Flatstock Europe

[Switch]

Hey Geoff, whats say we organise a meet up at Hamburg a couple of hours before the show opening on the second day. Each day opens at 4pm right, plenty of time before hand for artists to meet and mobilise thoughts ideas etc ?

[guybur]

Based on what I have seen and heard and dealt with some on other smaller levels re: the Europeans and their power mad desires to see us all in chains, It seems that what you guys would really benefit from would be a non-posterer person or small group who can be educated to what Flatstock/API/GP etc... is all about, who can then do the approaching. It only seems seems seems to me, from my far off land, that many of the Euro organizations that I have had contact with are leery of:
-The artist repping for the coming group of people, without being able to answer questions on behalf of the group. (what API does...)
-The Lack of the appearance of an Umbrella group that appears to lend credence to the whole and legitimize the come on you are making.
(The Euro functions seem happier when you seem like a larger legit operation, familiar with the EU than a white guy in Portland talking to organizers in Prague via MySpace. But that is what needs to happen some times. Talking via myspace at first.)

Who is the EU main man? I don't know. Is it an already existing non-profit arts advocate in Brussels who takes on a new role/client? Maybe.

BUT it seems to me that a central figure is a good thing for your current situation.

End scene.

[piemel]

Geoff, maybe it will help if you describe what types of people were in the API and what their roles were? Maybe that way some European out there might think 'hey I can play that role'...

My gut feeling is that just a Euro member or two on the API board won't fly... there needs to be an EPI that is based in Europe ... independent to a large degree but probably affiliated to API or some sorts...

[DCM]

Everything Chloe has brought up is really very valid.
We are a small island on the outskirts of Europe, it is no real suprise that the UK scene is more coesive and seemingly more organised (although it really isn't), we can speak on the phone, see each other frequently... that sort of thing. It's easy to travel in the UK (expensive, but easy), it's much less so to do that across continental Europe.
Like i pointed out earlier, a lot of the people who i know that make poster in the UK are not in it to make money, they are not in it to do posters for big bands, just for the sake of it, they want to do valid work for bands they like and more often than not share simlar ethics and ideals.
Maybe it is a smaller scene here, and maybe it is more underground, but that is through choice, not because we have been knocked back from doing U2 tour posters. I'm sure there are people who would take an opportunity like that, but perhaps they are not doing this sort of thing for the right reasons. I think there is definately growth happening, but it is a little more organic.

[Switch]

Everything Chloe has brought up is really very valid.
We are a small island on the outskirts of Europe, it is no real suprise that the UK scene is more coesive and seemingly more organised (although it really isn't), we can speak on the phone, see each other frequently... that sort of thing. It's easy to travel in the UK (expensive, but easy), it's much less so to do that across continental Europe.
Like i pointed out earlier, a lot of the people who i know that make poster in the UK are not in it to make money, they are not in it to do posters for big bands, just for the sake of it, they want to do valid work for bands they like and more often than not share simlar ethics and ideals.
Maybe it is a smaller scene here, and maybe it is more underground, but that is through choice, not because we have been knocked back from doing U2 tour posters. I'm sure there are people who would take an opportunity like that, but perhaps they are not doing this sort of thing for the right reasons. I think there is definately growth happening, but it is a little more organic.

Im interested who you think is in it for the wrong reasons over here Drew ?You have mentioned 'them' twice now. Pm me.

[Scrawled]

Everything Chloe has brought up is really very valid.
We are a small island on the outskirts of Europe, it is no real suprise that the UK scene is more coesive and seemingly more organised (although it really isn't), we can speak on the phone, see each other frequently... that sort of thing. It's easy to travel in the UK (expensive, but easy), it's much less so to do that across continental Europe.
Like i pointed out earlier, a lot of the people who i know that make poster in the UK are not in it to make money, they are not in it to do posters for big bands, just for the sake of it, they want to do valid work for bands they like and more often than not share simlar ethics and ideals.
Maybe it is a smaller scene here, and maybe it is more underground, but that is through choice, not because we have been knocked back from doing U2 tour posters. I'm sure there are people who would take an opportunity like that, but perhaps they are not doing this sort of thing for the right reasons. I think there is definately growth happening, but it is a little more organic.

Drew nailed it for me with the last line - "I think there is definately growth happening, but it is a little more organic"

I think that's it. Growth dependent on how receptive the culture is in tandem with sustained, consistent effort without sacrificing the ability to pay bills, eta etc.

[Switch]

Based on what I have seen and heard and dealt with some on other smaller levels re: the Europeans and their power mad desires to see us all in chains, It seems that what you guys would really benefit from would be a non-posterer person or small group who can be educated to what Flatstock/API/GP etc... is all about, who can then do the approaching. It only seems seems seems to me, from my far off land, that many of the Euro organizations that I have had contact with are leery of:
-The artist repping for the coming group of people, without being able to answer questions on behalf of the group. (what API does...)
-The Lack of the appearance of an Umbrella group that appears to lend credence to the whole and legitimize the come on you are making.
(The Euro functions seem happier when you seem like a larger legit operation, familiar with the EU than a white guy in Portland talking to organizers in Prague via MySpace. But that is what needs to happen some times. Talking via myspace at first.)

Who is the EU main man? I don't know. Is it an already existing non-profit arts advocate in Brussels who takes on a new role/client? Maybe.

BUT it seems to me that a central figure is a good thing for your current situation.

End scene.

I think your right Guy on some aspects here. Mainly the organisational . That would help us all greatly. Having that kind of setup would only do benefit to us all here.

[DCM]

No one spacifically, more just the act that as the scene grows i have no doubt that screen printed posters (or posters in general) would more than likely be snapped up as a viable form if income for a half arsed design firm/designer. As far as i'm concerned, i wouldn't be surprised if before the begeining of next year a band like 'The Kooks' (using a generic example) were to knock out some 'poster series' for a tour. Merch is where the money is being made, i guess it would makes sense for a band to make posters to sell. In terms of larger bands and major lables, i can't see why they would go and seek out artists such as us, when they can go to a design firm who would be more than happy to advertise an awful band, and have no sort of conscience about it.
Just a thought, and if my previous comments sounded like an attack o anyother artists, it really wasn't.

[DCM]

That was in reply to you Nick.... i should have quoted.

[guybur]

You should invite the Euro artists to come and chat about stuff at your Euro poster forum, Nick.