Emma and I have been going to Be Sharp Promotions shows at the New Cross Inn since the summer of 2017. During that time we have fallen in love with the community that Be Sharp have played a big part in and consider it our home scene despite it being two hours away. During that time, like most regulars of the Be Sharp shows, we have become good friends with brothers Paul and Mike Smith. With the tenth anniversary celebrations of Be Sharp Promotions in full swing, I decided to have a chat with Paul and Mike to discuss the history of Be Sharp as well as trying to see what they've got in store for the future. Read on to see what a bunch of ultra professionals we are!
Colin: I'm ready whenever you chaps are.
Mike Smith: Got a pint, I'm good to go.
Colin: Handy, first question is for you from Fishlock – how did you get so cute and what's your favourite biscuit?
Mike: Oh Fishy, I will never reveal my secrets. I'm not big on biscuits, unless I can count a KitKat. Or a Club.
Paul Smith: I'm here by the way.
Colin: Ace, sorry Fishlock has no questions for you.
Paul: Fine.
Mike: Hahahaha.
Colin: Question number one is how did you guys get into punk rock? … Mind blowingly original questions from the start!
Paul: Hearing Green Day on the radio in 1995. Then Offspring, Nofx, Rancid and deeper underground from there on.
Mike: Probably that copy of Americana that Paul left on our bedroom floor in 1999 (please clarify that we're brothers). And even then it was more the cover than the content. MySpace was where I discovered the more niche stuff off my own back.
Paul: We're not even related though...
Mike: That does explain a lot. My endless charm and inability to grow a beard finally explained.
Colin: Fun fact, Americana was the first punk album I ever owned. … What was the local punk scene like where you grew up?
Mike: Paul's answer but 10 years later.
Paul: 2000–2003 it was pretty strong, a lot of DIY shows, a lot of local ska and punk bands. Capdown, 5 Knuckle and the like all played 20 minutes or so away from our parents' house. But it's always been about 3 dBs Down.
Colin: You have told me many times about your love of 3 dBs Down.
Mike: It was massively centered around the Lion in Northfleet and the bands we saw and then started putting on, for me. Excluding the occasional My Chemical Romance at Wembley and Reel Big Fish at the Astoria, I grew up on the local bands and didn't really know any different.
Colin: Sounds like you grew up in a good scene. What made you guys start putting on your own shows?
Paul: Stupidity… and boredom. I put on my first show in 2005 because there was a lack of punk gigs at the Lion and I wanted to go to one.
Mike: It was more fun than school. Despite the trip to the cashpoint every few shows because we didn't make enough money to pay the venue or the bands… 10 years later, we can just use PayPal.
Colin: This was before Be Sharp was a thing?
Paul: Yeah, we didn't even have a promo name.
Colin: How long was it before Be Sharp started?
Paul: I put on local bands sporadically between 2005–2008 and then started properly when Mike muscled in in early 2009.
Mike: Originally as LSP before changing our name because of the Simpsons reference.
Paul: And LSP was an awful name…
Colin: Emma pointed out to me the other day that Be Sharp was a Simpsons reference.
Paul: Early flyers often featured Millhouse.
Mike: 'WE NEED A NAME THAT'S WITTY AT FIRST BUT THAT SEEMS LESS FUNNY EACH TIME YOU HEAR IT.'
Colin: So when Mike muscled in that's when Be Sharp started?
Mike: It's when it became a regular thing, with a bit more organisation behind it – an online presence and all that.
Paul: That's when we started seriously and put on bigger bands, touring bands.
Colin: Did you have any initial goals when you started out?
Mike: The same reason we started a band, to get into gigs for free.
Paul: To have fun, give our friends something to do, help touring bands out with a Kent date.
Mike: This way we just didn't need to learn songs.
Paul: And yeah free gigs.
Mike: Once we realised that we weren't completely awful at it, our goals changes a little. But essentially it's to help bands out and have a good time with our mates.
Colin: Who was the first big band you put on?
Paul: Jaya The Cat, somehow.
Mike: They did their own sound at that gig…Wait, they did their own sound the next time we put them on?
Paul: That was the second time, last minute to be fair. Stayed at mine, saved on sound and hotel prices. Had a week to promote that. Tuesday night 'n' all!
Mike: And smashed it!
Colin: How did you manage to book Jaya The Cat!?
Paul: Standard practice really. They were being booked by Ian Hidden Talent Bookings at the time, I sent a nice email pretending I knew what I was talking about.
Mike: Getting a contract for the first time was an experience.
Paul: Terrifying!
Colin: When did you start putting on gigs in London?
Paul: LSP LDN
Mike: Originally it was Hassan from Triple Sundae (New EP out soon, check them out on all your usual social media channels) who was putting on London shows under the LSPLDN name.
Colin: I hear Triple Sundae are alright.
Mike: We did a few gigs at various venues before finally settling in a more permanent way at the New Cross Inn. As for the first London shows, Paul will be able to answer that with his rainman-like calendar brain.
Paul: I think it was when we were doing DIY monthly shows at various venues with The Pisdicables, The Provokers, My Third Leg and Vibe Dial Circus, around 2012. I think NXI was just the easiest venue to deal with, had backline and didn't charge us hire fee. Unlike Bird's Nest and Unicorn, we could charge entry at NXI, so it was easier to meet guarantees through sales, rather than hoping everyone sinks 10 pints for that bar percentage.
Colin: That leads wonderfully into my next question. Be Sharp has become synonymous with NXI, how did the relationship start?
Paul: The events team at the time used to book My Third Leg as local openers on ska shows, so we got to know them. Once Katy (Just Say Nay) was running the show, we used to co-promote in-house gigs, as well as DIY-ing our own. Our first big one was Authority Zero in 2013 (or 2014). That was a learning curve for sure.
Mike: When they moved the bar from the middle of the room to the side, it was obvious they wanted to be a venue and not just a pub. The faith that showed in the community and the scene was a big factor.
Colin: What's the process behind putting on a DIY gig?
Paul: It depends if there's fees to make or if everyone is happy with door split to be honest. We've always promoted our shows equally, but if one has no overheads and the next has the potential to lose a grand we haven't got, there's different processes:
Step One: Find a band.
Step Two: Find a venue.
Step Three: Promote hard
Step Four: ????
Step Five: (Absolutely no) profit
Steps one and two could be swapped, it varies.
Colin: Has the way you promote changed much over the past ten years?
Paul: Facebook rather than MySpace for online promo. Still do analogue flyering when we can, but I don't think much has changed, Mike?
Mike: Sorry, I was buying apple turnovers in Sainsburys.
Paul: Fifa after this?
Colin: I hope you bought some for everyone.
Paul: One thing that's never changed is we discuss gigs and figure out supports whilst playing Fifa – or Pro Evo back in 2010. It centres the mind when you ping one in from 30 yards.
Mike: And then my phone died. I'm back. We have the backing of the venue now, we can take bigger risks and make things happen that we couldn't before. That helps hugely. In terms of the promo, we do what we can but the bands and punters all do their bit. When we started, I got people to our gigs by saying 'yeah it's a fiver in, but they don't ID at the bar.' We don't do that now…
Paul: That's necessary when you start promoting at 16 and the only people you know are your school friends.
Colin: Do you guys have any rules about which bands you book?
Paul: We try and be apolitical, but obviously there's some bands we'd never touch. Also, ska bands get gigs by default.
Mike: Now that there are so many bands that play under the Be Sharp banner, the rules we would've had before are less strict. But yeah, general rule is no dickheads. Some may slip through but in the scene you kinda assume that people are wise and understand the scene and the ethics. Some don't, but it's hard to vet every member of every band.
Paul: I can't think of a time when we've said 'never booking them again'. And we must have booked 1000 bands by now.
Colin: There are plenty of bands that could be considered "Be Sharp bands." How does a band get that status?
Mike: Come to gigs (even the ones you don't play) and have a good time. Not forgetting the £50 per member deposit.
Paul: Call Me Malcolm, King Punch, The Pisdicables all came to us to get ska shows (and all come to shows they don't play). We do have our regular local support bands and it's mostly those that have been there from the beginning in some capacity. Or bribe us.
Mike: A lot of our regular bands are ones that we've known since way back. But new members to our little community are always welcome. The likes of Codename Colin are 'new' and I wouldn't say there are specific rules. Just be cool with it.
Colin: Do you ever argue about which bands you should put on?
Mike: Errrrrrrr.
Paul: Not too much. We both have our favourites and tend to think like, Burnt Tapes love Pkew Pkew Pkew, they get on that; Fastfade love No Fun At All, they get on that.
Mike: There are a few exceptions but for the most part it's mutual.
Colin: Be Sharp shows are renowned for their "everyone there is your best friend" vibe. Is this something that's happened organically or something you've worked hard at achieving?
Mike: Organically. We've never said person A or person B isn't allowed in. It's self policed and we're very lucky that the vast majority of people are lovely and we're lucky to call them mates.
Paul: It was always what we wanted and luckily it's just happened that way.
Mike: It's pretty much impossible to be angry while listening to ska anyway. You can't crowd kill to Reel Big Fish.
Colin: Be Sharp are also known for their all dayers, which I love. What do you think makes them so special?
Mike: It's like having a mini festival. At Chewing on Tinfoil last week there were a couple of [young] kids there to watch their parents play in a few of the opening bands, they were done by 6 before it filled up. They couldn't do that if it was a 'normal gig' so that's a nice touch.
Paul: That community vibe. Every time. And when there's so many good bands out there, we want to see them all. Seeing a couple of under 10s at Chewy was heartwarming. The next generation.
Colin: I love them, as it's a day hanging out with mates between watching great punk bands.
Mike: Where's the downside?
Colin: Sore feet.
Paul: By the time the headliners start, it's carnage. If we had 2 supports, people are barely warmed up.
Mike: And, the sore head after 10 hours of drinking for some of us. Or 48 hours if you're a certain someone that goes to see the same band the next day.
Paul: I did not feel good on the way to Bristol. Glad Fishlock only had 2 supports!
Mike: Hahaha.
Colin: Do you guys have a proudest Be Sharp moment?
Mike: I have a lot, it's nice to know that something that started as a hobby means a lot to so many people.
Paul: Too easy to say Goldfinger I guess… watching Call Me Malcolm, The Pisdicables, King Punch, Codename Colin, etc. go from local openers to playing major festivals. Seeing 200 people go sick to a band that are playing because we like them will never get old.
Mike: Cramp In Your Leg Fest is up there, but that's more pride in our community as much as anything else. Watching Call Me Malcolm headline last time out was incredible and it got a little emotional. … Gotta point out that we don't manage these bands, they do it all themselves. We're just lucky that they carry on working with us when they can easily go somewhere else for a London gig.
Colin: Over the past few years, you seem to be getting most of the bigger American/Canadian bands coming to New Cross on their tours. How has this happened?
Paul: Reputation mainly. Agents tend to play it safe and/or have loyalties. They know they can trust us to promote, pay the bands and provide beer and hummus. The Hit The Switch and Cigar shows we got as we put on This Is A Standoff last year. Their front man, Steve, started a booking agency and approached us as he had a nice time.
Colin: Having such a good reputation must be something you're really proud of.
Mike: My whole time studying the music industry at uni was basically 'be a bastard to be successful' and that can get in the bin. Help your mates, help their mates and the rest is a bonus.
Colin: What have you got planned for the ten years of Be Sharp celebrations?
Mike: A quiet night in.
Paul: ALL OF THE GIGS! (See here) … Some old friends, some new, business as usual really, except we're older and possibly wiser. Only six years until Mike has been doing this half his life.
Mike: Fuck off.
Paul: 9 years for me.
Colin: And what's next after this year? Any plans to expand Be Sharp?
Mike: Well, I got sent an interesting email earlier.
Paul: I think we could potentially use bigger venues for certain gigs, but that wouldn't be a Be Sharp show. A 1000 capacity band in a 350 capacity spot is what we've always wanted. But also, watch this space…
Mike: We're not greedy. A good show is more important than a big one. If we can do both, happy days. But there's no rush.
Colin: That should be your tag line.
Mike: Maybe for the 20 year rebrand.
Colin: I'm all out of questions now, so I guess I should wrap this up. Anything else you'd like to add?
Mike: Shout out C-Rage for being our go to artwork guy. He redesigned our logo which you'll see on the new posters and it looks mint, as always.
Paul: Just a heartfelt thanks to everyone that comes to our gigs. We've spent the last 5 years constantly humbled that people come out with the same aim as us. To watch great bands and have fun.
Mike: We love you and Emma and all the CPRW crew. You guys rule and we're super grateful. 🙌
Paul: The bands are alright too.
Mike: And you suck at fantasy football. More than I do.
Colin: Guardiola ruined me yesterday. Bloody triple captain Sterling on the bench!
Mike: Ouchhhh. One of my other leagues had a guy who was 7th overall in the world. Nonsense.
Colin: Okay, I won't take up anymore of your Fifa time. Thanks for doing this interview and thanks for being Be Sharp and giving us somewhere we feel at home. CPRW 4 B#
Paul: ❤️ Thank you. ❤️
Mike: U da best.
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