UPRAWR Podcast Sean Smith On The History of The Blackout, What Happened To Lostprophets & More I Episode 7
Nov 28, 2021
Sean Smith, the seasoned frontman of The Blackout and host of the S'appenin podcast, dives deep into the music industry’s highs and lows. He candidly discusses why he considers The Blackout a 'failed band' and the sacrifices behind touring. Sean shares amusing stories about crowdfunding fan experiences and transforming a neglected space into a podcast studio. The conversation also highlights memorable guests and the contrasting economics of today’s streaming landscape, alongside his thoughts on UFOs and dream podcast guests.
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Why Sean Felt The Band Failed
- Sean Smith describes The Blackout feeling like a failure because bandmates quit and moved to normal jobs despite past success.
- He says giving up equals failure to him, even though the band did more than most bands ever achieve.
Treat Band Work Like Hard Work
- Do recognise touring and band work is hard and requires relentless effort beyond the stage.
- Try learning from self-funded bands (like Sleep Token) that use direct fan hubs and Patreon-style models to secure income.
Zoo Pledge Sold Out In Ten Minutes
- Sean recounts doing a PledgeMusic campaign and selling bizarre experiences like "go to the zoo with The Blackout" which sold out quickly.
- He says those unique fan experiences paid off and created memorable moments despite initial embarrassment about "begging" fans.
