Performing abroad

Would you like to take steps towards playing abroad? In that case, it is important to get spots at international showcases. These are events where a fixed line-up is programmed by a local organisation. External parties can organise a concert here to promote their artists; a showcase. The events are well attended by the international music industry, but are also open to the general public (with the exceptions of networking receptions and industry showcases).

Dutch Music Export usually arranges the Dutch showcases at international showcase festivals and conferences. This organisation also subsidises certain costs, just like the Performing Arts Fund NL (Fonds Podiumkunsten) does.
Some cities and regions also host showcases, just like record labels, agencies and publishers. The most important international showcase festivals and conferences are:

• Eurosonic/Noorderslag in Groningen
• Amsterdam Dance Event in Amsterdam
• Midem in Cannes (France)
• SXSW in Austin, Texas (USA)
• Winter Music Conference in Miami (USA)
• Womex (world music) in Seville (Spain)
• MaMA Festival in Paris
• Trans Musicales in Rennes (France)
• The Great Escape in Brighton
• Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg
• BIME in Bilbao (Spain)

Dutch impact
Dutch Music Export also organises Dutch Impact together with Buma Cultuur. These are extra concerts at various showcase festivals worldwide, where the Dutch representatives are given extra opportunities to perform. They also organise networking and matchmaking events. Artists who are selected for Dutch Impact can receive an allowance of 50% of their travel, accommodation and visa expenses. Last year, there were Dutch Impact events at Eurosonic Noorderslag, ILMC, SXSW, The Great Escape, c/o Pop, Reeperbahn Festival, MaMA, Bime and Rencontres Trans Musicales. Examples of bands who have taken steps to playing abroad via Dutch Impact include De Staat, My Baby, DeWolff and Pip Blom.

ETEP is an initiative of Eurosonic/Noorderslag that arranges the artist exchanges between European countries. If a European festival books an artist that is part of ETEP, they receive an allowance towards the booking costs. A few festivals that make use of the opportunities offered by ETEP include: Primavera Sound in Spain, Best Kept Secret in the Netherlands, Rock am Ring in Germany, Glastonbury in England and Coachella in the United States.

Artists that have gained a foothold abroad through ETEP include Agnes Obel, Selah Sue, The XX, James Blake, IDLES and Dua Lipa.

If you are arranging a show (or multiple shows) abroad, there are subsidies available that you may be able to claim. These include the Upstream scheme, as well as other internationalisation schemes via the Performing Arts Fund NL. Or support for participating in showcases via Dutch Music Export. Read the conditions of the schemes carefully before you submit an application. In addition, there are various subsidies available at local and provincial level. Take a look at the website of POPnl, for example, of your municipality.