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24 Aug 2008, 11:35 am / Can't Find My Way Home
The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.
-- Hunter S. Thompson
A new generation of middlemen is emerging in the music industry as it continues to morph into whatever it is going to become.
I am amazed at the shadiness and pettiness I see when dealing with people in the music business. I have a friend who actually lists the names of music promoters she will NEVER work with. I used to think to myself that I can work with anybody, good or bad, because as long as I keep my act together things would run both smoothly and successfully.
Not so much.
I had two bands last night who failed miserably in the promotion of their shows. For this, I absolutely blame myself. Both acts were under the impression that they were playing a benefit and that the shows were promoted as such, meaning that each act could just show up and do a few sets and entertain an audience that had gathered for a purpose. I didn't effectively communicate to the bands that they needed to promote the shows. So, the venue was nearly empty and though we had hoped for an attendance of 100 or more, we unfortunately had about 25 paid at the door.
Oh well. I kept my end of the bargain and paid each band their guaranteed show fee and chalked it up to experience and realized that even though I know and understand most facets of the music business, my communication skills when it comes to organizing events needs a little work. Make that a lot of work - which is why as I am organizing SXSW I have surrounded myself with competent people and event planners who will more than adequately compensate for my shortcomings.
That being said, of the two acts that performed last night, one insisted on involving their personal promotion staff. I agreed to this against my personal belief because I like to be as accommodating as possible. Dumb move. First, the band wanted to start at 8 PM but at 8 PM I had just opened my doors and only our staff was in the building. So I asked them to wait until 9 PM, and the band was fine with that.
However, Mr. Promoter walked in at 8:45 and DEMANDED to know why his band had yet to take the stage. Then he proceeded to walk over to me while I was entertaining friends of mine and went off on me, blaming me for the low attendance and blaming the second band for having not promoted the show.
As I said, there were 25 guests, 12 to see the first band and 13 to see the second. Mr. Promoter then escorted his girlfriend to the beer garden after he "faced" me once again in front of my staff. I am amazed that I kept my cool and just went about my business.
I went to the beer garden in attempt to address his concerns and for a third time he went off on me. His job, as a promoter was to, in fact, promote this show. He failed. Now, I admit to failure on my part and I wholeheartedly accepted 100% of the blame on my end, but the promoter tried to blame everybody else for his ineptitude. Trying to assuage his feelings only made it worse until he threw his bottle of beer on the ground, grabbed his escort and left shouting he would never step foot in my bar again.
For all of this nonsense, he was paid a $200 promotion fee on top of the guarantee for the band. I am, if nothing else, a man of my word and though there was no contract, I kept my promise and paid everybody at a HUGE loss to myself.
Unfortunately, his tantrum reflected negatively on his band, who still put on a pretty decent show. It was the first time the band played my bar and sadly it will be the last unless they sever ties with their promoter. Just as my friend has done, I am now compiling a list of promoters I will never work with and he is the first one on the list.
I have but one question to pose after all of this..............why on earth would you want representation that literally bleeds unprofessional-ism and restricts your earning ability? I failed miserably, but I will never sacrifice my integrity nor my ethical responsibility by not honoring my word, or by blaming anyone and everyone for my deficiencies.
Peace Out,
Mike
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