For emerging artists touring usually means maxing out all your funds to pay for a van, meals, and gas money. But that’s not always the case. Planetary and Sonicbids are offering you a chance to tour China all expenses paid! We caught up with Adam Lewis from Planetary to get the lowdown on this amazing opportunity.
When the selected band gets to China, what can they expect?
The band can expect an experience of a lifetime. The Chinese crowds love their music and are very passionate about new bands – so we have found great crowds and great excitement from playing there. But more importantly, it is just the cultural differences and being a tourist that will really blow everyone’s mind. Whether it is the amazing skyline of Shanghai, the sheer size of Beijing, or the diversity of language, food, and culture. This will be unlike any touring you have ever done. Every band we have brought over has just been blown away by the experience. The crowds of people, the traffic, the food. China is a country where you can see, in person, how fast it is growing. You can feel the energy everywhere. It’s really a special time to be there right now. Also, a great time to do music there. It’s all new and exciting. Big crowds are the norm. Folks want to consume new music.
Also, these are festival dates. Expect to see and meet a lot of other great bands. We will be announcing those artists very soon. Many of the artists playing are western bands that you are well aware of. There will also be many bands from China. Will be a great mix of new music.
We have now done 15 tours over in China. I consider these events some of the most exciting things I have ever done in not only my career but also my life. This is really a chance of a lifetime. No artist ever thinks they are going to win. But someone always does. The folks that do the selecting of the artists for each of our countries and each year – are different every time. Even if you have applied before, you should apply again, as there will be fresh ears listening.
Are visas taken care of?
Yes, Planetary takes care of the visa process for you and /or works with you to take care of it. We pay all the fees for it and will walk you through the process.
What are accommodations like?
You will not be at the Ritz, nor will you be at a fleabag. You will be in a western quality hotel in both cities. In Both Shanghai and Beijing, you will be in hotels that are near to where the action is. These are western quality cities now. There are plenty of good hotels to stay in. The hotel in Beijing that we stayed in last year was one of the best I have ever been in.
Will there be someone there to communicate with the venues on behalf of the band?
Yes, in addition to myself, there will be several other staffers, including translators that will be with you all of the time. You will not be left alone to fend for yourself! Remember, these are large festival dates you will be playing on, if selected. There will be a lot of staff at these events to make sure you are taken care of.
What can the band expect for audience turnout at the shows?
These are festivals that you will be playing on. So expect fairly large crowds. Much more so than if just in a club. On our tour last year, Olafur Arnalds sold approximately 300 CD’s and a lot of t-shirts and those were club/theatre shows. You can definitely expect to be playing in front of a lot of bodies. Remember, there are a lot of people in China and they all are looking to go to see music! They are all craving good, new music and festivals are the new big thing over there.
Will there be any promotion for the band in China?
Yes, there will definitely be promotion in China. You can expect press releases, online advertising, print advertising, and interviews. As this is a large festival, the promoters will be looking to get the word out on that as much as possible. As an overseas act, they will want to get the word out on you a great deal. You are a story. There will also be a lot of social media marketing done. Your music will be available online, through a leading Chinese music website, as part of this contest as part of this deal.
What is the meal situation for the band?
All meals are taken care of, either through us paying for them or giving you a buyout. You will not be left on your own for food. Don’t be nervous about the food being too exotic. There are plenty of Western options these days. We will be sure to go for a traditional meal as well so you can get the full experience! If you have special needs, we will work on it. Anything is possible.
What will ground transportation be like?
The winning artist will be picked up at the airport upon arrival and taken to the hotel. They will be taken to the venue for the shows, all meals, and back to the airport to fly to the next city and when going home. They will always be driven. You will have a tour manager to make sure all goes well. You will fly between Beijing and Shanghai. You will not be left on your own to figure out the bus or subway system!
Is there time to see the sights in China?
We will make sure that you have time to see the sights in Beijing: The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall, etc., as well as The Bund in Shanghai.
Is the band expected to pay anything out of pocket?
Not at all. We will take care of all meals, hotel, airfare, visas, etc.
There’s still plenty of time to submit to Planetary and Sonicbids Present: Tour China! Submit here before the deadline on July 18th. And if you have any questions, feel free to contact Adam at adam@planetarygroup.com.
