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The Entourage Presents: It's about the bands |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Wednesday, 16 August 2006 |
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Matt Sanchez and David Herrera are in the music business, but you won’t find them at the Grammys or in the hottest music videos. They have their own record label and the two book concerts, but if you saw them on the street, you would have no idea who they are.
The two Greeley men are owners of a small music promotions company in Greeley, The Entourage Presents.
“This is obviously something we want to pursue as a career,” Sanchez said. “We want to emphasize this is about the bands.”
The idea came about because the guys, who were in a band together, were having a hard time getting gigs.
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| Matt Sanchez |
“We played one show in Wyoming and one in Grand Junction,” he said. “Both were really small bands putting them on. One was in a house and the band charged $3. There were hundreds of kids there.”
The show in Grand Junction was also put on by a band that rented out a hall on their own.
“We thought, ‘Oh my God, why aren’t we doing this’,” Sanchez said. “That’s what planted the seed.”
The Entourage Presents books punk, hard-core, emo and ska bands at venues around northern Colorado, mainly at the Higher Ground, a Christian coffee bar and The Atlas, both in Greeley. They spilt the money raised at shows with the bands.
“The idea of putting on local bands kinda spread,” he said. “Bands just contact us then we contact the venue. We are the middle man.”
Though they both still have other jobs, they have already seen a big progression within a year. When they first started, they drew crowds of about 10-15, but now more than 100 people come out to see the shows they book. They have promoted shows for about 80 area bands.
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| David Herrera |
In addition to promoting concerts, Sanchez and Herrera have been able to manage bands and form their own record label.
“We would like to book more shows in Fort Collins or even statewide, but we are just taking things in stride,” he said.
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VITAL STATS
Name: Matt Sanchez, 20, and David Herrera, 27
Company: Entourage Productions Inc.
Title: Co-owers
How long have you worked there? One and a half years.
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IN THEIR WORDS
What is it about this job that makes it challenging?
It is nonstop. It is a second full-time job that requires a lot of overtime.
Makes you get out of bed in the morning?
The music. We love music and we love presenting it to others.
Things that impress you?
People who do things because they are fun or bring fulfillment.
Things that don’t.
People who turn simple things into complicated messes.
How do young/new employees get ahead?
Education is key. Whether it’s college or reading on your own. You have to invest in yourself with literature, online classes and mentor’s. Find the right people that are successful in the field... and network with them.
Did you ever think in a million years you’d work here?
It was always a dream, a fantasy, but we never thought we’d really be doing it.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
Something to do with music. There’s no way life could be fulfilling without being somehow involved with music.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
Tried to break up a fight in a mosh pit.
Smartest?
Taught myself how to run a sound board.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
For legal reasons as well as the security of our families and friends, we will have to decline answer to this question.
Any interesting anecdotes?
Matt learned the hard way the importance of rolling up your windows at night even if you’ re just making a quick stop. After a recent show, he was dropping off a friend and ended up going in that person’s house real quick. Real quick turned into six hours and upon return to his vehicle at 4 a.m. he noticed quite a few things were missing, including our money box!
What’s one thing about your job you would do, even if you weren’t paid to do it?
Matt: Running doors. You get to see all the people coming in and hang out with all kinds of people. Makes for some very interesting conversations.
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
David: I fell in love with Tooth and Nail Records as a teenager and really got interested with the record label business.
What’s the biggest payoff in your job?
When people come up after a concert, bands or attendees, and thank us for a good show or tell us how much fun they had.
Are you the boss? Do you think you should be?
We are both our own bosses and we are glad we are. Because we can only get pissed off at each other when things fall through.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
Matt: We are both in a band together. We like writing music and hanging out. Going to concerts like ours in Denver.
David: I like hanging out with my wife and going to shows.
Pets? Family?
Matt: No pets. Just my immediate family.
David: No pets, we aren’t very good with dogs. I am married and neither of us want kids right now.
Favorite TV shows. Movies. Books.
Matt: Not much of a TV watcher, but I love The Chapelle Show. I like movies from Focus Features, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and such. I like reading books that talk about the music scene or creating movements, for example, “The Tipping Point.”
David: TV: “Seinfeld”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Family Guy.” Movies: Bill Murray flicks and I love “The Motorcycle Diaries.” Books: Anything by William Faulkner or Gabriel Llanas.
Where do you play? Go out to eat?
In Denver: The Marquis Theatre (Concerts), Impulse Theatre (Improv Comedy), The Mongolian Grill. In Greeley: Classic Lanes Bowling, Buffalo Wild Wings, The Burrito.
Favorite spot?
Dave’s Porch. | Only registered users can write comments.
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