The college and university touring market in the United States can be a great opportunity for up-and-coming bands and artists to reach a broader fan base and actually generate income on the road. College touring is an effective alternative and compliment to the challenges of conventional club touring, as artists commonly perform to "built-in" campus crowds. Many popular artists including Dave Matthews Band, Jason Mraz, and Ben Folds developed fan bases and gained national attention through the college scene, which helped them break into the US market. If your band is thinking about travelling to the US, especially for SXSW next March, you should know about NACA, the National Association for Campus Activities.
What is NACA?
NACA is made up of music and events buyers from nearly every college/university in the United States. It is the primary connection between the university and music industry networks. NACA is most commonly recognized through the music industry for its role in facilitating cooperative buying amongst colleges and universities. In co-op buying, several regional colleges will work together to book blocks of dates, making it more cost-effective for university programming committees. From an artist's standpoint, this means that, for example, instead of booking one or two shows at $2500 each, you might book eight or ten regional shows at $2000 each.
Each February, NACA hosts their National Convention which brings together artists, booking agencies and university entertainment buyers. The National Convention allows college reps see live showcases and organise co-op buying with neighbouring universities. The National Convention is held in a different city each year - the next NACA National Convention is scheduled for February 19 - 23, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. The best way for bands and artists to connect with NACA members is to showcase at the National Convention!
You need to be accepted by NACA in order to showcase at the National Convention! The performance submission deadline for the 2011 NACA National Convention is Monday, September 20, 2010.
***The Australian Music Office has arranged for NACA to give special consideration for Australian artists interested in performing. We will be facilitating logistics around this year's NACA Conference for Australian artists. If you are interested in submitting for and attending NACA, please register an 'expression of interest' with me by simply emailing me at tony.george@austrade.gov.au and I will send you a reply with more detailed submission information and information on the special arrangements we've worked out with NACA for Australian artists. At the National Convention, college entertainment buyers spend the week in front of dozens of bands and artists, working with neighbouring colleges to schedule music programming for the upcoming year. Undoubtedly, showcasing at the NACA National Convention is the best way for artists to reach the college music scene and streamline the process of organising a college tour. NACA makes it easier for college music buyers and tastemakers to discover AND book your band.
Networking with NACA members is also a great way to build relationships to reach other organisations such as fraternities, campus groups, and local bars or entertainment venues that book music talent.
For more information on submission guidelines, deadlines, and fees, visit the NACA website at: http://www.naca.org
Also, check out Starpolish's guide to 'Booking College Shows' at www.starpolish.com/advice/article.asp?id=24.
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