Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian McBride.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Open Toad started with a simple need to be met for performing artists in the Houston music scene. I remember vividly the first show I played in Houston, in 2022: We were thrown onto a bill with 6+ bands, in an untreated humid warehouse with an overall genre/tone that could only generously be considered “eclectic” but more accurately “completely unrelated and inconsistent”. While I look back at these memories with fondness, I realized there was a value in a promoter who didn’t just fill spots on a roster but curate a show with a cohesive sonic experience. I wanted to make it more accessible for emerging bands and artists to talk face to face with a promoter, creating a bill that would have more appeal to the audience, and finding the right venue for the scene. Initially, the issue was aligning availability between multiple entities, dealing with drop outs, or just getting out of the spam filter. Thankfully, this proved easier the longer you keep at it, and the relationships built helped foster better business & collaborations for the future. After two years of work, I am proud of how far it has come and the reputation Open Toad has built.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In many ways, technology has made it easier to communicate/coordinate with multiple acts across platforms. However, there were hurdles I had to find out for myself, face first. For starters, actually finding and keeping track of local bands in the scene would prove difficult. Starting a social media business account from scratch and only using the account for Texas based bands/musical artists helped optimize our algorithm to find the diamonds in the rough, music scene veterans and the local legends. The next road block was with communication, and this can be a broad issue in general. For instance, if a bands social media account doesn’t follow the account who is direct messaging them, the messages are often filtered out of their primary inbox. This is the case for Instagram at least, which much of the younger generation is opting for with their artist account, but there is also TikTok, Facebook, or strictly email communications. So while we love bands from all corners, our primary forms of communication is Instagram/email for bands, and email correspondence for venues. And lastly, due to the nature of musicians, last minute drop outs are not uncommon. The drummers car broke down, the bassist forgot he was getting married or the singer succumbed to a shellfish allergy and cannot perform with his closed throat. Something along these lines. But, there is no time to get upset, you have to roll with the punches and pull out your metaphorical rolodex of solid standbys who you’ve worked with before. I have been saved plenty of time by an act of kindness from our frequent flyers, and for that I am thankful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Open Toad tries to create its own niche: the off kilter, the left field outsiders, or the new comers dipping their toes in. Genre wise, we seem to gravitate towards alternative rock, new wave/post-punk, and our live electronic nights. I am most proud when the clock strikes 12 the night of the show, after I’ve witnessed several different acts show the world their passion. Excuse me while I get a bit shmaltzy: these people dedicated months on end writing, rehearsing and refining for their own unique artistic expression, with what little free time we all have on this earth. The beauty of these live performance exhibitions is seeing it come together against the odds, and I will always feel satisfied afterward.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
It may be surprising (or obvious) to learn that Open Toad is essentially a one man operation, I make all the graphics and designs myself, handle the outreach and coordination, and haven’t missed a show yet. Hence why I try to focus on one great event a month. Though I will shoutout to my closest collaborator: Michael at Bartkowiak Studios, he has a great eye for photography, a talented Video Jockey and has saved my skin when becoming an impromptu sound engineer. Great guy.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Michael Bartkowiak
