For those of you that have not yet heard, Glass Ceiling Music is no longer providing entertainment services at the Four Seasons in Enumclaw.  The details of this situation, for the most part, are being withheld at the advice of our attorney.  The short version of the story is that after just four weeks, the venue breached the 26 week contractual agreement and sought legal action to prohibit Glass Ceiling Music from removing privately and company owned equipment from the venue.  In kind, Glass Ceiling Music hired an attorney to handle this situation on our behalf.  As of this email, all live entertainment equipment and the materials used to transform the Four Seasons into a great venue have been returned to their rightful owners and the venue was restored to better than original condition.  All other details are being withheld at this time.

We would like to thank all of the artists and fans that helped put the Four Seasons on the map and apologize to those artists that have been denied to opportunity to play a Glass Ceiling Music event specifically designed for the best possible bar-room entertainment experience.

Sincerely,

Travis Orcutt

Glass Ceiling Music, Owner

As the only nominated independent live music provider in a category filled with over 30 venues, Glass Ceiling Music is proud of the 4^th place finish in the "2008 Best of Western Washington – Live Music" category in a contest hosted by King 5 and Evening Magazine.  Coming in behind just three of Washington's best venues for live music (The Showbox, The Tractor Tavern and The Triple Door), GCM is honored to be acknowledged as one of the "2008 Best of Western Washington".  Special thanks to all of our loyal artists and fans, friends and family, our sponsors and the many venues where we have been fortunate to host our live shows. 

For a complete list of the top five finalists please go to:

http://best.king5.com/winners/best-of-western-washington/2336/nightlife/live-music

After the past year of prividing entertainment for well over 100 artists at over 100 shows in more than a dozen venues and events, the idea of openning a venue to call our own has come up.  As the owner of Glass Ceiling Music, and a recent graduate of University of Washington, the idea of owning my own venue has gained quite a bit of support from those that know me best.

I have spoke with several fellow alumni about this idea and to my suprise, they are in on this idea.  With that being said, I will be putting together a business plan with my alumni associates over the next three weeks.  From there it is a matter of finding the right location and obtaining the additional financing needed to be a premier venue.

No more $9.50 pitchers.  No more cancelled shows.  No more free gigs to artists that pull in countless fans night after night.  This will be a venue built on the principle values that established this company from the start; Respect for the Venue, Respect for the Artist, and Respect for the industry.  With these values in mind, GCM will aim to provide the opportunity local talent needs with the added boost of National acts on a monthly basis.

Perhaps I am crazy, perhaps not.  I have seen poor venues run well.  I have seen great venues run poorly.  Why not have a venue that is the best of both worlds?

I will post more info as it becomes available.  Take care and play hard.

-T

For more information, call (253) 370-9587. 

The fan base of your average musician starts with those surrounding them.  Parents, brothers, sisters, girlfriends, boyfriends, other random family members and their friends become the basis of the first crowds to gather.  These 'fans' are easy to identify in most cases.  They are the ones that love to sit in on practices, traditionally giving useless opinions and advice, and those that are the first to feel privileged to comps as the artist's career begins to grow.  Complimentary goods and services ranging from free CD's to free tickets to shows, for them and their friends, seem to be considered acceptable requests and the thought of actually tossing a few bucks towards the artist's future is beyond their grasp.  If you have a Platinum Album and a sold out Tacoma Dome show coming up, perhaps this would be reasonable to do for those that made up your first crowds.  But in the local bar scene, where many artists spend show after show with little to no money coming in, this is ridiculous.  However, to even mention that some of these people should pay the cover charge at a venue or purchase a CD at market value is looked at like you just kicked them in the balls and called their mother a whore.  How is any artist expected to make money if every time they play a show, they let people in for free?  How can any artist expect to keep recording music if they give away the CD they just paid so much money to make?  Again, this is ridiculous.
Then there is the fan base that consists of your peers.  These are the other artists sharing the stage with you, the venue staff, the promotions staff and those that either make up the opportunity to play or may provide the opportunity to play again in the future.  These are your peers and they deserve your respect.  Being able to showcase your talents on any public stage is a privilege, not a right.  Sharing the stage with those that you look up to, or more importantly – look up to you, is the moment that establishes your character and sets the tone for future relationships.  Showing up late to your own show?  What the F*CK??? Giving the stage crew or venue staff a hard time over picky little details?  Who the F*CK are you???  Leaving immediately after you step off stage, even when another artist is setting up to play?  ARE YOU SERIOUS???   Hold a Platinum CD and sell out the Tacoma Dome, people will think you are rebellious and controversial.  Until then, it means you are disrespectful.
On the bright side of all this, there are some artists that have a firm grasp on the reality of the situation.  Take FORCED ELEGANCE, for example (though there are many others).  These guys have shown up to every show they have been booked for with Glass Ceiling Music.  They call for details and keep great communication prior to every show.  They arrive early, regardless of what order the lineup is, and they stay for the entire show.  They have never complained about the crowd size, the lack of payout, or the talent of the bands they have shared the stage with.  They understand the industry and the local scene.  They are constantly building strong relationships with fans, promoters, and other bands.  When they have tickets to sell, they promote the entire show – every band on the bill.  They have even canvassed the local area around a club giving away tickets to complete strangers just hours before the show (the same tickets that should have put money in their pockets, if only people did not expect comps).  They bring a small crowd and keep them around to see the other bands as well.  They are more interested in doing the right things than focusing on the negative details that seem to consume so many other bands.  They check their egos at the door and put on the best show they possibly can, regardless of the venue or the crowd.  Bottom line… their chances of breaking out of the local bar scene is pretty damn good.
So where do you fit in?  Well, if you are a family member, friend or fan, stop holding back the people you want to see make it – stop asking for comps and just chip in to help the artist make a few bucks.  If you are a band, start showing up on time and stick around to support the other bands.  Grab your crowd and pull them right to the front of the stage and enjoy the hard work of your peers, just as they should have done for you.  Maybe your fans will actually like the other bands.  Then the next time you share the bill, they have even more reason to come to the show.  Be the band that other bands want to play with.  Be the band that venues and promoters want to book.  Build your fan base through the respect of your peers by being the ones that give them the support they deserve.  Always remember… being local music, is not supporting local music.  
-Glass Ceiling Music

As you may have heard, Glass Ceiling Music has started a ticket selling program for many of their 2008 shows.  But being true to the "NEVER PAY TO PLAY" reputation that we have held since the start, Glass Ceiling Music will not ask for a single penny of the money from an artist sold ticket.  This means that any band that sells a ticket to a show they are playing at keeps 100% of the money they sell the tickets for.  25 tickets at a $5 ticket price, the average band can put $125 in thier pocket before even leaving the house to come play.  Or... the artist can give the tickets away, or keep them, or feed them to the dog... we really do not care.  Our implimentaiton of the ticket sales program is to give those bands that feel they draw a crowd to make the money they feel they deserve.  It also shows us which bands deserve to get the special opportunities we plan to offer in 2008.  The next time someone asks you to sell tickets to your own show, ask them how much you get to keep and better yet... ask them who gets the rest of the money.  This industry is, always has been, and always will be about the artist!  Sell Tickets!  Bring Friends and Family to your shows!  BUT NEVER PAY TO PLAY!!!!
Glass Ceiling Music

Glass Ceiling Music is an Entertainment Company.  We provide entertainment for the public.  The combination of Music, Motorcross, and special appearances have entertained thousands over the past five months.  It is the foundation of "Nothing but RESPECT" that has so many bands and sponsors coming back for more.

So why write this blog?

Over 20 years ago I saw this story on a poster, though I do not recall the author.  It was the first thing that came to mind as Glass Ceiling Music started to hear some bands bitch and wine about small crowds and/or little to no pay for playing with us. 

"This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about this, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done."

Read it again slowly and let it sink in.  We are all in this together.  Do not rely on anyone to bring your band a crowd or think that you are entitled to any payout, EVER!!  Glass Ceiling Music will continue to do our best to promote our events, is it really too much to ask that the bands promote their own shows as well???

-Glass Ceiling Music