We recently attended a book signing by Graham Jones, the author of Last Shop Standing.

Having spent 25 years in the music industry, and being one of the founders of Proper Music, Grahams book, Last Shop Standing, tells of how through a simple bag of rice he took a band from playing in front of 12 people to the charts within a year. His advice to any band is gig,gig,gig then find a manager that already manages a famous band. Most of all find a unique selling point . Something that gets you in the papers on the radio. It is easier than you think.

The book highlights the plight of the independent record stores within the UK, Graham travelled the length and breadth of Britian visiting many shops collecting stories of success and failure. 

In his talk he underlines the importance of such stores to up and coming bands as they can help launch their careers, so if you care about music please use these shops..

 “Last Shop Standing” documents the journey from the crazy chart-rigging 1980s heyday, to the more challenging present. He tours some of favourite shops around the country and discovers just how the music industry got itself into such a mess, and finds out how the real stalwarts of the Record Shop world are fighting back against free downloads and supermarket discounts. You can buy the book from local record and book shops. Visit lastshopstanding.co.uk for more information.

“Where would the music industry be without record shops? It is they who support new music and local talent. Wiltshire is a desert for record shops but recently their  has been a revival. Magpie Records has opened in Chippenham and Raves from the Grave has now opened in Warminster. My advice to any band is get the support of your local record shop. They will sell your CD sell tickets for a gig and put up posters. They are in your community support them. Sound Knowledge in Marlborough is another great record shop who put bands on most weeks.

April 17^th 2010 is World Record Store Day   http://www.recordstoreday.com

Offer your services to play at one of the local stores but do make sure you have product to sell.

Good Luck