Broke-Ass Band Interview: Megan Slankard
Attention, attention! Local house concert impresario KC Turner presents an evening with singer-songwriter Megan Slankard this Saturday, December 10th, at the Swedish American Music Hall.
A few years ago, Megan’s band secretly submitted an application about her to TLC’s What Not to Wear. Now not only is she an excellent musician, but a well-dressed one to boot! I caught up with Megan for a charming and hilarious interview.
Introduce yourself!
Hello, my name is Megan Slankard, I’m a singer-songwriter from San Francisco, CA. It’s nice to make your acquaintance.
Describe your sound in five words or less.
Lyrical acoustic pop rock. Cheerios!
You were on What Not to Wear a few years ago. Let’s talk about that.
Well, apparently I didn’t know how to dress myself for the first 20 years of my life, because someone’s band (mine) thought it would be a good idea to nominate someone (me) to be on a reality-tv-fashion-makeover-show. See? I KNEW someone had been stalking me in the mall that one time, keeping tabs on my purchases.
It goes like this: What Not to Wear secretly filmed me for two weeks, surprised me at a “last minute” show set up by my band, and basically told me I dressed like “poopy”. They then took me to NYC and bought me new clothes. Additionally, they bribed me with promises (fulfilled) of putting my music in the episode. Yay, CD sales to reality-tv lovers.
Favorite thing about San Francisco?
My family lives here.
Favorite SF restaurant?
My backyard vegetable garden.
Favorite SF bar?
The one that serves tea and cookies (what a square).
How do you prepare for a big show? What will you be doing the night before?
I usually have a snack while trying not stress myself out about the details, then do a few emails while trying not to stress myself out about the details, rehearse a little and make a set list while trying not to stress myself out about the details, and then stress a little bit about the details.
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What can people expect at your shows?
Fun! Games! Folklore! Bunnies!
What do you do during downtime on tour?
I like throwing things away. I get home from a nice long tour and decide I don’t need any of my stuff anymore because I survived for so long without it while I drove around in a tiny car.
What’s next for the band? (i.e. plug this upcoming show!)
We are playing one of our biggest shows to date:
Saturday, December 10th, 2011
Swedish American Hall
An Acoustic Evening – 7pm
2174 Market Street, San Francisco, CA
Three things you’d take to a desert island?
1) The entire Beatles catalog.
2) That great Jalapeno Sauerkraut I get from the farmers market.
3) The city of San Francisco.
What movie can you watch over and over and never get sick of?
The Blues Brothers (original) or Monty Pythons and the Holy Grail or Help with the Beatles.
Favorite season or time of year?
Fall, because I like sweaters. But then, this is San Francisco, so Summer, because I like sweaters.
Three things that are in your fridge right now?
1) Cake (not for long!).
2) That great Jalapeno Sauerkraut I get from the farmers market.
3) Oh, no, that’s about it. I have to go shopping.
Anything in your sock drawer besides socks?
Moths.
Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty, i.e. money: Have any tips for aspiring musicians trying to make it on their craft?
Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do this and that you can’t succeed, and that you’re wasting your time. If it makes you happy, who cares if you’re broke, right? (But seriously, can someone tell me if that’s right?)
Best money saving tip in general?
Don’t. Buy. Anything. Don’t eat out (not even fast food). Ccook at home. Don’t be a member of anything expensive unless you have to (car insurance). You’ll learn that you can do fun things for cheap and/or free like sweeping the floor! Reenacting your favorite holiday stories in front of a mirror! Making cheerio bracelets for your friends!
Where do you live now and what are some good cheap/fun things to do in that area?
I’m almost smack in the middle of San Francisco. I like biking in Golden Gate park, bringing a famers market picnic, and exclaiming, “Oh! Bocce Ball!” much to the chagrin of the lawn bowlers. I also like free museum day.
What do you refuse to spend money on?
The heater. What a cheapskate. A very, very cold cheapskate.
What is the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought and how did that feel?
A car. Depressing.
What’s the best deal you’ve ever gotten?
I once traded a CD for a pen with an LED light, a granola bar, two dollar bill, hand lotion, and a pin with a chipmunk holding a hairbrush on it. That felt like a pretty slammin’ deal to me.
What is your favorite free thing to do?
Sit in the backyard with my guitar (and preferably a hot mug of tea). I don’t even have to play, I just like sitting back there, looking at things.
If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?
I would totally get Thai food delivered.
What’s one GOOD thing about not having a ton of money?
Complaining that I still don’t have enough money to get Thai food delivered.
Any last words?
I would love for people to check out my website and be my friend for ever and ever.
*photos via Megan Slankard
