New ‘Don’t Make A Scene’ guide to promoting gigs released

A new zine about organising DIY gigs has been published as a way of encouraging more people to get involved with their local music community.

Compiled by Rob St. John and Bartholomew Owl (from Edinburgh’s eagleowl), ‘Don’t Make A Scene: A field guide to putting on DIY gigs’ features articles, interviews and artwork by bands, musicians, label heads, promoters, tour managers, sound engineers and audience members from across the UK.

Collectively, they aim to provide information, advice and resources for those interested in setting up their own events.

The pair behind the zine (Rob St. John and Bartholomew Owl) describe it as, “a diverse, informative and easily digested how-to (and how-not-to) guide for the fledgling promoter.”

They say: “Putting on DIY gigs is rewarding, fun and often important in bringing communities of musicians, artists, writers, photographers and audiences together in spaces removed from the mainstream and in places largely absent from tour itineraries. However, without inspiration and information from others, it can seem daunting to try and get started.”

Limited to 300 copies for its first edition, the zine includes advice on curating, organising and promoting gigs, being smart with money and finding reasons to keep at it. It covers a wide range of events from all-ages gigs to DJs and club nights and everything in between.