If you’ve not seen how ridiculously awesome South By So What?! Festival (Dates March 14-16) is, you should. 3 days of shows from massive bands like Bring Me The Horizon and Asking Alexandria are fun enough, but add rising stars like Expire and Downpresser, and you have an event that features something for everyone.
The guy who puts this all together, Mike Ziemer, answered a few questions for us, which you can check out after the jump. Hard work pays off.
*Please introduce yourself and what role you play in the music industry.
My name is Mike Ziemer and I am the founder of South By So What?! which is put on by my company Third String Festivals as well as Evolve Music & Media Management.
*How many people are you expecting at this 3-day event?
We are projecting 20,000 people over the 3 days!
*Is it difficult putting on shows like this, or is it easier than people make it out to be?
I think putting together events like this is MUCH harder than people imagine. It’s a full year’s worth of work and as soon as it’s over, we just go right back to the drawing board for 2015!
*Why did you decide to start a production company?
I was helping out a local band and they needed a concert and it kinda just grew from there. I never planned on this being what I did for a living, I didn’t even know it was possible.
*Who are some up and coming bands you’ll be watching?
On Friday, I manage 3 of the bands playing Fever Dreamer, Bryce Gilbertson, and Dear You. I am very excited to see them perform on a festival like this.
On Saturday, I manage Indirections and I am very excited to see them perform. I’m also excited to see Issues, Crown The Empire, Fit For A King, Lionfight.
On Sunday, I am excited to see ’68, Neck Deep, Third Coast, and Being As An Ocean.
*What would we be surprised to find playing on your iPod?
I listen to Daughters ALL THE TIME, The Front Bottoms, my girlfriend has better taste in music than me so Passenger, Modern Baseball, Have Mercy, and a lot more stuff that might surprise you!
*What advice would you pass on to local bands trying to get on huge shows like this one?
Don’t expect to be handed an experience like this, work for it, and if you get the chance to play, make sure you are ready to not only work for it but to be in front of 2000 – 8000 people, it’s embarrassing if you don’t know what you’re doing and jumped the gun to play.
*Do you have anything else you’d like to share with us as far as upcoming events or news go?
There’s a lot of really exciting things we are announcing soon so be sure to keep up with both myself @mikeziemer and @tspr on Twitter!
