Opening act
As opening act or support act ( english supporting act or opening act ) is known in the music business the bands or artists at a concert before the actual star of the evening, the headliners , occur. The opening groups usually only have a significantly shorter playing time than the main artist (usually 20–40 minutes), limited space on the stage, limited use of the lighting system and, under certain circumstances, limited performance of the sound system .
Commercial support
In the club area or at smaller festivals, it is common for the support bands to receive hardly any compensation (only petrol money) or not at all, or only receive a small fee. At concerts by big stars, on the other hand, it is even common for lesser-known bands to pay up to 10,000 euros per evening in order to be allowed to play as a support act due to the advertising effect associated with appearing as an opening act .
Tour support
With tour support , a band accompanies the headliner on the tour or at least part of it. These can be bands that are friends of the headliner, or bands that are provided by the labels because they still have too little traction for their own tour, or specifically to promote a nationally successful band internationally. The latter often in connection with the international release of a new album and with appropriately purchased airplays (see also section Commercial Support ).
Local support
When Local Support play regional or only nationally known bands that are usually hired by the local organizers. This usually results in a win-win situation for both sides, as the local bands are given the opportunity to play with more internationally known bands and to make contacts that are helpful for a later career. At the same time, the local bands often bring their regular audience with them, without whose support a tour of the headliner would not be possible, as the headliner enjoys international acquaintance, but has too little attraction for the local audience to carry out their own concerts at a cost-effective or profitable level. At larger concerts, young bands are specifically used by their label as support for advertising purposes (see also section Commercial Support ).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Thomas Schulz: Beyond the shame line . In: Der Spiegel . No. 38 , 2006, p. 111-112 ( online ).