Playing
in the Big Apple

  In researching how a Jersey band gets a gig in Manhattan, I discovered that there is no set formula for success. It’s not how long your band has been together or the other venues you’ve played at.  Who you know generally helps, though.
  The one thing that all bands absolutely need is people.  Getting in the door can be easy-a lot of bar and club owners will take a chance on a band-but if you can’t draw 10 or 15 paying customers, don’t expect to be invited back. 
   Stigmatic, for example, played the Continental at 25 Third Avenue in July of this year. The three musicians- Dave Eric, Doug Losche and Pete “Furious P” Jaworski- had only been together about half a year and it was their New York City debut.
  They’re a good band and have already done really well for themselves.  They were nominated for several Asbury Music Awards and their music has been featured on the MTV show “Undressed”.
  It’s not their accomplishments that got them through Continental’s door, though.  No, in this case, connections and luck were everything. Dave Eric happened to have a friend who was booking another Jersey band that night, Ton of Bricks. Stigmatic grabbed the opportunity and they have gotten at least two New York City gigs since then.  On September 26, they competed at M.E.A.N.Y. Fest at CBGB’s Lounge and on November 19 they return to the Continental.
  Friends of the Josh Zandman Trio-Josh Zandman, Tommy Anton and J. Pat-can also be thankful for their connections. The trio frequently plays the Bitter End, a comfortable little bar in Greenwich Village. According to Zandman, the group has been playing there for years and has a good following. 

and April Smith. They had short sets, but if they had never played the venue, this was their chance to gat in the door for future shows of their own.
 The one piece of advice new musicians should probably follow, then, is to make friends with everyone.  Often, they can help you get a job. If not, make sure they come out when you do get a gig.

-Kim Predham

Benefit
(cont. from p. 6 )

  Playing that night was JFK's LSD UFO, a duo comprised  of an electric guitarist and a keyboard player hooked up to ambient induced synthesizers. The musicians, Andre and Cheri, also own the Red Bank health food store Second Nature. Their music definitely added a positive vibe to the fund raiser.
  To help support the cause local artists involved in the organization donated art to auction off. It was a diverse crowd of artists ranging in age from 20- to 70-years old. All in all it was an enjoyable evening.
  S.I.CA.’s planned space in Long Branch was orginally an olive oil tin labeling factory, as well as a men’s clothing store and a baby carriage manufacturer at different points in its history. The organization plans on gutting it out but leaving the previous functional qualities exposed and making use of discarded mechanical devices left over from the packaging company.
  The building has amazing characteristics and enormous potential. The studios will be leased by the artists to work in and will be on the second floor of the building. On the first floor will be the exhibit space, offices and cafe. The class rooms will be on the second floor.
  Construction starts this month and will probably take about a year and half to be completed and open. So keep your eyes and ears open for other opportunities and events.
  S.I.C.A is a very positive concept for our area and has the potential to add to the community. I wish the organization lots of luck.

                     -Dina Giordano