Seriously, this is from the mouth of a so-called "promoter" of local music. This is Hi-Fi, Peabodies, Hardcore Marketing, ect. Fuck this.


*******************DISCLAIMER********************************
this is what we hate, not what we believe
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So you openend this. I'll give you props for having the balls to read this, but the real question is - do you have the stomach to digest this? This is meant to give bands in insight into the minds eye of talent buyers and booking agents for venues and concert promotion companies. They just aren't stupid to actually put it all in writing like I am. Basically it comes down to this, your ability to bring people to an event. If a band can't do that, then they don't get booked on weekend shows or high profile shows.

This is meant to educate and give your band an insight on what we look for and how our days usually go. If you take this insight, plus some hard work, and a bit of humility, you WILL go far in the local scene. I'm not saying you will get picked up by Metal Blade records or anything but you will have a solid relationship amongst promoters an venues and they will
bend over backwards to help you out and put you on
good shows.

Now this may piss many of you off as you read it. That's fine and quite frankly, move on with your life. Don't try to email me about this or that or how sometimes shit happens....like they say "shit happens..and usually around assholes". Seriously, if a band can't bring in more than 25 people (and I'm being VERY generous) to a show..unless they fix that quick- they should just break up. Seriously. I'm not kidding.



1. MY TOP PRIORITY IS TAKING CARE OF THE VENUE.
These are the people to which I have negotiated to host the event in return for paying them cash out of my pocket. They give me a date in good confidence in hopes of making a profit. yes, I said profit. Meaning $$$. It is my duty to them to make sure that people come to these events in hopes of making a profit for the venue as well as myself. I do not
book shows that have 6 bands on them and only bring in 43 people. I am not a charity. Once I land a job at UNICEF booking concerts for bands, I will be happy book bands that play in front of absolutely nobody. But I like to live in a place called "Reality" and we don't do that here.

As far as the bands go, I book them in good confidence expecting them to be able to bring in people to an event. At least 25 people per band. If I don't see that, I AM disappointed regardless of excuses. I'm not sorry for saying that.... I'm just being real.

2. I AM NOT PAID TO BE A FAN/FRIEND OF THE BANDS
If the band is made up of great guys, and make great music, great! But it's secondary. Would you refuse your paycheck just because your boss was a dick? I know I wouldn't. Also, friendships turn into favors which turns into bad shows which turns into lost friends. Nobody's happy at that point.

3. THIS IS MY JOB. PERIOD. While this may just be a hobby for a band to play out because they think "it's cool", it's not for me. THIS IS MY PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME. My paycheck is in DIRECT relation to how many people come thru the door. Basically as well as bluntly put- If you dont care about bringing people to my event, I really don't care about your band. You reap what you sow. If you do a great job bringing people to the show, you'll get rewarded in kind.

4. WEEKEND SHOWS Okay, I've seen this way too many times. A band is booked for an off-peak event (on Sunday/Thursday night) and they bring in 15 people. Then as the evening progresses they say something to the effect of "Well, if we could get on a Saturday night, we could bring in 75 people". No they can't. period. If they can bring in 75 on a prime night, then they can do at least 40 on a Sunday. Also, when being asked by a booking agent on how many people you think you can bring to the event, DO NOT say 75 and then have 20-30 people come thru the door for your band. It's pisses us off and makes us think VERY VERY VERY hard about trusting to book you again for a weekend night. That make make you mad, but remember, THIS IS MY JOB!

The bands that cannot draw at least 40 on a Sunday will most likely not be called to play a Saturday night because of one MAJOR reason. High overhead. If I book a show on a Saturday night I am most likely paying double to triple the amount and need to make up for that by booking PROVEN bands that CAN draw people. Like I said, I like to get paid.

5. NATIONAL ACT SHOWS. This often happens as well. I get bands that bring in 17 people on a Thursday night and the band says something to the effect of "Well, if we could just open up for Metallica next month I'm POSITIVE that we can do alot better with bringing our people to the show". No
shit? Really? My grandmother can do just as well selling that out as will that band and she's been dead for over 2 years and never touched an instrument.


Odds are that band isn't really promoting their shows. And like I said, if they don't care then why the hell should I?

6. THE FRESH BANDS. Ah, the new blood of the concert scene. Going into my 4th year of concert promotion, I have NOT ONCE been disappointed. NOT A SINGLE TIME. Let me tell you why. These bands are hungry. They have something to prove. The appreciate the fact that a promoter or a venue is willing to risk an untested band to get on stage and entertain the crowd. These bands hustle and they tell EVERYBODY about the show as well as promote it in kind. THEY GET REWARDED and the fun and energy they have on stage makes all of the bullshit I deal with worth it.

7. A WARNING TO ESTABLISHED BANDS. To every yin, there's a yang. I cannot even count how many times a band with a moderate name in the local scene HAS dissapointed me. They think they don't have to try anymore and they also begin to expect things as well. Like just the fact they have a name on the bill, they expect 75 people to show up. And if it doesn't happen, they blame everybody but themselves. There are 2 words that I learned from the
military-COMPLACENCY KILLS.

I have heard countless times from bands of higher stature on how great it was opening for Jesus Christ and Motorhead at the Galilee Amphitheatre in front of 50,000 people and only bring in 27 people for my event. As my cousin Tommy says "That's a great story but no one really cares". In this industry it's all about what have you done for me lately.

Bands of this status must remember what it took to get them there as well as the first time they got on stage as that particular band. Itf they don't have that drive, well, they're just biding their time until the band's demise.

8. TALENT. Did you hear me use this word even once in the previous 7 bulletpoints? That wasn't on accident. For me as a promoter, it's about butts in the buckets and to make sure everyone has a great time. PERIOD. That means if I actually like a band..it's a BONUS. But it's not the end all be all
of the show.

Example: A band that wants to play on one of my gigs that are musically lacking but consistanly bring in 145 people to a show. My response is "SURE! no problem." As I reach for my earplugs. And as for a band that can play "Stairway to Heaven" blindfolded but can only bring in 6 people to the show? Um, yeah I think I may have lost they're contact information.

This is the brutal truth like I said. It isn't pretty but it IS pretty simple- BRING PEOPLE TO WATCH YOU PLAY.

Like a very wise man with platinum blonde hair once said-
"Whether you like it, or you don't like it. Learn to love it. Because it's the best thing going today. WOOOO!"

Well, I didn't intend to offend but may have offended with my intent. To that I say, get over it, and I hope we can part as friends.
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