NB: Depends on the band and the situation, majority of the time yes, we basically just try to cover the overheads first hand if we take an artist on, it's really that simple, we are just happy to see bands moving forward and getting the press they deserve, it's hard out there for any band, budgets are tight so you have to work realistically within your budgets and it's about working together and keeping the communication lines totally open at all times, which is something we do pride ourselves on.
 
BV: When a band comes to you looking for press, do they know what they’re looking for? What does a band usually expect from you?
NB: A band usually expects to be the next big thing, once we've explained they come back down to earth and realise we have no time for bands on ego trips! Haha. Again it a little more complicated and a different situation with each individual band, thus you make a plan for development and go through varied stages of processes over a period of time. Basically we are sick and tired with the lack of promotions bands get from labels, two months and labels seem to move on to the next act and you never hear from an artist again for two/three years until their next CD. We have built, if you like a 'family' with our bands and have become good friends with most of them, and a year down the road and we are still promoting some of the first acts that came with us, I can't understand why labels cannot do this... it's not exactly hard to keep pushing a band and their product.

BV: How important IS a good press officer to a band?
NB: Again many bands can take hold of what we do and do it themselves, it can be a lot of work though and for many artists they don't want to deal with the business side and just want to get out and perform live, this is where a press officer can be very important for bands.
 
What do you offer to clients? Do you have different packages offering different things? Can you explain what packages are available, for a band that might be interested in your services?
NB: Yes we have different development structures for different bands, it really depends as you asked above what the band is looking for. We work in terms of media press and promotions which includes gig promotions, adverts in magazines, radio plays, reviews, online digital sales, distribution to all the main indie outlets in the UK and mail order companies, press kit packages, website promotion and design, label scouting etc... it just depends what the band are aiming for.
 
BV: What does an average day consist of for you?
NB: Lots of coffee, phone calls, chasing up reviews, looking for interviews, developing press sheets, mailouts, more coffee, announcing press releases, following up possible clients, talking to clients, checking that the bands are happy, arranging adverts, checking into tours, chasing radio commercials, checking on sales with the distributors, forwarding all the reports back to the bands, arranging interviews etc and a whole manner of other work to complete the development process. It sounds a lot, but actually it's quite fun and most people are really easy and fun to work with as well.
 
BV: What do you think of the standard of bands at the moment, musically and today’s music scene?
NB: It's getting good, especially on the underground. Depends how open minded you are musically. If you enjoy any genre of music such as I do then there are lots of bands out there to discover falling by the wayside, it's criminal. Too many labels are signing older bands to make the bucks in, and not enough development on new artists. Where are these labels going to be in ten years when a lot of the old 80's 'named' bands start calling it a day and retiring? The genre for melodic rock and AOR will just cave in overnight, it's already hard enough out there, labels need to start thinking ahead and taking chances on new bands and giving more than just a couple of months promotion to a release.
 
BV: Do you see TSM as a life-long venture that you’ll continue for as long as you can – or is there anything else you’d like to jump into at some point?
NB: I certainly hope so Shari, we have been asked to develop into a label and we have even been asked to be partners with one label but the situation wasn't right and didn't feel right so we decided to keep on as we are, and as long as there are bands making music we enjoy who need help and as long as we still have fun with it all then we will keep on with it and develop the bands to the best we can.

If you're an artist interested in being promoted by TSM, contact Nick by emailing twosidemoon.promo@ntlworld.com

Some of the clients that TSM do press/promotion for: