East Coast Entertainment booking agent Doug Daniel led a "band bailout" seminar March 31 at Hames Music. The event drew 60 musicians from North Carolina and South Carolina, including a Waylon Jennings country tribute band. Professional musicians struggling to find paying gigs in today's tight economy found a potential lifeline March 31 during an event at Hames Music.

A Waylon Jennings country tribute band and a polka player were among 60 musicians from North Carolina and South Carolina involved in a "Band Bailout" seminar held at the Gaffney store.

Hames Music brought in East Coast Entertainment booking agent Doug Daniel to provide bands with strategies for marketing. East Coast Entertainment is one of the largest talent booking agencies in the United States.

The event comes at a time when professional musicians have joined other businesses in being impacted by the economic downturn. Hames Music has tapped into its own relationships in the music business so it can help the same musicians who support the Gaffney

store.

"We wanted to show bands how to market

themselves and show they are a cut above the rest," said Toney Clements, who works in the Hames Music audio department. "One of the things we talked about was the importance of putting together a good promotional package with a CD and band photograph."

For example, Daniel relayed the story of a Capitol Records promotion worker charged with convincing busy radio stations to play R.E.M's single "Orange Crush" in 1988. The worker decided to drop off large crates of orange soda at radio stations.

"The radio station might not have remembered the song, but they always saw the orange soda so it helped 'Orange Crush' get played on the radio," Clements recalled.

In his seminar, Daniel recommended bands frontload their CDs with their best three songs. He advised bands to consider the possibility of giving away free music and finding creative ways of getting people interested in their music.

He cited Radiohead's decision to make their latest album available for free on the Internet.

"Radiohead sold out the 15,000-seat Verizon Amphitheater in Charlotte in 20 minutes so the band's decision paid off," Clements said. "Bands are relying increasingly on their live performances to make money. Our 'Band Bailout' event exceeded our expectations. We would like to another program to help bands get involved with festivals in the future."