Backyard Hero: Brandy Darling of Girl Wreck Presents
by Tim Wenger
Brandy Darling is no stranger to Denver’s music scene, and with the continued growth of her booking and promo company Girl Wreck Presents, she is becoming increasingly more familiar with the business of music outside of Colorado’s state lines. In addition to contributing to the booking duties at Tennyson’s Tap, 12 Volt Tavern, Gary Lee’s Motor Club and contributing to the talent buying and marketing at the Oriental Theater, she has put together out of state shows in fourteen other states and one in Canada. In the past year, Darling also booked tours for four different groups. CMB got her to take a few minutes from her hectic schedule to go over her roots in music and what’s coming up for GWP in 2014.
The Girl Wreck Presents name has been around for three years now, but Darling began her booking career under the name 43rd Street Zoo at the Lion’s Lair in 2009. “There was a point in time where I needed to take on a second job,” she says. She found herself at the Ogden and Bluebird Theatres, working the box office and waitressing. “A lot of the work I also did for them was hospitality and catering for bands. That gave me a connection through Doug Kauffman to Lion’s Lair. They brought me on board to bartend and there was an opportunity to start booking because no one was booking the bands anymore.”
Darling worked her ass off putting shows together for Lion’s Lair, eventually bringing the booking to the point where they were hosting shows five nights a week. “I had a good few year run there,” she says. “I started promoting under the name Girl Wreck while I was still at the Lion’s Lair. I left there for some other opportunities, and once those opened up for me, everything changed. Girl Wreck was able to grow and become a more focused company.”
With these new opportunities came much learning about the business and a bit of a restructuring of how she did things. Putting on shows five nights a week became less of a priority than making sure her shows were well promoted and executed. “Essentially, I’m able to do less shows and put more quality time into promoting them and getting the bands on the same page as far as expectations,” says Darling. “I have also changed part of the company’s emphasis so I can be more focused on event promotions and marketing.”
Dealing with touring bands can be stressful for any promoter. Girl Wreck has been working with touring acts for years, and Darling has learned who she likes to work with, and who she doesn’t. “I didn’t bring as many touring bands through this year as I did last year because I was working with a lot of new venues,” says Darling. “A lot of the touring bands I did bring through, I already had a relationship with and I know what to expect from them and I know they’ll work hard at promoting. “I do look forward to what new, and older touring acts, I will connect with this year.”
While Darling essentially runs Girl Wreck Presents by herself, she does rely on some close companions for assistance from time to time. Her husband, Mike Catz, puts in his two cents and effort from time to time. “He’s so loyal about attending shows with me and making sure the bands are comfortable,” says Darling. “If there are any issues that come up, he’s there to help me take care of them. He talks to a lot of bands and his passion for music ties in.” Katie Sternig and Eryn Mulloy are working with Girl Wreck on shows as well. Darling also brings in interns to assist with basic tasks.
As far as challenges, Darling says “What I find that works best is when there is a good amount of communication and an emphasis on marketing utilized by all parties in anticipation of a show.”
2014 should see GWP working on more national tours for Barb Wire Dolls, The Front, Obsessive Compulsive, and others, and a European tour for Sterling Wit. Darling also hopes to continue working on strong local shows and maintaining connections. “The tours get me excited, I get to travel a bit with the bands,” says Darling. “I’m really focusing on the caliber of bands that I’m booking. I want to also reconnect with a lot of the bands that I booked in the early days that are now getting popular.”
Look for the 3rd Annual Girl Wreck Fest on Saturday, May 3 at the Oriental Theater as well as more Songbirds Music Showcases, and a consistently strong lineup of local and touring acts in her venues in 2014. The Songbirds Music Showcases have been gaining steam, and are turning into one of her personal favorite events. “That’s an event Jane Thatcher and I are co-promoting and rotating around different venues every three to four months,” Darling says. “We’re looking at our location for our next one, but that has been fun to be involved with especially because it’s mostly all female driven.
Girl Wreck Presents considers working with new artists, get in touch with Brandy Darling at [email protected]. Check out the full show lineup at the website listed below.
Online: girlwreckpresents.com
Category: Buzzworthy2
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