Bert van de Watering - The man behind the successful Christmas Metal Symphony

Bert; "Well who am I, and how it all started, well ... ... .. A long time ago when I was a very spontaneous young man (haha) I had a band which called Hammerhead. I felt as founder and drummer of the band the need to do all bookings, the organization and promotion. We didn’t have a manager, that didn’t work so well for us. It felt all right to do it myself because we could keep short lines. I liked it as much as playing. The brake up was a sad moment for me because it were 5 important years of my life. Then I decided to leave the music industry and try out something else. So I ended up working at the options exchange market in Amsterdam for 5 years. Eventually that world is not that much different from the music industry. In the music Industry it’s mainly all about awarding something to someone and in business it’s all about undermining each other kindly."

Bert; "During my last year at the options exchange market, I came in contact with Jan Abbink of Flying Dutchman by an article in woman’s magazine VIVA . They did the European promotion of bands such as Genesis and Phill Collins. I knew him all ready from the time we signed at EMI. He was working at Warner Music who was also interested to contract us. I called and asked him "Jan you have to get me out of here" "Well he said that’s a bit difficult at the moment because I can’t offer you a job but our sister organization Music & Media, Billboard magazine is in desperate need of people, the perfect job for a guy like you. "

Bert; "I’ve been promotion manager at Music & Media in England for almost 2 years. So I had many contacts with record companies and booking offices throughout England. I’ve set up the project "Loud 'N Proud". The concept was simple, buy a full ad page to promote a contracted band and also deliver us one free track of this band. Out of these tracks we would arrange a compilation CD to go with the magazine. Which would end up at music stores and DJ's better said; the entire promotional network. The big boss at that time Theo Roos responded "If you get 6 you should be happy" but eventually we end up with 24. Metal Hammer and MTV Headbanger's Ball cooperated with us. Great but had 1 downside: Whenever I asked a record label "gosh what are your promotional plans for the new Janet Jackson" I got the answer "Why are you asking that’s none of your business, you're a pure Rock and Metal man". I was stigmatized with Rock and Metal. "

Bert; "No way!! (haha) So then I did a special of 10 years Iron Maiden at EMI, which was great. Afterwards I got an offer from MCA records. So I left M & M and I went to work for MCA and start promoting the band Steelheart. For the European promotion of Steelheart I got a certain budget. Giving me the chance to start out for myself. Due to the workload I contacted Jan again and offered to work together. Which meant I had to face Theo Roos again, who was not too happy (and that’s a mild statement) that I had left M & M through the back door and now came in to the front door at sister organization Flying Dutchman. Which was a good trick (haha). "

Bert; "Very good. We then did the promotion for example for bands like Steelheart, Little Angels, Tora Tora, and many more. Some 2.5 years later we did the promotion for Extreme, which currently turned number 1 worldwide, we got offers from all over the world. Theo sold the lot and got to be director at Universal and took Jan along with him. I got many offers in England but none in the Netherlands. At that moment my 1st daughter was born and I didn’t want to work and live in England anymore. I wanted to go to Holland and try to make a living. "

Bert; "Well I ended up working in a completely different branch. I went to work for a friend of mine here in Culemborg. He was the head editor of BIG TWIN magazine. Until then everyone except the official Harley Davidson themselves advertised in the magazine. In the 4.5 years I've worked for Gerard it was my job to link them to the magazine. That worked fairly quickly. Then we end up organizing events for dealers and Harley-Davidson itself. For instance HOG, Big Twin Festival, Harley Davidson Street Party and so on, pretty much anything that had to do with lifestyle."

Bert; "After that time I really started my own business and music became more in the picture because at all the events I arranged the bands and did the production. I briefly worked as manager for bands such as Rubycon and Bagheera. At one point I was visiting New Road Music when they asked if I wanted to work with them and so we were able to convert the business. More and more I start to focus on organizing music events like: Coca Cola Stage Masters, Jägermeister Metal Bash, East Pack Summer Tour. "

Bert, "In 2006 I managed to make my dream a reality to build a show with Classic Rock Singers of better known bands, a symphony orchestra and a live band. Which was Classics in Rock the following year at Ahoy. The show was a great success and they wanted to arrange the same next year. Me and my partners didn’t want to do a follow up and I can imagine that sounds a bit strange. I just wanted to reduce the scale. Purely a money issue because if you want to sell out Ahoy again you have to come up with even bigger names. So we had to cancel the show. I realized then "hey what we have here is a formula which is working very well and where I can build my ideas around ". After 8 years I’ve left New Road Media and continuing shaping the concept of 2007 step by step. We had a Rock concept, and now the Metal concept Christmas Metal Symphony. "

Bert, "Yes, that has been Classics in Blues expired in September in 013 shaped out of the same concept but the trick here was that this wasn’t about great singers but great guitarists. An additional coincidence is that most of them sing. To be true I must admit you if you look me in my old Rocking heart and despite the great success “I've wondered whether we should have a separate show since Rock and Blues have many similarities. You simply can invite a blues giant like Pat Travers to perform in a Classic Rock show. Although we’ve noticed we were able to build such an relaxed and joyful atmosphere backstage for everyone including the artists at Classics in Blues and Classics in Rock they feel happy to continue working with us. The same applies to the artists who contributed at the Christmas Metal Symphony."

Bert; "I can tell you even more. There have been several artists who called me and asked what date it would be because they want to participate again. A strange but definitely nice touch is that some managers supervise several artists. Therefore it will soon been heard off in the scene. It works contagious if artists are having a great time they’ll sure tell their colleagues and therefore it becomes popular to participate. Artists feel honored if we ask them. Most especially when you consider that we have done the show only once. Then you notice is that the word spread faster than you even can imagine. Chuck Billy for example told last year; “We have TSO in America but there's no decent Metal fan who wants to go there, you should bring this to America, which is driven to be a success". At that point I stare at him and think; "Man I wish I had invented TSO because it is such a great concept". I think he meant to say that we have something with this concept which can become world class."

Bert; "Yes, certainly and our personal approach! Joost takes time to work out the whole arrangement of the song with each individual artist. Last year we had a number of artists who really were surprised. Chuck Billy of Testament for example had chosen his songs. Once he began to sing at the rehearsals he stopped singing after 2 lines, looks up to Joost and says, "If I had known I had chosen other songs, this is amazing". Then you’re a witness to a man with a lump in his throat and that's something that touches me."

Bert, "Well, oh I suddenly get an inspiration. I often think in images, Journey's video New Frontiers And Beyond come to mind. There is a moment where they ask singer Steve Perry what he thinks of the fact that he is praised in heaven and that there’s quite a lot of money at stake. To which he responds by saying "To me that’s instant gratification, money can’t compete with the moment I get Goosebumps". I think to me that’s the same and that is not always smart. I assume that what I like and enjoy there have to be people who find it just as beautiful and like it just as much as I do. That is my simple point."

Bert; "Absolutely I’ve put very much time, say from 2007, to build a team of colleague friends. These people look forward all year to when we work together again. The form will not matter, Rock or Metal, it‘s the moment. Months in advance it begins and that is our common denominator. The two guys I work with very closely Dennis and John van Empel, I pretty much known for years. More and more people were added over the time including Joost. We are more like a group of friends who meet up when such events are planned. We have established to be a constant sounding board for ideas to each other. Yet we could not organize this event without a huge group of volunteers, otherwise it would be pricey. We are working together for a few years with this club and that is really worth GOLD. The atmosphere of our friendship radiates naturally on to the artists, so they like to be a part of this club friends. We have the motto is nothing too crazy or too difficult because everyone should have a good time. Of course there are limits but I would not work with people who aren’t easy to please because they can make or break the atmosphere. Sometimes we fear moments that it could happen anyway but it appears that all especially bizarre wishes are ordered by management. Of course, it could happen that you're dealing with real as holes and then the same rule actually applies as in business "I do not do business with you but I want to do business with you. If you’re not willing I just go find someone else.” It’s all about awarding each other favors. I’m convinced that the personal contact is my secret behind the success or at least the condition to try making it a success. "

Bert, "Well I think so, we have nine artists and a special guest George Oosthoek. Last year we had the screens, this year it will be George as MC of the show. Last year, we note that the screens and the narrator Jonathan did not quite succeed. The lack of subtitles showed that one could not quite follow. This was "a learning moment" so to speak. We have decided that we wanted to do it differently this year. Nevertheless you can’t do the same every year, every year you should come up with something new."

Bert, "No, the story of Jonathan last year was purely an introduction and showed why we wanted to give Christmas a Metal edge. There no need for it this time it will be al about the show. George will be the connector between the songs, the common thread so to speak. We definitely have some surprises in store for you which I sadly "despite your understandable curiosity" can not share. I want something again which is almost impossible and we have yet to meet so ... .. "

Bert; "There will be a film crew this year who will record the whole show. It is our intention to release a compilation DVD of both 2008 and the upcoming show. "

Bert, "Christmas Metal Symphony is actually my baby and a you allow your baby to grow up. This is our starting point. There are a number of factors we had take into account. First the venue hall capacity, will we manage financially to the number of visitors. Tickets should not be to expensive. Secondly, you have to offer a good program. Ultimately we want to gain a concept like Night Of The Proms / Vrienden van Amstel. Than it does not matter to the visitor who is on stage but more "I want to be a part of that party". This should grow ... We want to book bigger name and bigger musical extremes every time. We have a list of names that wanted to join in this year but had simply no time because they were still on tour, so those are on the list for next year. "

Bert; "No, it’s still too early. We are still negotiating. You know, musicians are just like people (haha) and want to be with their families in this period because they’re at the end of one and starting the next tour in January. That occurred this year. Also to come to Holland for one show is less attractive for some. The way it’s going already next year we might have something more to offer. At request of German promoters we are busy to do a number of CMS shows next year in Germany. Then it will be more interesting to artists, also financially and easier to plan in their European tour schedule. Nevertheless we first wanted to build a strong base in the Netherlands. We got a little ahead of the schedule that we had in mind. Yet it is too early to say that we will create a European concept, that still takes at least 2 to 3 years. For now we will try out with a few shows only in Germany and then we will see .... "

Bert, "The second year is always harder than the first because you should try to surpass yourself. We have an incredibly varied set list this year and so therefore I am confident. I really want to give all credits to the entire club and especially Joost. Without them we would not be able to throw this party to you all. My only concern was last year if we would ever be able to top the sensational performance of Floor and Russell but now I can definitely say that we must succeed because we have found another stunner in our program. Different. ... But you will see it for yourself ... .. "

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