Xtra Mile Market Rep Spotlight
Our Market Rep Program has been going strong for a year now, and we thought it was high time we shine a spotlight on some stellar fans who have been so important to our success. We hope to make this a monthly feature, where the world gets to meet the reps who go the xtra mile.
This month, we’d like to introduce you to Sophie B. from Greenwich, South East London.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Xtra Mile Recordings?
A: The music and the sense of community
Q: What made you want to join the Xtra Mile Street Team’s Market Rep Program?
A: The majority of my favourite bands are under the Xtra Mile Recordings label. I wanted to help promote them, and become a part of the Xtra Mile Family.
Q: What do you like about being in the Program?
A: I really enjoy doing the online challenges, and the lifestyle marketing meeting new people along the way.
Q: What was your favorite experience with the Program? Why?
A: Online I really enjoyed doing the Rob Lynch “Prove It” arm wrestling challenge, I really had to improvise with that one, using walking dead figures, haha. My best gig experiences of handing out Xtra Mile swag and meeting fans have to be:
The union chapel seeing Will Varley and the Lion and The Wolf, most people were happy to get some swag and I also used the Xtra Mile SnapChat for the event.
Frank Turner solo at the House of Vans, with support from Ben Marwood and Sam Duckworth (DJ set). This was a big one for me as I got to meet a friend I'd made online while doing my first ever market rep challenges the lovely (Jan Doig) I wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for her asking me to be her plus one for the show. I also handed so much swag before we could even get into the House of Vans.
Rob Lynch and Sam Duckworth at the Lost Evenings’ XMR BBQ. I was unable to attend the main parts of Lost Evenings due to child care issues, however, I had to be a part of it somehow and I had to do so some repping. This was an fantastic experience because I got to bring my youngest of my two children Olivia along for the ride and she was an amazing market rep helper, she was engaging so many people that we left with no swag left. Rob and Sam were both brilliant and a great first gig for my daughter. The other fans were so friendly with her I feel I ended making some friends out of myself. We also got to talk to Jay (Beans on Toast) again because Olivia just had to give every one in the monarch a sticker. It was one of those days where it really showed just how amazing the entire XMR family really is. (photo below is of Sophie and Olivia at the gig!)
Q: What else do you do when you’re not shouting about Xtra Mile Recordings?
A: Being mum mostly, reading, tv, cleaning, collecting figures and comics, listening to music.
Q: Name some of your favorite artists for us:
A: Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls, Ducking Punches, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, Biffy Clyro, Funeral For a Friend, Will Varley, Skinny Lister, Rob Lynch, Sam Duckworth (Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly), Sean McGowan, Incubus, Foo Fighters, Beans on Toast, Kings Of Leon. Felix Hagan and the Family, Johnny Cash, Billy Bragg, The Lion and The Wolf, Ben Marwood, Brand New, Motörhead, Bowie... I could go on for hours here!
Q: Do you have a favorite record store?
A: Cruisin Records in Welling, South East London. I bought my first vinyl there -it was Johnny Cash live at San Quentin Prison.
Q: What, and where is your favorite venue and/or music festival? Why are they your favorite?
A: Hard question, haha. My all time venue was The Astoria on Tottenham Court Road London (RIP). I have so many memories of that place, it's hard to beat it. However I love the House of Vans, the Union Chapel, and Britain Academy too. (I live near the O2 but I'd pick a smaller venue any day). And my favourite festival is probably Reading Festival, however, I still need to venture to Glastonbury and 2000 Trees so that could change in the near future.
Q: To date, what was the best gig you've ever been to?
A: Another really hard question. Um well, favourite XMR gigs have been: Frank and the Souls at the Ally Pally with Skinny Lister and Will Varley; The Frank solo show at House of Vans with Ben Marwood and Sam Duckworth; and Rob Lynch and Sam Duckworth at the XMR BBQ (again plenty more gigs I want to go to haha) And non XMR is tough, I've been really fortunate but one really memorable one has to be when the Foo Fighters played a small set on a TV show at my Dad's work at ITV. Because it was so small and intimate and I got to meet the band, and went away happily knowing they really are nice people.
Q: Share a fun fact about yourself:
A: I'm a mum, I sing, and I collect walking dead figures and comics 😊
Thank you so much for letting us spotlight you, Sophie, and for being a rep since our very first session! We love our family. - Val and Liz xx
