While finding exposure in the music industry abyss of Mankato may be a challenge for starving local bands, Minnesota State graduate Tom Fallenstein and his Average Super Heros punk label are doing their best to bring nearby acts to the forefront of punk music popularity.
Fallenstein, who already runs a costume rental store, two e-commerce sites and a web design company, started the label after a six-month stint promoting local shows. After meeting different bands and contacts, Fallenstein decided to form a label that would benefit local acts as well as bring music to fans at a premium rate.
Fallenstein hasn't signed any acts yet, but he has coordinated shows for some of the local bands, such as the Oct. 19 show at the Kato Ballroom, featuring Warped Tour alums Rufio and Motion City Soundtrack with local acts Fall Out Boy and Almost There.
"I'd say we try to push live music more than anything," Fallenstein said. "CDs are great, and you need to have them, but at a smaller level if you don't have a great live performance, you wont sell a lot of CDs. And like I said before, we try to create big opportunities for smaller bands, and keep things more entertaining, closer, and cheaper."
The business endeavor hasn't been easy for Fallenstein and his associates, but they feel the big risk is worth the possible gains.
"You have to put a lot of capital in without expecting an immediate return on your investment," Fallenstein said. Fallenstein's business partner, Ryan McKeown, added, "Don't quit your day job!"
Right now, Average Super Heros is in the process of searching out local talent with a very open audition process. Local punk bands interested in the label can find fliers on most bulletin boards on campus.
"I guess I'd like people to eventually look at our label and say 'Hey, wouldn't that be cool to work with those guys.' This is something we enjoy:" Fallenstein said "We want it to be something everyone enjoys, ourselves, the artists, and the fans."
Another goal of the label is to have one large concert in Mankato (more than 5,000 people) without using TicketMaster or Clear Channel, services which as Fallenstein puts it, "have a monopoly on the concert industry." Fallenstein would like to offer the concert at a low price, avoiding the convenience charges used by TicketMaster and Clear Channel.
Fallenstein and his label will continue to promote shows through the end of the year while trying to find local talent willing to put in work.
For more information, visit www.averagesuperheros.com.
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