We’ve just launched the second round of the Launchpad Fund, where musicians and artists in Wales can benefit from grants of up to £2,000 towards their music. It’s an important part of the Horizons project, as financial help is a very practical injection of activity into the Welsh music scene. Many of the bands have been able to record, create videos, contribute towards press and radio pluggers, buy gear, and even part-fund vans as a result of the fund.
29 artists from all around Wales benefited last year from Launchpad, and all have been able to use the fund in very practical ways. With many musicians thinking of applying again this year, I wanted to write some practical tips that might help with the application. A panel of experts will be sifting through the applications and you need to demonstrate to them that the fund will contribute to inspirational projects that will genuinely help your band to progress.
What do you need, and how can you prove this?
Make the application form as simple and clear as possible.
Last year Houdini Dax wanted to buy a van. As a busy touring band, it would save money in the long-run not to have to hire vans to take them and their kit to their many gigs. With contributions from the band members themselves the Launchpad Fund part-funded a van!
Houdini Dax
If you need a van, don’t apply for a grant to help you get a new guitar. If your guitar is broken, don’t apply for grant towards a van.
2. Think of a project.
It doesn’t have to be a huge idea, but will creating this one thing make a difference to your year? Estrons wanted to make a video, and they certainly did make a brilliant, beautiful, original video. A video is a great way to promote your music – but remember to think about how you will promote it, what will happen to it, does it back up a new release? Who will make it, when will they make it, have you chatted to the directors, have you had a quote from them?
“We want to record with an orchestra on top of Snowdon”. You’ll need deep pockets to fund that. Make the idea creative but realistic.
3. Budget
Even if the sums are very simple, take time to show how much something will cost and do a little bit of research. Don’t undervalue something and focus your application. For example it’s probably best to apply for one thing instead of many different strands of costs.
Tender Prey’s application was successful to fund a national plugger and PR for her album Organ Calzone, which helped get her a BBC 6Music radio session as well as some printed press coverage around the launch of the album. Some of the fund also went towards tour support,. This was a really good, focused and clear application which clearly demonstrated where the funds would be spent, and showed an ambitious Welsh artist working hard to get her music heard by a wider audience.
4. Equipment.
Musicians love buying new gear, and Launchpad is certainly there to help fund items like this. But you need to think about how you show that you really need this new drum kit/ guitar/ keyboard?
Babyqueens successfully applied for micrphones, so that they could take them along to gigs. With 5 vocalists it’s an important part of their live act.
The grant funded a keyboard for Samoans that allowed them to take their songwriting in new directions.
Please consider, is this the most urgent thing that the band needs, does this move you on with your music, or would promotion/ recording in a studio/ transport to gigs be of more value to your situation?
5. Pluggers
If you’ve had a little bit of success with your music already, this is a great thing to consider for your next release. When you find the right plugger to work with, it can help get you some print or online press that could help you build a portfolio of reviews, or a ‘radio plugger’ can help get you more airtime outside of Welsh output. Try to find a plugger that will like your music, because you admire their roster. Not all pluggers accept all kinds of music, as they will have a trusted base of shows what they work with, and therefore need to keep their own standards of music.
Ellie Makes Music’s Launchpad grant funded a high quality recording and national plugger, she achieved her first airplay on Radio 2 and BBC 6Music, as well as Artist of the Week on BBC Radio Wales.
6. Who cares?
Who currently likes the band? How many people come to your gigs; how far away from home do you play; who has been writing about you, playing your music, supporting your gigs, taking you on tour as a support band? Did you sell-out a hometown show? If you can show that you’ve got support from different people in the music industry, maybe a quote from a gig promoter, radio presenter, journalist, blogger, this will all help your application.
7. Ideas
We love reading interesting creative ideas. As well as the examples above, here’s some other ideas of what you can apply for:
- Professional promo pack or epk
- Logo/artwork design by specific artist for a new release
- Stage décor for gigs and festivals
- Visuals at live gigs
- Mixing with professional
- Studio time
- Hire of location for writing
- Professional video
- Promotional company
- Additional musicians for a recording or performance
- Orchestral arrangements or recording
- Promotion and putting on a special launch gig
- Artistic collaboration
- Transport and other costs for a tour
- Equipment
8. The application must be about you or your band
The application has to be from the artist for the artist. Professionals, companies, studios or labels can apply on an artist’s behalf but not for the label/studio/management company in general.
9. Good luck!
I hope that’s helped a little as you consider your application – please make sure you read the guidelines and terms and conditions fully on the Horizons website. www.bbc.co.uk/horizons
