Heavy Metal Drummer Turns Talent Booker and Promoter: A Denver-based national and international production company providing services to artists and corporations on a global scale, Bands4Bands (B4B) Entertainment was launched in 2008 by veteran heavy metal drummer Elan Schwartz, who had experienced all the ups and downs (including almost being signed to a major label) of being a regional headliner in his decade with “Mile High Metal” band Apathy. As the designated booker/manager for his band, Schwartz developed relationships with numerous venues (including 1,000 cap rooms) throughout the Western U.S., prompting other bands to seek his expertise and services and venues to reach out and ask him to put together shows. With a founding mission of “musicians helping musicians,” he started B4B as a side gig while working a day job at a life science chemical analysis engineering company. Schwartz not only wanted to start his company to establish independence in his musical career, but to support his daughter while raising her as an infant.
Growing the Business: Securing capital, he developed a platform and began booking bigger names—including Great White, Skid Row, and Lita Ford to name a few—in collaboration with international agencies across the globe. Schwartz was also a talent buyer for the popular Casselman’s Bar & Venue in the RiNO district of Denver (during which time he booked major bands like Buckcherry, Saliva, and Fuel) as well as teaming up with other venues like The Gothic theater and Herman’s Hideaway. Focusing on Colorado, California, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico while also having contacts in Montana and New York, B4B’s ongoing mission is to “enlighten and educate the community to assist with fundraising, business growth and artist development.”
B4B Services: On the booking front, Bands4Bands books all genres of music, local and national, including but not limited to rock, reggae, jam, metal, country, folk, classical, acoustic, singer-songwriter, funk, jazz, hip-hop, and big band, in addition to special events, corporate events, parties, promotions, and fundraisers for non-profits. Schwartz and his team also offer extensive artist development services for up-and-coming artists, including creating EPKs, bios, PR, social media marketing outreach, building email contact lists, brand enhancement, assistance with merchandising, and helping them gain more regional exposure. “Bands4Bands’ unity and leadership are unmatched,” Schwartz says. “We’re all about artists supporting other artists, people standing behind one another and helping to strengthen the community and industry so all may have an opportunity to succeed.”
Other Musical Endeavors: Schwartz recently departed his longtime stint as drummer for the well-known Denver hard rock/alt metal band Lola Black to work on his endeavors as a solo composer, musician, and artist, with a focus on solo piano and instrumental classical new age music. He is also a licensed music therapist specializing in working with children with autism. For more information, visit elancomposer.com.
Contact B4B Talent and Entertainment at bands4bands@live.com; visit b4btalent.com.
