I’m interested in the way Buzz coexists with your life as a musician. Has Buzz been integral in building your career as a performer, or do you see them as separate entities?
Yes, Buzz has been vital - and still is. I've learned a lot through hard experience and it's been a valuable process. I kinda step out of myself and into a management role for strategic and planning and then jump back again. My partner Margaret books all my shows as Buzz' in-house booker and I do all the PR/promotion for shows and releases under Buzz Publicity. And, of course, my records are all on Buzz Records! Ultimately the Buzz set-up lets us do everything in-house - live bookings, publicity, online stuff, production, releases, merchandising, artwork, tour management - the lot!
You’re touring full time now – how’s life on the road?
Fantastic! It's been a long time coming, but playing live is where I'm most comfortable. It can be difficult keeping everything going when we're on the road as Margaret travels with me and looks after the sound, merchandising etc - but with mobile broadband, laptops and mobile phones we can pretty much keep everything going.
It can get hectic just before and right after long (four/five-week) trips but we muddle through somehow. While we're managing to make a living, it's still too big a step to hire someone full-time and have decent office space for them to work from...maybe next year!
You’ve always been very active in music industry organizations – the Musicians Union, Music Managers Forum, Nemis and so on – how important do you think these groups are for independent music? What do you think musicians/labels/etc can get from them?
Any organisation that provides learning and networking opportunities is invaluable. The MU in the UK provides practical benefits like free equipment insurance, contracts and general advice - while groups like NEMIS, AIM and the MMF off good practical advice and networking opportunities which are vital for anyone to have a chance and not rely on luck.
Obviously you’ve built an indie music empire – was that accident or design? In other words, are you fiercely independent, open to major label deals, or undecided? Why?
I'm fiercely independent up to a point – I'm not interested in working for other people or the bank. But I will work WITH other folks. If a major (or big indie) wanted to licence any of my/Buzz releases then that's fine, but no one's gonna tell me what to record and how it's all going to be put together. We do plenty of deals, but always maintain the copyright.
What’s the best piece of advice you would give to up and coming musicians about self promotion and managing their careers?
Promotion is as important, if not more important, than the music. The next most important thing to play live and build a following that way. Above all though, do as much as you can yourself and learn as much about the industry as you can - it's changing fast! Oh, and always hold on to your copyright...!
Last but not least, what can we expect from you in the future? Any new projects in the pipeline you want to talk about?
For the next few years all my efforts will be focused on building my solo career through live shows and selling records (and downloads!). I'll continue to run the label to service back catalogue and use it a means, along with Buzz Publicity, of support for my own needs. I'd have to be VERY excited about an act to consider releasing anyone else's music - and they'd have to be gigging often enough and at a level high enough to support any releases.
I'm currently doing 150-200 shows a year round the UK and abroad (this year has seen shows in Canada, Finland, Estonia, France, Germany and Ireland as well as the UK)...over the next few years I'd like to do fewer, but higher profile (and more profitable!) shows and move into new territories. I'm also working on a new solo album for release in early 2009.
Learn More about Dave Arcari and The Buzz Group:
- Buzz Home Page - Info about Buzz Publicity, the label, info about Buzz artists and more
- Buzz Online Store
- Dave Arcari on MySpace
- Radiotones on Myspace
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