This documentary on rock’n’roll concert promoters looks fascinating
A couple of years back, I was involved as a script editor in a documentary called Who the F**k in Arthur Fogel?
This gave me a chance to get deep into the world of the concert promoter, the people who make it possible for gigs to happen.
There’s now a new doc that explores the history of concert promotion. This is from The Guardian:
To date, more than 600 people have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, most of whom are fantastically famous. Yet, somehow, one of the least-known inductees managed to receive one of the hall’s highest honors. In 2005, Frank Barsalona, a concert promoter, received a “lifetime achievement” distinction at the Cleveland-based institution. So, how did a guy who, some might think, simply booked talent, earn such a lofty distinction?
The answers lie in an informative new documentary, The Show’s The Thing: The Legendary Promoters of Rock. In colorful detail, the film lays out how Barsalona blueprinted the modern concert business (now a $10bn industry), along the way changing how audiences relate to the music, while also providing crucial support for some of its greatest stars. “No act becomes huge without a key promoter doing his work,” says Bob Geldof in the film.
Gotta see this one. Read more here. And here are details of its premiere.
