Bristol trio launch crowdfunding platform to support emerging artists
Posted on: 19 Aug 2021The crowdfunding scheme harnesses fan power to help emerging talent focus on what matters: the music.
During the first national lockdown, friends Dave Rutledge, Ed Strode-Willis and Jack Ryan were left frustrated by the seemingly constant deluge of grim news coming from the cultural hubs and creators they loved.
Concerned for the future of Bristol's grassroots music community, the trio devised Bandista, a crowdfunding platform geared towards helping artists counteract the negative impact of Covid-19 on their progression.
"It was just becoming a boringly familiar story of venues shutting down, artists quitting, bands breaking up because they can't rehearse", says Rutledge.
"We realised there was literally no support for the emerging and grassroots music scene. So we thought, what can we do? We came up with the idea for a simplified crowdfunding platform specifically focused on emerging artists."
When the culture sector fell like a house of cards to Covid-19, thousands were left without their usual source of income. Many creators ran crowdfunding campaigns to help keep them afloat, but this was not easy.
"Crowdfunding sites require lots of effort on the artists' side, to the point where you lose the focus on what is actually important: the music", says Rutledge.
"We're trying to strike a balance between how difficult producing music is and how expensive it is and the burden that takes on emerging artists, and have tried to create something simple, a platform where we can help."
.jpg)
By stripping the usual process of crowdfunding back, Bandista is removing the need for artists to run time and resource-consuming operations, often involving selling physical assets, that distract from creation.
Supporters donate to artists, which they use to buy equipment or get studio time. If down the line the artist starts getting sales, gigs, and bookings, they can donate back to the supporters as a thank you.
For Rutledge, this will give artists the kickstart they need to boost their profile. "You're not going to get noticed until you have a studio-quality recording, and without exposure, you can't get gigs and bookings. No one really looks at you.
"We're trying to build a platform that helps people get into the studio, that helps them get the gear they need without having to pour their life savings into something."
.jpg)
The consequences of losing emerging artists are profound. Without the heady and eclectic independent creative community that Bristol boasts, a vital part of the city's cultural identity will be diminished.
"If people don't have the support or the space to be able to create, we're going to start losing a big bit of our culture. We'll lose the sound and creativity you get from the grassroots music scene, unhindered by big labels or people telling them what to produce."
Currently, Bandista supports a roster of seven artists, but the team hopes to grow the initiative, which is open to anyone. "We just want to help people create", says Rutledge.
Looking forward, the trio is not content to simply keep Bandista in its current form as they plan to expand their operation as gigs and events pick up where 2019 left off.
.jpg)
Spurred on by the success of their pre-launch event in July at the Jam Jar, the team will look to start hosting a monthly not-for-profit event to get the artists campaigning with them on stage.
To find out more about the Bandista platform, or to follow news and updates from the team as the project develops, head to their website or find them on Instagram.
Image and video credit: Liza Ryder-Smith
Read more:
Article by:
George is a journalism graduate and writer passionate about music and culture. Get in touch via email at george@365bristol.com
