bands charging other bands to play

XHonusWagnerX - 4-5-2011 at 11:49 AM

I just found out that a band that my old band used to play with is selling slots to open for them for their big 'come back' show.

They are a local RI band that acomplished a little. They were on a comp that Psychopathic Records put out, they toured opening for that band Rehab and a few other things. I know thats stuff that everyone here things sucks, but it is some what of an acomplishment in that style of music.

Anway, they always drew WAY more people to shows than my band did because they were the 'cool kids' and when they played it was a big party. They stopped playing clubs and started booking shows at halls because they could make more money that way.

Well the band had revolving members over the last year or so and now the 'original line up' is back and the singer is saying its 'all business' and they are charing $200 to open for them. He says that people are begging to pay and that 3 out of 4 slots are sold.

I know this goes on in BIG money for things like the Warped Tour and OzFest, but I find it apalling that its going on with a local unsigned band. I just got in an argument with the kid through email about it and my point was missed. He just said "thats why your band failed" and it pissed me off.

I know no one here cares, I just had to vent....

Mark Lind - 4-5-2011 at 11:54 AM

This is standard. It's called a "Buy On". Usually it's reserved for big tours like the Warped Tour or Ozzfest but I know of a few bands that have paid to get on good tours. In theory they use the money to buy better advertising so it is a promotional expense for the record label.

Nevermind. All I did was echo what you already said. haha

gavin - 4-5-2011 at 12:10 PM

Never...ever..ever....ever...ever would do this

Johnny_Whistle - 4-5-2011 at 12:15 PM

They do stuff like that a lot in standup comedy too, but they're a little sneakier about it. If you want a spot on certain shows, you have to bring a certain number of paying guests. They're called "bringer shows," and they suck too. It's basically a way for the promoter to not have to do any work to get people into the room.

Discipline - 4-5-2011 at 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gavin
Never...ever..ever....ever...ever would do this

Voodoobillyman - 4-5-2011 at 12:56 PM

I was clueless to this kind of thing. Can't say I agree with it much, but it does make sense from a business standpoint. That said, a local band doing a reunion show who never amounted to shit to begin with does not warrant this kind of demand in my opinion. Oh, and because he said that to you Josh, fuck him in his eyes.

XHonusWagnerX - 4-5-2011 at 01:48 PM

well this isnt their 'reunion' its actually their big 'come back' or its supposed to be. They have all kinds of plans for tours etc and if they can get 5 jackass bands to pay to open in each city they will make a killing I guess.

I just cant even comprehend this on this level of music. I know about the stuff like Mark said for tours, but not a local band like this.

I know about the comedy thing too because I have a friend that does some comedy, but even that for what he did is usually like bring 5 people which isnt that bad. I dont fault a bar/club whatever for wanting the act to bring some people in... ehh... I dont know I just dont agree with it on the level that this bullshit band is at.

lifeisabitch - 4-5-2011 at 02:18 PM

tell me it's a certain band that I printed for, but they said my prices were too high... too f'n fruits too big for their own britches

XHonusWagnerX - 4-5-2011 at 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lifeisabitch
tell me it's a certain band that I printed for, but they said my prices were too high... too f'n fruits too big for their own britches

hahah you did print for them awhile back, but I dont know if they said anything about pricing. Its not Wolfpac, I dont know if thats who you're thinking of. This band had the a Heiniken rip off logo and one that was a circle with MMZ in it.

They are supposed to get ahold of New Republic for printing some new stuff, but who knows if they actually will or not.

JawnDiablo - 4-5-2011 at 03:01 PM

tell em to suck it.

newbreedbrian - 4-5-2011 at 03:25 PM

That's pathetic, whether it's "the way things are done" or not. I'd have zero interest in being on either side of that coin.

lifeisabitch - 4-5-2011 at 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX

Quote:

Originally posted by lifeisabitch
tell me it's a certain band that I printed for, but they said my prices were too high... too f'n fruits too big for their own britches

no I still print for wolfpac when they have money...
no I knew from the jump off that it was mmz
fuck them rock star wannabes

and I hate it when clubs make smaller bands sell tickets for bigger headliners... I have heard of clubs charging the bands for the unsold tickets...
lazy fucking promoting
if you can't fill the hall don't make your openers pay for it.

Mark Lind - 4-5-2011 at 04:28 PM

The only band from Providence that I know of that matters is The Amazing Royal Crowns. Then there was Shed.......

Discipline - 4-5-2011 at 04:43 PM

As far as I'm concerned, charging bands to open for you is the exact opposite of what I believe this music is supposed to be about. Maybe they're rap-metal or whatever, but it's still complete bullshit in my opinion. If some local band who never did anything tried to charge me to open for them I'm kick the shit out of them based solely on the fact that they're fucking retards.

XHonusWagnerX - 4-5-2011 at 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark Lind
The only band from Providence that I know of that matters is The Amazing Royal Crowns. Then there was Shed.......

awwww ouch! theres a lot of bands that matter to me from Providence. For the broken up bands I liked Shed, State of Corruption, Times Expired, Courage to Be, Are We Dead Yet?!?!, Skinned Alive, Wrapcoil, Severance and some others.

There are a lot of great current bands in Providence too though... Dropdead, The White Mice, Lolita Black, White Load and my current favorite... Neon Bitches!

rollinpinmim - 4-5-2011 at 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark Lind
The only band from Providence that I know of that matters is The Amazing Royal Crowns. Then there was Shed.......

Mark i couldn't agree more with you on this!

By the way what is going with selling those records? I haven't heard back from you.

Six66Mike - 4-5-2011 at 11:56 PM

Reminds me of shit like Supernova and other showcases where the bands have to sell a ton of tickets or they can't play, and have to pay to be on the showcase.