I got to talk with Derek Dickens of Grimm Entertainment/Grimm Booking about his new upcoming project that will be helping out everyone in the music business no matter where you live. Check out what he had to say:
The Interview
How’s it going Derek, please tell us what you do in the music industry?
I am a local Northwest Booking agent and Promoter. I have booked a few small tours throughout the Northwest, some bigger bands, some smaller. I got really tired of a couple local venues not supporting the smaller touring bands, so I created a local house venue called The Grimm Den which recently had to close. (RIP) Now, I am working on setting up a new local spot.
You have a new project in the making called Grimm Records, tell us what this is all about?
I have racked my brain for months trying to figure out how to save all I had fought so hard to build in my local scene. After much deliberation and a lot of help, I decided to set up a local record store that also sells band equipment (strings, microphones, picks, sticks, etc.), vinyl, merchandise, and do shows once in a while. Inside and outside (huge parking lot I have the ok to use). This will be setup SO ANY LOCAL or GROWING BAND can setup sales. I will be right next door to a tattoo shop, willing to collaborate on the shows, and merchandising.
Who have you brought on board to contribute to Grimm Records?
I have contacted a lot of merchandising companies and designers to help jump on board. I am ordering cd’s and merchandise from major labels such as, Relapse, Century Media, Sumerian, Rise, Metal Blade, and several big distributors from all over the world. I have also partnered with a tri-city local sound equipment supply company Radioactive Music. We are in contact and setting up plans for Ernie Ball Strings, Silver Fox Drums, Audio Technical cables and Microphones. I am checking all routes, local and corporate.
What is your ultimate goal for Grimm Records or is it endless?
Well I am looking to setup a record store that ANYONE can get a CD or Vinyl from a local or national band that they support. I want it so bands that need to get their name out there have a spot they can do that at. This is going to be a local store to support the local scene, and put on amazing shows like we used to at the Grimm Den. If all goes well, I want to build on and make shops in different towns and states eventually. We are in an essence trying to start something like HOT TOPIC originally was back when it started. A place for the Music, By fans of the music!
You also have a booking company, tell us a little about that and what bands have you booked?
I started out just booking a local band called Annie Sails Sorrow some shows. They are some of my best friends and I loved their music, so I helped book a show or two locally, and I liked doing it. I grew from there, made contacts all over the west coast and started the company Grimm Entertainment (I have had my ups and downs in this side of the business; it’s not very easy to do). Here is a small list of bands I have worked with. King Conquer, Murder Death Kill, Deserters, Into the flood, Maya Over Eyes, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Toarn, Drowning, Domination, Reformers, Lights In the Sky, Bow Prometheus, Take This City, Fallstar, Watchers and Hunters, Vessels.. I could go on for days.
What were your favorite shows that you booked?
King Conquer, Deserters, and The Last Ten Seconds of Life was epic. Destruction Of a King and Altars was great! Murder Death Kill and Deserters, and probably the Bow Prometheus and Take This City show was the most memorable (broke my nose and partied for 3 days).
How did you get into starting up your own venue, having your own book company and opening up a record store?
I Started the Grimm Den when I noticed our local venue was denying a lot of great shows for bands that weren’t HUGE, I didn’t think it was fair to throw these bands out because they didn’t have 10,000 likes at least (no joke this is what they told me). So I started the Grimm Den, my house’s front room, (den) turned into a venue (held about 60 people tops). We packed this place A LOT! As for booking, I started out just promoting Annie Sails Sorrow. I have booked hundreds of bands all over the Northwest. After a while, my venue had to close due to neighbors complaining to much. So I have been fighting tooth and nail the last couple months to setup a record store (which our town does not have) and still be able to book shows once in a while to bring the fans and customers in. We will hopefully be opening Grimm Records early next month.
Finally, is there anything else you want to bring up? Anything you want us to know that you have not talked about yet?
I am no where near perfect. I have done some wrong in this industry, but I have always stayed strong to the belief that our area NEEDS this. We don’t want our music to die. I have amazing support from the people and bands that have been with me threw the thick and the thin. I would like to give a shout out to these bands that have always been there. Annie Sails Sorrow, Amontillados Cask (RIP), Manic Attack, Ashylus, Deserters, Watchers and Hunters, Shadow Of Heaven, Maya Over Eyes, Domination, Projections, Light In The Sky, Blood and Thunder, Haunter, The Persevering Promise, The Ongoing Concept, Visionary, Idols, To The Wind, Reformers, and Bow Prometheus. If you don’t know any of these bands PLEASE CHECK THEM OUT!
https://www.facebook.com/GrimmEntertainment
https://www.facebook.com/GrimmRecords
