This interview was originally published in October 2016
British jazz promoter Tony Dudley-Evans is a well-known figure on the European jazz scene , having booked more than 1,000 gigs over the last 20 years.
He’s been involved with the internationally renowned Cheltenham Jazz Festival since it’s beginnings and is currently also an advisor to Jazzlines in Birmingham where he is based.
Tony has worked with a huge range of – from up-and-coming local talent through to international headliners – as well as being involved with jazz education at the Birmingham conservatoire .
As such, I thought he would be able to offer some great insight as part of the Jazzfuel Q&A series!
If you’re looking for more insight on the UK jazz scene, you can check out our 2021 list of Best British Jazz Blogs .
You can read his answers in full below, but a few key highlights to takeaway:
- Having an album release planned around the same time as a festival is an extra bonus point to flag up when pitching for a gig
- Make sure you really highlight good press quotes when pitching by to promoters
- Festivals are a great place for promoters to discover or check out new bands – make sure you invite all local clubs and venue bookers if you are appearing at a festival nearby
If you’d just graduated from college and had a budget of £500 to promote your 1st album, what would be top of your to-do list?
If I didn’t have a website already, I think I would spend the £500 on building as good a site as I could with that money or that amount plus some of my own money.
If I had a website in place, I think I would spend the £500 either on getting coverage on a website such as London Jazz News , or on setting up a launch gig with decent publicity.
When you’re programming a festival, does it improve a band’s chance of a gig if they are releasing an album at the same time?
It definitely helps.
We do book bands without an album release, but with a relatively unknown band it would definitely increase my confidence about booking them if they have a new album.
What sort of makes an ‘unknown’ band’s stand out to you?
I always take notice of reviews, either published in a magazine or on a blog site, or informal reviews from people I trust.
So quote as many as possible in the emails you send.
Do you think that performing as a sidemen in lots of bands helps or hinders a musicians’ chance of being booked for a gig with their own project?
I don’t think it hinders any chance of being considered for a gig under their own name. That is true for me, but other promoters may think differently…
What’s your top tip for a musician going to a conference (like Jazzahead) for the first time? How can they make contacts and progress with international bookers?
Find a list of the promoters attending – this is usually available in advance – and invite them all to your showcase gig.
Then choose certain key promoters and ask them for a meeting – one-to-one – at the conference.
Where do you discover new bands?
At festivals.
A good review may persuade me to go to see them if I can – even if it is just a one-off gig.
I do try to keep up with CDs or links to that I am sent, but it is very difficult .
Which musician, in your opinion, has done a great job at getting themselves from ‘unknown’ to ‘interesting’ (from a promoters point of view) in the last few years.
What has been the most memorable live performance you’ve booked in the last 5 years?
The French Surnatural Orchestra at Cheltenham 2015.
Would you recommend bands to approach promoters by or phone
Both. By email initially and then by phone once a relationship has been established through email.
Thanks Tony!
If anyone has follow-up questions for him, please write in the comments section and I will try to get answers!
More about Tony Dudley-Evans
Tony Dudley-Evans is a Birmingham based promoter who has booked more than 1,000 concerts since 1985.
As well as many years working for Birmingham Jazz, he has also been involved with Cheltenham Jazz Festival since it’s beginnings more than 20 years ago, as both artistic director and program advisor.
Tony is now an advisor to Jazzlines – the organisation which took over Birmingham Jazz in 2012 – and also promotes shows independently around the city. He also won the 2005 BBC Jazz Award for Services to Jazz.
His work supporting jazz education saw him co-ordinate classes at the Birmingham Conservatiore and he has also been responsible for commissioning works from including Mike Gibbs , Tim Berne , Julian Joseph , Iain Ballamy , Tom Bancroft , Barbara Thompson , Billy Jenkins , Mark-Anthony Turnage , Liam Noble , Hans Koller & Ingrid Laubrock .
Connect with Tony:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/dudleyevans
Some articles he’s written: www.thejazzbreakfast.com/author/dudleyevans
via Cheltenham Jazz Festival:
Website: www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cheltfestivals
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cheltenhamfestivals
via Jazzlines:
Website: www.thsh.co.uk/jazzlines
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jazzlinesTHSH
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