Ive been friends with Sam for a few years now, she has always been on the front line of putting on hardcore shows and supporting bands.
I got a chance to have a few words to ask her what putting shows on was all about.
Good evening Sam. could you please tell us alittle about yourself?
Hey I'm Sam, live in a little town called biggleswade, i don't know anyone here so i spend most of my time in London, up north and recently Birmingham! I love to travel, meet new people and bands!!
I'm a geek at heart (not a fake one, a genuine boring one) i spend my spare time reading poetry or books on history! My recent obsession is William Blake,check him out hes so honest!
Your very in touch with the hardcore scene and put on allot of shows.
what is it about hardcore and metal that makes you wanna put on shows?
To be honest this weekend for shows has been a bit of a disaster, i put one on last night in London, it was a nightmare attendance wise, but everyone that did come seemed to have a laugh, and when the bands were playing people were going nuts, that's why i do it, i don't do it for reputation, friends or to be cool, i do it purely for those moments. I didn't manage to pay the bands, although it was a door deal so there was no guarantees, however i will get them some money just to show my gratitude to them!
Can you tell us how you would go about putting on a show?
Well usually what happens is a band contacts you with a few dates that they want to play and the area they want to play in, then ill find the venue, other bands to put on the lineup and then start promoting it!
Are there any shows your very proud of?
Yes all of them! I love doing them whether they turn out good or not. I did one in France at the end of last year, was so nice, in a tiny little venue at the back of a pub, but it packed out, the french seem to love hardcore more than us!!
Whats the worst thing that's happened while putting on a show?
I haven't really had any bad situations, the worst thing is when people don't turn up, its heartbreaking, you put so much time, effort and stress into a show, and no one can be bothered to come out! Facebook can be a curse also, it tells you, you will get loads of people and there is loads of hype, then you get no one, But at the end of the day you just have to go with the flow and remember why you are doing it!
What type of bands would you like to put on that you don't already?
I have allot of bands that i would like to put on, but i really want to start putting bands that aren't really noticed on a little bit more, help them get there name out. I still want to see almost home and more than life, every time i go to one of there shows Ive had to leave before they play, so putting them on would be amazing. But there is also so so many bands that i want to put on again and again! Like broken teeth, bays, set apart. there is to many to name!.
So far what has been the favourite show you put on?
One in my home town, Riga, Latvia. it was amazing, allot of my old friends and bands that aren't heard of that have also split up and gone there own ways, which is a great shame.
It was literally just friends hanging out having a good time, there was no drama, hating, no one that was cooler than the next person, was a really nice vibe!
Are there any shows or tours you would like to put on in the future?
I would love to do a tour with broken teeth as i kind of screwed up there weekend this weekend, so would like to do that for them. I would also like to bring a few hidden bands from Europe, kill for peace and others. Also me and my good friend Bella have a show coming up in the near future that you should all look out for! Its in aid of her boyfriend Tom Stanley who has been sent to prison for graffiti (check out support Tom Stanley on facebook) the show will have some amazing bands!
Do you believe that the d.i.y scene is slowly dieing or is it stronger then ever?
I think most of hardcore is still d.i.y most bands book there shows themselves, i think the problem is people confuse hardcore with metal or soft/post hardcore. That's when you start getting managers and such involved, i mean management is not a bad thing at all and most of them are very flexible. Although i don't want to speak for hardcore bands i think that most of them like to have there say in shows, tours etc.
If a band wanted to be put on a show / get in contact with you how would they?
Send me a quick email on sambiernis@live.co.uk or contact my via facebook (Samantha Bernis)
Just stating when and where they would like to play, with as much detail as they can.
Thanks for the opportunity for the interview Joseph. Also i would like to say keep strong Bella.
Hey I'm Sam, live in a little town called biggleswade, i don't know anyone here so i spend most of my time in London, up north and recently Birmingham! I love to travel, meet new people and bands!!
I'm a geek at heart (not a fake one, a genuine boring one) i spend my spare time reading poetry or books on history! My recent obsession is William Blake,check him out hes so honest!
Your very in touch with the hardcore scene and put on allot of shows.
what is it about hardcore and metal that makes you wanna put on shows?
To be honest this weekend for shows has been a bit of a disaster, i put one on last night in London, it was a nightmare attendance wise, but everyone that did come seemed to have a laugh, and when the bands were playing people were going nuts, that's why i do it, i don't do it for reputation, friends or to be cool, i do it purely for those moments. I didn't manage to pay the bands, although it was a door deal so there was no guarantees, however i will get them some money just to show my gratitude to them!
Can you tell us how you would go about putting on a show?
Well usually what happens is a band contacts you with a few dates that they want to play and the area they want to play in, then ill find the venue, other bands to put on the lineup and then start promoting it!
Are there any shows your very proud of?
Yes all of them! I love doing them whether they turn out good or not. I did one in France at the end of last year, was so nice, in a tiny little venue at the back of a pub, but it packed out, the french seem to love hardcore more than us!!
Whats the worst thing that's happened while putting on a show?
I haven't really had any bad situations, the worst thing is when people don't turn up, its heartbreaking, you put so much time, effort and stress into a show, and no one can be bothered to come out! Facebook can be a curse also, it tells you, you will get loads of people and there is loads of hype, then you get no one, But at the end of the day you just have to go with the flow and remember why you are doing it!
What type of bands would you like to put on that you don't already?
I have allot of bands that i would like to put on, but i really want to start putting bands that aren't really noticed on a little bit more, help them get there name out. I still want to see almost home and more than life, every time i go to one of there shows Ive had to leave before they play, so putting them on would be amazing. But there is also so so many bands that i want to put on again and again! Like broken teeth, bays, set apart. there is to many to name!.
So far what has been the favourite show you put on?
One in my home town, Riga, Latvia. it was amazing, allot of my old friends and bands that aren't heard of that have also split up and gone there own ways, which is a great shame.
It was literally just friends hanging out having a good time, there was no drama, hating, no one that was cooler than the next person, was a really nice vibe!
Are there any shows or tours you would like to put on in the future?
I would love to do a tour with broken teeth as i kind of screwed up there weekend this weekend, so would like to do that for them. I would also like to bring a few hidden bands from Europe, kill for peace and others. Also me and my good friend Bella have a show coming up in the near future that you should all look out for! Its in aid of her boyfriend Tom Stanley who has been sent to prison for graffiti (check out support Tom Stanley on facebook) the show will have some amazing bands!
Do you believe that the d.i.y scene is slowly dieing or is it stronger then ever?
I think most of hardcore is still d.i.y most bands book there shows themselves, i think the problem is people confuse hardcore with metal or soft/post hardcore. That's when you start getting managers and such involved, i mean management is not a bad thing at all and most of them are very flexible. Although i don't want to speak for hardcore bands i think that most of them like to have there say in shows, tours etc.
If a band wanted to be put on a show / get in contact with you how would they?
Send me a quick email on sambiernis@live.co.uk or contact my via facebook (Samantha Bernis)
Just stating when and where they would like to play, with as much detail as they can.
Thanks for the opportunity for the interview Joseph. Also i would like to say keep strong Bella.
