72 replies to this topic

[donald]

Here's the email that I sent:

Hi there, _____!

This is Jose Gonzalez from Dangerville.

You recently contacted us via our MySpace page about performing at the Rhythm Room on Thursday, June 3rd! So, sorry about the delay in getting back to you. Things have just been super-busy.

It sounds awesome, though!

Before we entirely commit, though, I just wanted to be clear on the terms of performance.

Generally, for 15 minutes of performance, our going rate is $250, for 30 minutes - $450, and for 60 minutes is $850. If there is a cut of the door that is to be received, assuming we've been compensated appropriately, we generally distribute our cut amongst the other bands that are performing.

Also, we recently sold our pilot, "Light After Dark" to BET / Viacom. We're really excited about it!

"Light After Dark" is a weekly showcase of non-African-American musicians and performers and it will be airing afterhours on BET in the fall.

All that is to say that Viacom would actually own broadcast rights (across tv, web, radio, print or video text messaging) of any film and video of our performance and any repurposing of the footage. It actually might be possible to feature some of the other bands that might be performing, too!

So, I hope all that is cool.

Could you send me your fax number so that our legal team can send you the paper work?

Thanks so much!

- jose

I haven't heard back.

PFM

[Tony]

Hey - that's still 5 more than your staff brought, and they're gonna get paid :-)

So what should a band that draws 5 people @ $6 a head get paid for future reference?

they should get paid whatever they can negotiate... Realistically something like 100% of the door plus 10% of the bar tab. Cause again, that's 5 people who would otherwise be home watching dr oz & the venue ought to be thrilled to have them.

dude, i have to disagree with you there. if the venue has to employ or pay anyone specifically to support the band then that needs to come from somewhere.

i've never expected to get paid if we draw poorly. it's the bands responsibility to bring some people in the door.

[HNIC]

it's the bands responsibility to bring some people in the door.

How dare you...

[raubhimself]

Just tossing this out there to fan the flames but if the band brings in 6 people and the venue brings in none, who should get paid? I mean this is all about who is putting in promotion work, right? I have played shows where we just ended up playing in front of our friends and the other bands. I had to drive 2 hours down and 2 hours back on a weeknight to not get paid (whatever money was made went to the touring dude) even though we got whatever crowd was there. Now I don't particularly care, the money isn't an issue to me and it was a fun as hell show (40s and bums hell yes). But it just seems weird that the rule is that the venue and/or touring act is the default for whatever money there is when we were the reason there was a crowd at all.

The pisser I guess is that bands can do a lot of promotion work with little success. Wasn't there a discussion here not too long ago about ignoring flyers most of the time? I dunno how it is in PHX but here it seems like you have to convince your friends to come if you want to sell tickets and look good for the venue.

By the way I don't know you HNIC but I probably want your bike too.

[HNIC]

Trust me the venue is not making a profit off of your 6 people. And as stated before I can draw more than 6 people standing behind the bar with my friends coming to say hi. And if you are playing with a touring artist it should be made aware that in most cases the touring band will get paid before you, you would want the same if you were on the road.

[raubhimself]

Ok well you being able to draw 6 people easily is as telling of venues in general as me saying my band works hard in promoting is telling of bands in general. Jussayin' I've been in the situation where the only people in the crowd were people we personally invited and the other acts. I have no problem giving money to the touring artist, that's no issue. But (assuming no touring act) if the venue were to say "well only 10 people came so we can't pay you" isn't that kind of shitty considering 100% of the money made was because of my band? All I'm saying is that bands can get screwed over by venues just as easily as venues can get screwed over by bands. When very few people come to a show it doesn't just suck for the venue.

[hexaclopsclopsclops]

Mavaru is the latest version of this scam. Here's what we just got on our myspace page:



Hi,




I wasn't sure if you received this email - I'm excited to get in touch.




I'm contacting you on behalf of Mavaru, because I'm interested in recruiting artists for the Mavaru Catalog. Mavaru (currently invite-only) is a smart online music store where you can connect directly to your fans, grow your following, and sell your music in a way that you've never experienced before. It's also a growing community created by artists who are putting their heads together to create a greater voice and place for ourselves in this evolving industry - and the time to do this is now.




Right now, Mavaru is in private beta. To learn more and sign up for an invite, just visit the site (http://www.mavaru.com). When you get invited to join, you'll be granted access to Mavaru's exclusive and powerful artist tools and you'll be able to sell your music on a unique pricing model. Mavaru is currently only accepting artists who meet a high standard in their quality of work (signed or unsigned), and invites are limited. Please feel free to email info@mavaru.com if you have any questions or just want to say hi.




Thanks,




Rob Dey, A&R




-The Mavaru Team

[jeremx]

I wasn't sure if you received this email - I'm excited to get in touch.
Rob Dey, A&R
-The Mavaru Team

"wasn't sure if you received this.." because we're sending one to every band with a website or myspace page. A&R via mass email blast.

i'd think getting out, seeing the bands, getting drunk, getting laid by telling girls you're with a label, etc.. would be the main reason to be an a&r rep. so much for the glory days of rock and roll. ha.

[joe.distort]

and sell your music in a way that you've never experienced before

what the hell does this entail?

[hexaclopsclopsclops]

and sell your music in a way that you've never experienced before

what the hell does this entail?

HANDIES!!!

[esonkcid]

interesting.
scumbag bands that dont promote, duking it out in a forum with scumbag promoters who don't promote.
why didn't i see this site before?
this is awesome. can't wait to see who really loses, cuz neither of you are going to win going back and forth with this crap.

if you play in a band, promote and draw or get the fuck out of the bar scene and play at house parties.

if you think you're a promoter, please look that word up in the dictionary, and see what it entails.



here, i'll save you the work, but to be honest, if you're a scumbag promoter, you wouldn't bother anyway.

pro·mot·er   /prəˈmoʊtər/ Show Spelled[pruh-moh-ter] Show IPA
–noun
1.a person or thing that promotes, furthers, or encourages. <-- this would be a good place to start.



esonkciD

[jeremx]

interesting.
scumbag bands that dont promote, duking it out in a forum with scumbag promoters who don't promote.
why didn't i see this site before?
this is awesome. can't wait to see who really loses, cuz neither of you are going to win going back and forth with this crap.

if you play in a band, promote and draw or get the fuck out of the bar scene and play at house parties.

if you think you're a promoter, please look that word up in the dictionary, and see what it entails.



here, i'll save you the work, but to be honest, if you're a scumbag promoter, you wouldn't bother anyway.

pro·mot·er   /prəˈmoʊtər/ Show Spelled[pruh-moh-ter] Show IPA
–noun
1.a person or thing that promotes, furthers, or encourages. <-- this would be a good place to start.



esonkciD

great first post. ha ha.. thanks martin for sendin' people over.

[Tony]

interesting.
scumbag bands that dont promote, duking it out in a forum with scumbag promoters who don't promote.
why didn't i see this site before?
this is awesome. can't wait to see who really loses, cuz neither of you are going to win going back and forth with this crap.

if you play in a band, promote and draw or get the fuck out of the bar scene and play at house parties.

if you think you're a promoter, please look that word up in the dictionary, and see what it entails.



here, i'll save you the work, but to be honest, if you're a scumbag promoter, you wouldn't bother anyway.

pro·mot·er   /prəˈmoʊtər/ Show Spelled[pruh-moh-ter] Show IPA
–noun
1.a person or thing that promotes, furthers, or encourages. <-- this would be a good place to start.



esonkciD

hey, thanks for setting us straight and helping us "win". whatever that means.

[mig50]

do we get trophies now? or at least medals?

[jeremx]

do we get trophies now? or at least medals?

a "participant" ribbon.