS
* Make sure the audio material you send accurately reflects how you intend to present yourself. If solo acoustic, then don't send a big band recording. If you need to submit a demo recording make sure to label it as such.
* Do include a photo, as photos of showcase artists are included on the festival website and can promote your visual image.
* Do nominate a "primary" track when you apply online, as MP3s of showcase artists are included on the festival website and can give listeners a sense of your musical style.
* Please upload at least 3 songs.
* Be careful what person you list as your primary contact on the form as this is the person to whom all correspondence from SXSW will be directed. Ideally, your primary contact should be a member of the act or someone with regular contact with your act.
* If your company wishes to apply as a showcase presenter (i.e. a special lable showcase or private party), please email tripp@sxsw.com for guidelines and procedures on how to submit a proposal

ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION DEADLINE--NOVEMBER 6, 2009
Unlike in the past, this year there will not be a separate international and domestic deadline. November 6, 2009 is the absolute last date for international artists to complete their application for a showcase.

TIPS
* SXSW receives over 10,000 showcase applications every year. Your application will be acknowledged by email but due to the volume of applications received, SXSW asks that you please do not call the office to enquire about the status of your application
* SXSW has to turn down the majority of applications to perform at SXSW. But know that all applicants are carefully evaluated
* Ensure your Primary Contact has any email spam filters set to receive mail from @sxsw.com addresses.

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2009
SXSW makes an enormous effort to get all invitations out to international artists during the months of November and December. They make this effort to give artists the opportunity to start applying immediately for work visas within the required 90-100 day turnaround time.

IN CONCLUSION:
From unsigned bands to indie and major label headliners, SXSW continues to be the premier music conference and festival that sets the tone and direction of the industry by introducing the hottest new talent, and showcasing the new directions and sounds of the most important musical acts in the world, while providing an ideal environment for bands to learn from and meet the music industry professionals that can help them further their careers.

For further information on SXSW Music & Media Conference and Festival 2010: Phil Tripp-SxSW Representative for Australia, New Zealand and Hawai'i E: tripp@sxsw.com P: (61) 2 9557 7766 OZ/NZ Site: http://www.themusic.com.au/sxsw "During the frenzy of the festival, known as SXSW, the potential audience includes deal makers and gatekeepers across the music business, and a successful appearance, even it it's in a small club, can ripple across old and new media." New York Times, Monday, March 23, 2009

How To Apply to Showcase at SxSW From A Foreign Country

To register as a delegate, we urge you to do this early so that you get a hotel close in the CBD and pay the lowest, early bird registration price. You can register after August 3 at http://www.sxsw.com. To see the sort of delegates who go from our territories go to http://www.themusic.com.au/sxsw/who_goes.php

For any inquiries on stands, advertising in the Festival Guides or the magazine SxSWorld, showbag inserts, media accreditation or other marketing programs, please email Phil Tripp tripp@sxsw.com or call (02) 9557 7766 in Sydney during weekdays.

About Visas & South by Southwest
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