supporting acts

[tali122]

i assume record companies select supporting artists /groups for concerts - or does the main draw themselves have a choice as to who will be their supporting act?

[flosi]

i think youl find it

[brachiopod]

Most record companies promoting their 'headline' band will select either a stable-mate band for the support, or else the support (or their Record Company) may well have to pay for the privelege, ( usually by meeting all promotional costs / PA hire etc. etc.) - this, (like everything else the Record Comapny provides for you), will come out of your first Royalty Cheque / payment / appearance fee (and that's after they have taken back that 'advance' for your first album when you first signed,)

-and everyone wants to be a pop star?

[andy-hughes]

It does depend on the level of the headline band. Medium and upcoming bands usually have their supports chosen for them, verterans and guarenteed draws like U2 and Iron Maiden choose their own supports, based on bands they like personally.

Maiden have always been renowned for being very good to their supports - making sure they get a good soundcheck, and a decent lightshow, because they still remember how they felt when theywere in that position.

[tomd]

I assume you've had the pleasure of seeing a live Maiden show, incredible stuff.

I'm a sound engineer, and at most of the gigs we do (at one venue) it's usually the promoter who organises the support bands, who'll be on the top of the ticket (eg SJM Concerts Presents). But as mentioned, the support band (or someone on behalf of them) will actually have to pay to play.

If you're looking to get a gig behind a certain band, I'd contact the venues they're playing at, who might either be arranging it themselves or put you though to the promoters.