Page 90 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2018

Shopping for Talent

Photo by © Marilyn Stringer

By Stacy Jeffress explained. “If we were going to do this, they were going to
The next time you’re toe tapping at your favorite blues festival, be the first.” With Joe’s day job as chief operating officer of
relaxing in your lawn chair, well supplied with your preferred the Blues Foundation and Sara’s frequent volunteering for
adult beverage and the scent of bug spray in the air, you might Foundation events, the couple sits in the crow’s nest for keeping
wonder how the artists in the line-up got there. Who decided the tabs on who’s hot and who’s about to be. Joe knew from YouTube
mix of the internationally acclaimed musicians with the up-and- videos that he wanted to book Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, and
comers? Where did the promoters find that band you’d never after seeing the group perform at a showcase during this year’s
heard before but now need to tell your friends about? To produce IBC, Sara immediately agreed. When Lauren Mitchell’s latest
a great festival and create ticket demand, promoters are driven CD arrived at the Foundation through the Blues Music Award
to stay abreast of who’s hot on the blues music scene, educate submission process, it caught Joe’s ear, and the Whitmers signed
the audience about the wide spectrum of music that constitutes her up as well.
today’s blues genre and create a memorable experience for For promoters, the focus is always on striking the right balance
the fans. These blues aficionados travel to other festivals, keep between traditional blues and contemporary artists, between the
booking agents on speed dial, attend the International Blues established icons and the artists who are ready to break out. For
Challenge (IBC), check out local clubs, listen to artist materials each of the ten years that the Topeka Blues Society has presented
and keep up on blues media that pushes music and musicians the Spirit of Kansas festival, talent buyer Suki Willison has offered
out to the world. something for everybody when she books the talent. “The Topeka
Brian Slack, who produces multiple festivals in Canada Blues Society wants to continue to educate people about all the
including the ten-day Tremblant International Blues Fest, makes different sounds that people might get interested in and become
sure to pop in a few eye-openers for the audience, along with a fan of,” she said. Since Willison is also the manager and talent
a healthy array of international touring artists. “A festival to me buyer for the local blues venue, Uncle Bo’s Blues Bar, she has
is an experience,” he explained. “The more surprises you have, the advantage of receiving offers and promotional material from
the more you make people discover your festival. I try to discover artists and booking agents all year long. She attends the IBC and
people before we can’t afford them.” Slack described the visits other festivals each year to stay on top of the scene. “We’re
reaction when he booked The Boogie Boys from Poland, a trio a little town,” Willison said, “but it doesn’t mean we don’t get out
including two acrobatically-inclined piano players who inspired there in the world and know what’s going on.”
a feeling of “Liberace storms Memphis” at the 2009 IBC finals. Filling out a complete roster of talent never seems to be an
“They’re coming from Poland and they’re kind of a vaudeville- issue as promoters are bombarded with unsolicited requests to
type act, so I had some people scratching their heads,” he said. be booked for festivals. Michael Kinsman, talent buyer for the
“On the second day, the outdoor show was rained out, but I had one-day San Diego Blues Festival, receives 400 submissions
to find an indoor venue for them because of audience demand.” each year, but he only has eight slots available, with two of those
Sometimes the deep friendships that develop between reserved for local bands. Kinsman estimates that of the 400 acts
blues artists and those on the production side of the business he hears from, only about 20 are worth considering. “I can’t pay
drive decisions. When Joe Whitmer and Sara Negri-Whitmer people who have no marketability,” he said. “Talent matters.”
prepared to book the talent for their inaugural Forgotten Music He also has to consider the mix of artists so he doesn’t present
Festival this year, they looked to their friends first. They signed four guitar slingers in a row. “I want horns; I want keyboards,”
up John Nemeth and JP Soars right off the bat. “John and JP he explained. Kinsman maintains a list of 80 to 100 bands he
are more than work associates, they are friends indeed,” Joe would like to have at his festival, but he will never get to all of

88 Blues Festival Guide 2018