AN ENTREPRENEURIAL sixth-form student has taken it upon himself to support local bands by setting up his own promotions company.
Last September, Jordan Gaster of John Clare Close in Brackley launched Foot to Floor Promotions when he was only 17.
Now 18, the A-Level student at Magdalen College School in Brackley has already laid on two concerts at Banbury United FC's Spencer S
tadium, in October and December, providing a valuable outlet for local unsigned bands.
He hopes to hold more gigs in the near future. "I've loved music all my life and watch a live gig somewhere almost every night. I find bands from around the country which I like and then ask if they want to play a gig," he said. "I know local bands want more gigs in this area so I thought I'd step in and fill the hole, and they seem to really appreciate it.
"My two gigs went really well, though they took a lot of time. I have to sort out the bands, pay them, secure a date and venue, book door staff, sort out sound and lighting and then promote it all. But it's my passion and there are a lot of bands out there who I want people to know about."
No stranger to music management, he became the youngest area manager for Roadrunner Records at just 14, helping with reviews, website entries, photographs and promotions. Though a business, Foot to Floor is more about the experience than the money for Jordan, who is heading off to study music man-agement at Buckingham and Chiltern University in the autumn. Ultimately he hopes to work for a major music agency or record company.
Antony Smith, the drummer in unsigned local band Gehenna, which played at Jordan's first gig, said: "It's really important for small bands to have somewhere to go show there stuff so Foot to Floor is great, and very valuable for Banbury where it's hard to get a show."
"A lot of promoters are just in it for the money and don't run a very good gig once the bands have signed up. But Jordan's in it for the music and his shows have been very well organised and professional, better than a lot of the older promoters who have been doing it for years."
For more information visit www.myspace.com/foottofloorpromo.
