*warning* rant about an upcoming gig

tfernandez · #1 09-29-2010, 10:32 PM

well here we go,
my band is currently booking with one of those "you bring the people we make the gig" local people currently. we have booked with them since the summer and have had mixed results as far as quality and treatment are concerned.
The only real reason we continued to stay with them was because of a big gig they had us set up for that is a festival showcasing the top up and coming local bands. it was originally gonna be in july, but due to the venue not having an open time slot, it was pushed back all the way to next sunday (10/10/10.)
wellllllllllllllllllllllll, having already sold 30+ pre-sale tickets, I was having a conversation with a bass player who i went to high school with (trying to pitch him a ticket

) went he tells me that the venue is closing down this week. I checked the venues website and he wasn't joking. said their last show will be this friday.
None of my band members have received any word from the people booking the show, the booking company hasn't posted any kind of notice about it to anyone, and the event is still on their facebook. I'm completely at a loss for what action I should take and only me and the drummer currently know of this detail

ric stave · #2 09-29-2010, 10:49 PM

When a venue is closing, they have much bigger problems than yours - sorry to be blunt, but this is life. You are losing a gig, they are losing their business.

Confirm it to be true, tell everyone you know (who cares) that the show is off, and either try to rebook somewhere else or just let it go.

Not much else you CAN do.....

tfernandez · #3 09-29-2010, 10:57 PM

Yes I understand the venue has other issues. my issue is with the booking company who hasn't notified anyone about the potential shut down of the gig or done anything to bring the issue to the performing bands attentions so they can halt ticket sales. we have sent them an email and text message about this and are waiting for a reply. this was just more of a quick rant.

walterw · #4 09-29-2010, 11:52 PM

don't f**k around with emails and texts, call those bitches!

reason #435 why pay-to-play is a bad deal.

Munjibunga · #5 09-30-2010, 12:01 AM

Guess you'd better start giving people their money back.

hamertek98 · #6 09-30-2010, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Guess you'd better start giving people their money back.

This

tfernandez · #7 09-30-2010, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Guess you'd better start giving people their money back.

indeed sir you are correct. have to start tomorrow morning

mboogiemanusa · #8 09-30-2010, 03:36 PM

Yup Welcome to the music business. Another reason to not do presale "pay to play" gigs. Venues close all time. Once was hired to do sound at a pay to play festival type gig and the local cops shut it down during the sound check. 4 bands and their fans got screwed. Keep in mind that many people booking gigs at the local level are amateurs and learning as they go. Anything you do at the local level is going to be a little flakey. Hang in there and try to laugh at these Spinal Tap moments because there will be many of them.

CapnSev · #9 09-30-2010, 03:41 PM

A pay-to-play venue that isn't successful? Nah, couldn't be.

MatticusMania · #10 09-30-2010, 03:47 PM

Maybe the pay to play promoters are reopening the venue after management shuts it down... like they have a permit to use the place

zaubertuba · #11 09-30-2010, 04:54 PM

Some promoters can be notoriously bad about communication. I had a concert cancel once where we (the venue) didn't hear about the cancellation until a ticket buyer contacted us asking why the concert had been cancelled. So it happens on both sides.

I now try to be *highly* selective of what third-parties I allow to book with us. I have a few gems who are responsible, great to work with, pay their bills, bring great talent and know how to market. But they're unfortunately few and far between.

Beware the middle-man. Few have any motivation to be in the business but for their pocketbooks. The ones who are passionate about connecting the people with the art are the ones who will serve you well.

tfernandez · #12 10-01-2010, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mboogiemanusa

Yup Welcome to the music business. Another reason to not do presale "pay to play" gigs. Venues close all time. Once was hired to do sound at a pay to play festival type gig and the local cops shut it down during the sound check. 4 bands and their fans got screwed. Keep in mind that many people booking gigs at the local level are amateurs and learning as they go. Anything you do at the local level is going to be a little flakey. Hang in there and try to laugh at these Spinal Tap moments because there will be many of them.

I wish it I could just brush it off as them being amateurs, but alas, they have been doing this for a number of years and it is their actual job. they finally caught up with the info when someone told them the venue closed down today. said for everyone to refund the money and that they are looking for a new venue currently.