Ah, the dream of being a rock-n-roll icon. You've formed your own band. You've worked very hard developing your craft. Your art needs to be heard. You must bring it to the public. Where do you go? You consider several options. Coffee houses, bars, school talent shows, parties, etc. You'll play your music anywhere and for any price. You're an artist and the art is what needs to be heard, seen, and experienced. You don't care about money (not yet) because in the world of an artist the experience is to be shared (or shown off, depending on the degree of the artist). And there must be plenty of places that want to promote your art. After all, they all say that they promote the local arts. They wouldn't lie…would they?

Welcome to the local gig ticket scam. You too can perform at a legendary club or venue. All you have to do is sell X amount of tickets…25, 30, 50. They'll be $10 or more each, but you'll get to keep $2 of each ticket sold. You'll be performing with 4 or 5 other bands, so the club will be packed. You'll gain an immediate following of ravenous fans. And did we mention, you'll be performing at a legendary venue? This could mean instant success. You better do this, because you'll only have one chance. Did we forget to tell you that if you don't sell your quota, you may not be able to perform or may have to pay us the balance of the money for those tickets? Don't blow it. Sell, sell, sell! This is your career on the line!

You probably can guess by now that I'm being extremely sarcastic. But this scam has been going on for years and it continues today. And it's getting much worse. Musicians and other artists are so willing to play that they get suckered in by these deals. In most cases, they're told that you have to play the game in order to be successful. Most performers I know (myself included – and I know myself pretty well) have had to deal with this. Eventually, they get wise and move on, booking themselves in venues that pay them for their services or perform for free for the fun of it. But you "promoters" don't worry. There will be plenty of more young bands you can prey upon. And in a few years, when they figure out that these gigs don't bring success, they'll move on and you can rip off some even younger bands.

I guess this sounds a little cynical. I understand that these venues are running businesses and need to make money. But so do the artists. I used quotation marks on "promoters", because I don't know too many that call themselves this that actually promote. They are hired by a venue to bring business into an establishment. They, in turn, contact acts (or the acts contact them) and are told to sell a quota of tickets. The acts actually do the promoting but only get paid 1/5 or less of the money for doing so. They are told to bring all of their friends…try keeping this up on a weekly basis, or even a monthly one. They are told that they will gain new fans because the club will be packed with all of the bands friends. Did you ever notice at these shows that once and band finishes their set most of their fans leave. If they do stick around, it's rare that they will become fans of your act anyway either because of loyalty to "their" band or because they just don't care. And try gaining new fans when you're a pop band put on a bill with heavy metal acts. Eventually, you'll bug your friends so much about buying tickets to your shows that they'll get annoyed and you'll end up losing fans. Remember, you're no longer an artist/performer. You're a salesperson now.

And then comes your "one" shot for success. If you don't sell enough for the club, the so called promoter may become very angry (because he or she may eventually get fired). They may bump you. They might even demand you pay them the balance of ticket money owed. And you'll do it because you want to play the club again…the legendary venue. (I'd just laugh in their face). Why, if these venues are so legendary, does no one show up at them unless you drag your friends or people off the street to fill them? The sports bars are packed and there's no entertainment there (that's a whole other blog). 

But what really pisses me off is that these venues say that they promote local music. There are truly some places that do. Some even lose money trying to lift the artistic scene to new levels. I applaud them. But too many other establishments prey on musician's yearning for artistic success or attention under the guise of promoting art. That just isn't right. The funny thing is that many former musicians (and current ones) pull this scam on others as it was done to them previously. They know it's wrong, but they continue to try to make a buck out of it.

It's sad that this practice will continue. Artists have a need to share their art, so they will always sell themselves short. I hope it just doesn't get to the point of having to pay every time you play. It could go that way, as now smaller bars and even certain coffee houses are getting in on the act. There is a possible solution, and I do say possible. Maybe if musicians and artists perform at places that truly appreciate what they are doing and shy away from the "local ticket gigs"…maybe then those venues may change their stance. And I'm not saying to totally boycott those places. Sometimes, you do need a high profile gig. Say, for example, a CD release party or opening for a major act. But when artists do the local band ticket gig shows on a regular basis, they just perpetuate the problem.

Now will these clubs and venues boycott me for writing this blog? They may. But then again, they haven't done anything for my career anyway…and I've been around for more than a little while. And yes, I have fallen for the scam too. But if there are no other places left to play, I'll just throw a party at my house and perform there – FOR FREE. I told you I'd find a way. True art lives if you want it to!

Don Lee