Bergenfest’s General Manager, Frank Nes, gives us the insider’s scoop on how he and his team pick the acts they invite to their festival.Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role in Bergen.
A: I am the festival's general manager, which includes responsibilities of programming, which is the fun part, and everything else, which can be a real drag at times. But, I've been doing this for nearly 20 years now and cannot complain. It beats having a real job.
Q: What criteria do you use when going through an artist’s EPK?
A: It's very easy. First I listen to the first song on an act’s EPK. If it catches my attention I explore the rest of the EPK and then wander off to the www for MySpace and other websites too. This is easiest when your social media pages and plug-ins are linked from your EPK. It can be whatever genre, - my taste buds in music are kind of schizophrenic. The most important will be that it is a convincing live act, more than anything is that important for us. Have photos or even a video from live shows on your EPK – any type of media or data in general that will help us understand your live experience and range.
Q: How does an artist stand out in your eyes?
A: There is no “secret” formula - it just has to catch my attention. I can be just as drawn to a singer-songwriter without teeth as with the slickest promoted act with a full team of PR-people in charge.
Q: Give an example of a recent artist that you picked, and why.
A: My colleague Martin found a band called Imagine Dragons while going through submissions recently and blasted it through the speakers in the office for all of us to hear. Which is what we normally do - at least three of us hear through all of the acts that catch our attention. With Imagine Dragons, which do great pop songs with a big sound not unlike Muse and Coldplay it was just a matter of finding a way of funding their travel from Las Vegas to Bergen… Luckily it all worked out and we’re helping them come to Bergenfest for their first European shows ever!
Q: What are some common mistakes you see entrants making when they're submitting to you?
A: If you submit to Sonicbids or anything else in life, do things properly and not half heartedly. Look at it as a job submission. Make sure all sections of your EPK are complete and up-to-date.
Q: How does Bergenfest help a selected artist have a successful Bergenfest gig and experience? Do you provide any type of compensation or media/touring support for the artist?
A: We pay the bands to perform and/or provide flights/travel to Bergen. This is obviously a process which starts when we initially contact the artist. There is no set fee or package, but we try to accommodate in order to make things happen. But, this is of course an exercise in applied realism from both parts. When in Bergen we make sure they get the most out of their stay, both in terms of media and performances.
Q: Do you have any other advice you'd like to share with artists reading this?
A: Enjoy it while it lasts…
Don’t miss your chance to play Bergenfest 2011! Submissions close on Jan.12. Go here to get more details.
