Nigel Hamm: Booking Agent for Common Grounds
Words: Shawn Kyle

Common Grounds began almost 12 years ago as a coffee house in a small 100 person building in Gainesville. It has since become one of the most viable music venues in Florida with consistent shows and credibility in independent music circles. It is a regular stop on any touring band’s itinerary for northern Florida and now has a 400-500 person capacity building near the University of Florida.   We sat with Nigel Hamm to talk about the evolution of Common Grounds and the music scene that surrounds it.

REAX:  You have moved to a larger space and are having larger concerts. The city has changed as well, and with more development, what do you think the effect will have on the image of Gainesville as a center for music and culture?
NH:  There are not as many music venues these days. I think that Gainesville is more well known outside of Gainesville than inside for its music scene. It's always been consistent with music. The city's development is directed at the college, not the artists or people that actually are going to live here. Common Grounds isn't going to be here forever. I think with them building condos on either side of us it's going to turn into one of those situations where we can’t be here anymore. I don't think the town will ever loose its internal music scene. I think it's going to eventually branch out to where it's more of a house show operation like it used to be back in the day.

The following is a helpful list off of Common Ground's Booking Page posted online for bands interested in playing there:

Demo Required! Please call before sending a package!
Words of advice -- You probably won't get booked if you:
1. SUCK
2. Play mostly covers.
3. Play originals that sound like covers.
4. Wear Dockers.
5. Have slept with CG employees, their exes, or their family members.
6. Sue the club.
7. Sound like Creed.
8. Cancel lots of shows.
9. Only want to play shows opening for "generic hot indie-band".
10. Don't call before sending a demo.

REAX: As a booking agent in the last decade you have seen an unbelievable amount of press kits from people trying to get booked at CG. What sort of advice can you give to musicians that are trying to take the next step and play at Common Grounds and other venues around the state?
NH:  The music sounds good? Cool, but we can't book every good band.  I hear a lot of great bands on MySpace, that keeps it easy, but will people come to see them at the show? Then we try and route it around local bands or regional bands that have a draw. We also need a window, not just a specific date. Even though it's not always necessary to pack the place, it looks bad for us to book a band and then nobody comes to see the show. Keep it simple and keep the dates flexible. When I tell you to call me back, I mean call me back.  I may not be able to book you the next time, but keep in contact and don't give up.  I am not all high and mighty about the bands I book, even if it's not my kind of music.  If it's a good band I will book them.