Sourcing a Placement

Securing a work placement as a supporting artist proved to be a challenging task. Initially, my goal was to shadow a mainstream well-established artist, so that I could learn the dynamics of the music industry almost at its top-tier level. My main options were the Italian singer Serena Brancale, or the English composer Tom Rosenthal. I had a good amount of backup options, but they all involved travelling. Due to unforeseen circumstances, including a family illness and the Coronavirus pandemic, travelling became impossible and therefore everything I planned needed to be drastically revised, including my backup plans.

The challenges forced me to reassess my options and approach a less established local band, instead. The band I contacted, called “PaperSailor”, is part of the industrial-rock-electronic independent scene, and I found it to be just as relevant to my interests, nonetheless. I, therefore, secured the opportunity to shadow Michael Wilson, the Scottish artist, who is the lead vocalist and drummer of PaperSailor.

After seeing a post on a Facebook music group, I was excited to contact Michael, as his band style matched my musical taste, and the band’s online presence was also impressive. Without a doubt, the fact that Michael was the main vocalist, while also being the drummer of the band, sparked my interest even more. I engaged with Michael, through Facebook Messenger, expressing my interest in witnessing how he handles his gig bookings, record releases and online networking. I, also, offered in return any of my expertise, namely studio production, guitar/bass setup, social network, website development, content creation, etc. I shared a link to my website, which contains the most updated artistic content I created, and Michael replied to my message with interest.

After meeting the band in person, and witnessing their rehearsal, we agreed on ten shadowing sessions, comprehensive of band rehearsal and one-to-one sessions just me and Michael. We also discussed some possible duties.

Despite the change in plans, this new direction offered a unique perspective and a valuable learning opportunity. The shift in my placement search, while initially challenging, ultimately led to a rewarding experience and a deeper understanding of the local music scene. Through perseverance and adaptability, I was able to find a placement that aligned with my goals and provided valuable insights into the world of music performing and self-managing.