Reeperbahn Festival’s Head of Booking, Bjørn Pfarr, shares some insights on how he and his team select the bands, and in general what bands should expect from the Reeperbahn Festival if booked. Enjoy!
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role in Reeperbahn Festival.
I am 34 years old, born & raised in Hamburg. In 2006 we started Germany’s leading indoor festival. I have been the head of music program since 2008, which includes all aspects of booking.
Q: What criteria do you use when going through an artist’s EPK?
First of all: Quality. We are not looking for headliners but for new, exciting acts with a very high potential. There is no limitation in terms of the music styles but we have a focus on indie, folk, pop, singer-songwriter, rock & electronic music. Ideally there is kind of a buzz on the acts already.
Q: How does an artist stand out in your eyes?
It's difficult to say because there's no real formula. An artist has to be exciting and inspiring at the same time. The first thing that gets our attention is, of course, the music itself. It's also good to know, though, if the artist acts professional because he really means it and believes in himself. It's the whole package that counts!
Q: Last year one of the Sonicbids bands booked was the band De Staat. What are the key elements that made you pick that band to perform at the festival and also receive one of the travel stipends offered?
De Staat was a band that we were enthusiastic about musically because they sounded kind of retro and new at the same time. Also lots of people started recommending them to us so we knew we wouldn't be the only ones who'd be excited about our choice.
Q: What are some common mistakes you see bands making when submitting their materials to you?
A lot of bands don't submit full EPKs. If there's any information or even songs missing it makes it more difficult for us to find because we have to look for it ourselves. Also, many bands don't know what kind of event they're applying for because they don't read up on it before they submit their application.
Q: How does Reeperbahn Festival help a selected artist have a successful Festival gig and experience overall?
Reeperbahn Festival is a festival for music fans that love to discover new and exciting artists. We hardly ever have any real headliners so the people really have to make themselves familiar with the music beforehand or they just roam the festival and try to see as many bands as possible. Unknown bands found this to be quite helpful in the past because their gig attracted more people than a regular gig would have.
Q: What are some things that both European and non-European bands need to be aware of when it comes to gigging in Germany?
It's difficult to say what it's like for a band to come to Germany to play gigs, but you often get told that German fans are quite appreciative at concerts. That of course depends on the band, the fans and the concert. Generally, it's always good for a band - especially the smaller ones - to not expect too much when going on tour somewhere where they're probably quite unknown.
Q: Why should bands, especially bands outside of Europe apply to perform at Reeperbahn Festival 2011?
The Reeperbahn Festival is often described as a smaller version of SXSW which sums it up really well, I think. Lots of venues, lots of bands, and lots of fun! You'll meet music lovers as well as journalists or business people everywhere you go and the Reeperbahn turns into three days of madness - in a good way!
