So lets talk about something that I know a lot of people in bands and music promoters fight over ... the practice of pay to play. For those of you that are unfamiliar with this practice, it is when a concert/ show promoter makes a band buy a large amount of tickets to sell. In return, the promoter will put you on said show. So the band will go out and sell the tickets they bought and make their money back and then some. Now do not get this confused with a practice I know First Fleet does where they will give the bands the tickets up front with no moneys involved and you just give them the money the day of the show.... that I am better with seeing how it doesnt put anyone in a financial bind. Now I understand both sides of this practice..... The business side is simple.... well.... its business. I get that money is involved and you are also putting a bit of responsibility on the bands to go promote the show as well instead of just sitting back and soaking the fact they get to play a big fancy show while the promoter busts his ass to get the word out. I get all that.... to a extent. But from a bands point of view, its discouraging and it honestly makes me hate when the music scene has become. It puts a lot of young bands and young kids in a spot that feel like they have to spend all this money to make it or just to play in front of a big crowd. I have been lucky enough to been able to play with a lot of big bands before pay to play sorta became the norm, which is why I can tell you how much it sucks seeing where playing music has gone. Now I said I understood the business side of it to a extent. By that I mean this..... Certain shows are so big they dont need extra promoting from the opening bands that want to play. If I booked New Found Glory for a show and Straight Up or Exit, Emergency asked to play, there is a damn good chance that any of those bands fans was probably going to the show anyways regardless of who sold them the ticket. You maybe asking yourself why I am bringing this up.... The last week or so I have been in contact with a promoter as a venue about possibly playing a pretty good sized show out of state. The conversation eventually got down to business and it was discovered that they are asking bands to buy $400 worth of tickets in order to secure a spot on the show. And the show was going to sell a good amount of tickets with no local openers helping promote in my opinion. Now this was easy to turn down and go about my day. But it made me think of the younger bands feeling like they HAVE to do this. Fact is... you dont have to. It might be a huge dream of yours to open for August Burns Red or Hatebreed... but its not worth the gamble. #EndRant
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 04:28:30 +0000
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