Matthias Wendl is a Berlin-based booking agent working in the G-A-S (German-Austria-Switzerland) territory for a whole range of jazz artists – from big name Americans like Branford Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Snarky Puppy to some of the top Europeans: Eivind Aarset, Nils Petter Molvær, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra & more.

Being a booking agent can be a little like being a bass player – it’s not often you meet another one in your every day work. However, I guess I met Matthias once a year for 6 or 7 years at the annual Jazzahead conference (where his agency, artribute, always have a booth with an excellent coffee machine!) and we have a quick catch up about the jazz scene in general.

More recently, we joined Danish agent Kat Jarby to form a 3-person panel for the InJazz Conference in Rotterdam. Not only did Matthias give some great advice to the jazz musicians in the audience, we also talked quite a bit afterwards about even more ideas that could be shared.

So, it seemed logical to ask him some questions here, given his wide range of artists, long experience and particular expertise in the German-focused market!

The full interview is below but, first, a couple of quick personal highlights to takeaway from his answers:

The importance of using your contacts to create a ‘buzz’ at industry events when you are showcasing.

The role of regular, high quality videos in the rise of Snarky Puppy (and other bands)

Don’t forget: there’s an audience out there which wants to be entertained (in whichever way that is, for you)