.we are trying to make more bands aware that "vote for me" gigs are the scum of the universe, they are actually one of the things that is killing music and helping with its growing commercalism and de-value. Lets examine why.

1 - you don't need any talent or to actually be a good band to get a "vote for me" gig, just a lot of dumb friends.

2 - you're going to play for free. And to boot, with all the mails you're sending out you are going to give the festival a lot of free advertisment. Maybe thats the whole point huh? I bet festival organisers would like a lot more bands that would advertise the festival and then play for free.

3 - So basically you do a lot of work for no gain, because...you're desperate enough to whore yourself for the gig. The promoters know that lots of bands will do this so expoit it. THEY ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOU it's not a "great oppurtunity". Would you advertise your day job and then work for free?

4 - Even if you win, who cares? you'll just be "that band that won the myspace thing" if anyone at all cares, mostly you'll be a name on a list that no one knows. Name me one band that got famous from a competition (aside from ABBA and Silverchair).

5 - Vote for me mails are just annoying and makes your band look cheap and desperate...have some dignity dammit =)

6 - if you are good there are many other ways to get a gig, especially at festivals etc. For example the Gibson Stage at Sweden Rock...its a demo stage but the bands play because they are good, not because they won a competition.

7 - if you cant get a gig the regular way....you simply aint good enough anyway. Vote for me gigs give you NO respect.

8 - The more bands that play along with this, the more festvals and venues will do it. Soon no band will be able to get a gig without people having to vote for you first and still, not getting paid!

You vote for Big Brother, for Robinson, or Pop Idol...(or sometimes for like, governments and stuff...) NOT for a band. It's the start of MTV-Mcdonalds-sponsored by vodaphone and sony ROCK!

If you're good enough you don't need to get all your "fans" to vote for you. Hey some bands have so many Myspace fan clubs and street teams all over the world (despite the fact they've never released a demo and a Google search dosn't bring them up...odd huh? Make you think those pages might not be real...) it's no problem. 

If you're good, get a gig the old fashioned way, don't auction yourself. Don't be a whore. No one repects it. Did Slayer do it? Did Frank Zappa? Did The Hellacopters? 

...exactly.