Nice that you are coming to play at the coolest showcase festival in the Netherlands. Below you will find all the information, instructions and tips so that you can get the most out of it for your act!
Pinguin Radio Showcases
Address: De Drie Gezusters, Grote Markt 36-39, 9711 LV Groningen
The following is based on our experience over the past 15 years. Some choices may seem a bit illogical but then there’s probably a cause behind it that has to do with the chaotic, complex infrastructure of the legendary venue where the festival takes place. If you really can’t find the answer to your question here, please email support@pinguinradio.com
The showcase phenomenon
A showcase is a way to show who you are, what you can do and what you stand for. This is of course for the ordinary “fan” but our showcase is characterised by the fact that there are a lot of “pros” around. Bookers, managers, agencies from all over Europe. Playtimes are short. So make sure you play your strongest set. No tracks you’re not sure about, just play your bangers. Don’t get insecure if there is turnover in the venue. It is quite possible that during your concert another act starts that people also want to see.
Artist page, very important!!!
A comprehensive digital block schedule will be created. This can then also be used via the app on your phone. Besides the timetable, visitors can also find information there about the acts they like. It is important that all acts have their artist page on musisum.com completely up to date.
Block schedule
A comprehensive digital block schedule will be created. This can then also be used via the app on your phone. Besides the timetable, visitors can also find information there about the acts they like. It is important that all acts have their artist page on musisum.com completely up to date.
Complete your artist profile!
For example, if the Sziget programmer loves your band during your showcase, they will look for more information about your band in the program schedule on that night and maybe book you. So make sure your profile is well completed with your logo, band photo, social media links, bio, band members, and so on. Go to musisum.com and login. If your band profile is not completed, then you are blank within the timetable.
Most important
There are an incredible number of important (read useful, decisive, decisive) people from the music, venue and festival world walking around. Last editions there were people from Sziget, Rock for People (CZ), Glastonbury (UK), Paaspop, Pinkpop and so on. Make sure you play the set of your life, no matter how many people are in front of your stage. We know from experience that you can’t recognise a booker or programmer from the outside. But we do know that they are always looking for something special. They want to discover THE new act. They want to be the first. So make sure you are relaxed, having a great time and that you have your promo together! Bring things like cards, stickers, shirts. Anything you can sell yourself with.
The second most important
Basic rule is: the times are holy. The end time especially! Each band is basically assigned a one-hour block, and that includes removing instruments from the stage. So if you play for 30 minutes, you have 20 minutes to build up after the artist in front of you has dismantled. And so after your 30-minute set, you have 10 minutes to wind down. So don’t drink beer, talk and hug your groupies first, no, first make sure your colleagues can start their show too. At each stage there is a clock on the side and a time schedule as it is agreed upon. The standard playing time is 30 minutes, unless the host has a different schedule in mind. You will be told this by your host himself.
BE ON TIME!
Be on time. Groningen is enormously far (for some) and ENORMOUSLY CROWDED during our festival ;-). In the city center, nearby, there are hardly any parking spots left in the evening. So take into account a long walk (back) if you have the task of parking the car.
Parking
You can’t get to De Drie Gezusters by car. Nearby, you can park your car briefly and while your band-mates are lugging all the gear to De Drie Gezusters, the driver can quickly put the car away.
First report at the terrace!
There is a clearly identifiable, covered reporting point on the terrace in front of De Drie Gezusters where you can report. That’s where you as a host or band have to go first. Then we will have an overview if all the bands are there, there you will hear how best to get to your stage and you will get the tokens (2 per band member). Make sure you are well in time (2 hours in advance for example) so you can enjoy what other bands are doing and you can work relaxed towards the gig of a lifetime.
Photo and camera people
Of course, you will make as much good promo content as possible that you can use later to become world famous! There will be photographers around, but feel free to bring your own photo and camera people!
Promo
Make as much noise as possible around this festival. The best part is if it becomes such a success that everyone who wasn’t there feels like they really missed something. So share the block schedule, create stories, post until you drop with #pinguinradioshowcases #prs.
IMPORTANT!!!
In social media messages and other promotions, DO use “We play @ Pinguin Radio Showcases during ESNS”. And DO-NOT use “We play @ ESNS”.
Pinguin Radio Showcases is part of ESNS Extra, but because the organization has made its own selection of artists, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you keep this in mind. Stick to these instructions, otherwise you run the risk of being removed from the block schedule.
So:
DO NOT use “We play @ ESNS”
DO use “We play @ Pinguin Radio Showcases during ESNS”
Flyers/stickers
Flyers may be laid out in De Drie Gezusters on the day of “hosting” and playing, provided they bear a logo of Pinguin Radio Showcases. Otherwise, flyers will be removed by the serving staff.
Stickers may be handed out, but realize that if they are put on things inside De Drie Gezusters that the band will be held responsible for removing them. So if there is a cost associated with that for labor or for any damage it will be recovered from the band whose sticker it is.
Dressing rooms/backstage
There are no dressing rooms, there is also no backstage because of the enormous number of visitors and musicians coming to play. So come dressed up!
There is a place where you can leave your instrument, though. It is unguarded. Needless to say, we are in no way liable for items left unattended. Nothing has ever been lost or accidentally taken. That will probably be the case again this edition but we want to mention it anyway. Many bands bring their stuff back to their car after playing, which is in a parking garage, for safety reasons.
Catering
There is no catering. Each band member gets 2 tokens for a beverage, so that includes the manager and possibly band technician (but they have to do the FOH mix). Stage hands are not included.
You can eat in De Drie Gezusters though. It’s tasty and not very expensive! The stage host tells us in advance how many band members are coming, so let them know. Upon arrival there is an envelope ready for each band at the central reporting point on the terrace that has all the tokens counted down in it!
Water on stage
If you play there will be bottles of water for the stage. Further refreshments are at your own expense except for the 2 tokens given to musicians upon arrival.
Backdrop
No backdrops can be hung. This is to prevent a mess with cloths that just don’t fit or fall down. Through QR codes, the public can easily access your band profile.
Backline
The backline that is on stage should be used. Every year it is great! You only bring your own instruments, cables, pedalboards, keyboards, cymbals, snare and bass drum pedal, sticks and picks. The person playing on the amplifier is responsible for it and will be held accountable if it breaks down. The reason for not bringing your own amps etc. is that the last few editions were so crowded that it was impossible to walk through the audience with large equipment….
BACKLINE
Guitar amp: Fender – Twin reverb
Guitar amp: Marshall MG100 HDFX + cab
Bass amp: Ampeg SVT450 + cab
Drums: Basic Tama gear (excl. cymbals)
Guitarist: so only bring your own guitar, pedalboard and cables.
Bass guitarist: so only bring your own guitar, pedalboard and cables.
Drummer: just bring your own beater and cymbals. Possibly your own sample stuff etc.
Vocalist: your own mic and effects. Of course there are microphones, but if you want to bring your own, that’s fine!
If you play harp or keyboards then of course bring your instrument and we will make sure it can be amplified.
Riders not needed!
On the stages, the backline is as it is set up by us. It is not possible to shift the setup due to the short conversion time of the entire festival. However, you can bring a list of extra instruments that need to be amplified such as vocals, keyboards or sax and harp (for example). To whom you can give that, the stage manager, you will hear at the central reporting point on the terrace. Do not send it in advance!!! The stage host will be there a good 2 hours in advance and so can go over things with the stage manager if necessary. Do not email or app. Only on the evening itself are the statements taken and viewed.
Stage Management
Each Host is a stage manager himself or brings his own stage manager. Or someone who can look strict and make sure the bands don’t run out of time. Not in terms of building up and not in terms of playing.
Presenter
If you want to; bring one or do it yourself 😉 We’ve found that works great. Someone can also tell a bit about the band, the host and the schedule and everything is nicely glued together.
Your own Sound Engineer: excellent!
If you have one, bring them. Great! Let us know. If you don’t have one, we’ll provide a FOH technician who also does the monitors. No need to communicate this in advance, just let the stage host know 2 hours beforehand.
The people we do this with
The technology is handled by Ortrun. A renowned sound company from Groningen. This has been supplemented by students from Roadtrip, who are studying sound engineering there.
Everyone who helps with this festival does so on a voluntary basis. So the fact that this insane event can exist is because of those people. They don’t necessarily make music themselves, but put their time and effort into making the already legendary Pinguin Radio Showcases even more legendary. If there is something that is not to your liking, report it, but do it in such a way that it is manageable and solvable for everyone!
BACKLINE
Guitar amp: Fender – Twin reverb
Guitar amp: Marshall MG100 HDFX + cab
Bass amp: Ampeg SVT450 + cab
Drums: Basic Tama gear (excl. cymbals)
Guitarist: so only bring your own guitar, pedalboard and cables.
Bass guitarist: so only bring your own guitar, pedalboard and cables.
Drummer: just bring your own beater and cymbals. Possibly your own sample stuff etc.
Vocalist: your own mic and effects. Of course there are microphones, but if you want to bring your own, that’s fine!
If you play harp or keyboards then of course bring your instrument and we will make sure it can be amplified.
TECHNIQUE
Each stage has an adequate PA and has 4 monitors and obviously as many groups.
Mixer in each stage is a Midas M32 or Behringer X-32 with IPad.
PA: 4 x SRM 450 top, 2 x SRM 1850 subwoofer
The default layout in the mixer is:
Drums: channel 1-8
Guitar: channel 9-10
Bass: channel 11
Vocals: 12-13-14
After that, any other instruments are assigned.
This is to avoid switching all the time at the changeover.
Any sound man who comes along can already set up his own setup and take it with him on usb. You can do that here: https://midasconsoles.com/downloads.html