Open Letter to Promoters and Such..

[Recordstar]

Battle of the Bands, Showcases, Playing for the door these are examples of "music/musician prostitution"...WAKE UP FT. WAYNE !!!!
Found out there are very few venues in this town that pay guarantee for playing. I know musicians love to play for the sake of their music..and that's fine...just don't play it for free where the venue makes cash and the musicians get the trash. if you have to play it for free, play a neighborhood block party.. at the VA Hospital or in your basement, garage...etc...I'm not one to necessarily advocate the local "musicians union" as it sucks..BUT...the principle is sound...fair wages, contract riders and such for your music. Take a good look at what the Nashville local offers. The trouble with Ft. Wayne is too many musicians willing to practice their craft without adequate financial compensation. QUESTION OF THE MONTH: "WHO IS A GOOD MUSICIAN"? ANSWER: " THE ONE THAT GETS PAID. Now , have a nice day!

[Oliver's Army]

Battle of the Bands, Showcases, Playing for the door these are examples of "music/musician prostitution"...WAKE UP FT. WAYNE !!!!
Found out there are very few venues in this town that pay guarantee for playing.

I found quite the opposite when I booked bands.

Battles and showcases are GREAT opportunities to get young or newly formed bands to get a gig under their belt and in front of a 'real' crowd.

Playing for the door is the second level for this. You do a little self promotion, drag out the family and friends and blow the socks off the club owner.

THEN you establish a paying gig for a full nights work. A smart club owner/booker knows that if the band pulls a draw, especially one that can perform a full night of sets, that has a fan base, and is professional..deserves an agreed payment upfront.

[Massage...Bored]

The trouble with Ft. Wayne is too many musicians willing to practice their craft without adequate financial compensation. QUESTION OF THE MONTH: "WHO IS A GOOD MUSICIAN"? ANSWER: " THE ONE THAT GETS PAID. Now , have a nice day!

That could be the worst thing I've ever heard.

[lbsmith]

A good musician is one who makes it a lifestyle. True dedication, through money or not. I will agree however, from an outsiders view, the Fort Wayne music scene seems kind of jaded with bar bands, whether they're new or not..they're still bar bands. But I'm farely new to it, so I'm blindly throwing that out there. *braces self for ridicule*

[Oliver's Army]

Perhaps if you defined 'Bar Bands'.

[david sumner]

have you ever seen roadhouse?

[Oliver's Army]

have you ever seen roadhouse?

How can a living, breathing person NOT have seen Roadhouse?

If that's what he means then its a pale description of local music.

[david sumner]

ok now for the follow-up ...

have you seen roadhouse II?

[Oliver's Army]

ok now for the follow-up ...

have you seen roadhouse II?

...electric boogaloo.

oh, by the way....

[adam atherton]

i have to agree with ollie- yet again- 100%.

example: my band has been together less than ninety days. we've played together five times. we've gigged out thrice.

we've advanced in the Cstreet BOTB, narrowly losing to definitely gary, who BROUGHT IT, btw.


sometimes, you have to say, "screw $." "screw fame." "screw everything but what made us start this."

anyone remember the love of playing music?

just getting the chance to play in front of people (which was NoRA's entire MO in the BoTB, by the way) is better than any money you can make.

we got to get in front of Richard, and ended up not only advancing, but making a lot of friends that night that will come see us again.

how much did we make?

$0.00.

how much did we earn?

priceless.

so endeth the rant.

[Recordstar]

I have to agree, most BOTB's are nothing more than poularity contests, and Showcase are places where the novice/unknown bands can get exposure...BUT...the point I'm trying to make is more often than not, the musician/band does not get paid adequately for his time, or his equipment investment...etc...to be going to a venue that has 2-4 bands "showcasing" for 4 hours..(not getting paid) and the drink prices go up because they now have "ENTERTAINMENT!!". There are no places here where young talent can go and "jam" with established professional musicians (for free) and be observed and heard by the public. On the west coast ('Frisco Bay area) we had clubs like .."The Hungry i", Blackhawk, Red Sail, Varnies Roaring 20's ,S.F Jazz Work Shop where young talent could go to experiment alongside the "old pro's"..by the way who were WILLING to teach. Now the bands are expected to to furnish the club with a "following"..I never did like the idea of my family and friends and fans having to provide the main stay clientel for a venue. What ever happened to venues where people went because the venue provided good entertainment and was the "place to go".

[Oliver's Army]

Record Star...with all due respect....

If you want to be a viable assest to young and new bands you had better do a little homework about the market that you want to break into.

I am sure the clubs you worked were different, but thats not how it is here. You have to recognize this and work within it.

to be going to a venue that has 2-4 bands "showcasing" for 4 hours..(not getting paid)

Tell me what club here does this.

There are no places here where young talent can go and "jam" with established professional musicians (for free) and be observed and heard by the public.

Ther are SEVERAL open jams in this town. Pick up a Whatzup sometime.

Now the bands are expected to to furnish the club with a "following"..I never did like the idea of my family and friends and fans having to provide the main stay clientel for a venue. What ever happened to venues where people went because the venue provided good entertainment and was the "place to go".

Who exactly do you think these paople are that populate the clubs when a certain band is playing? Yep it's their 'following'. And you just contradicted yourself here.

Recordstar, I appreciate what your trying to do, but with the business sense you exhibit here I fear that you will be doing any clients you may have a terrible disservice.

[sharkmansix]

BUT...the point I'm trying to make is more often than not, the musician/band does not get paid adequately for his time, or his equipment investment...etc...

Welcome to work. Playing in a band is a job and jobs aren't always a fun party. Most people are not (or I should say do not feel) as if they are getting compensated enough for the work they produce.

There are no places here where young talent can go and "jam" with established professional musicians (for free) and be observed and heard by the public.

The JamCrib does all this and more. Sure it isn't 'free' but you're paying a small fee for quality of venue and talent.

What ever happened to venues where people went because the venue provided good entertainment and was the "place to go".

Maybe the entertainment is the problem.

For a while I was in the camp of "venues need to do more for the bands" but the more I look around the bands that put forth the effort of self-promotion have gigs with a good turnout of people. It take more then a myspace post to fill the seats at a club.

[Recordstar]

I think you're missing my point. Musicians should be adequately PAID for their talent and performance. They are not getting this with showcases. There used to be a thing called "AUDITIONS" where the band performed X number of songs in the venue, usually BEFORE the venue opened, and if the venue owner liked what they heard a price for performing was negotiated. You didn't have 3-4 bands standing by waiting to play during working hours. The venue owner DID NOT PROFIT from the audition as it was done before the venue opened for business. However, if showcases and BOTB's are the way of choice for the local musicians, then so be it..but I will not book or place any group in a venue that expects the band to provided the clientel. As I was asked by one Ft. Wayne venue: "Does the band have enough of a following to make it profitable to hire them?" You asked what venue?? Try Peanuts, Peanuts II, Legends...etc... I am not one to believe in "success via poverty". I want my people paid. Now enough venting.

[sharkmansix]

Musicians should be adequately PAID for their talent and performance.

I totally agree. So should teachers, firefighters, nurses and a lot of other professions.

There used to be a thing called "AUDITIONS" where the band performed X number of songs in the venue, usually BEFORE the venue opened, and if the venue owner liked what they heard a price for performing was negotiated.

Auditions still exist but I think most venues see allowing your band to play as a favor to you. They could make just as much profit with an iPod with an interesting play-list as a band who requires a tab at the bar, money for playing, etc.

owever, if showcases and BOTB's are the way of choice for the local musicians, then so be it..but I will not book or place any group in a venue that expects the band to provided the clientel.

Bands have always been responsible for bringing in the people...why else would bands be at a venue?

Plus isn't it up to the band to do some promotion?

I am not one to believe in "success via poverty". I want my people paid.

Put it into perspective though.

Honestly, how much do you expect to get paid from a venue?