Gorilla Music

[Waffles and Scotch]

I searched TB and didn't find anything about Gorilla Music, so figured I'd post this email I just sent to the guys in my band...

So I saw an ad online today that said "bands needed for show at The Orpheum on 11/13". I figured what the heck, and sent our links over. Some girl (couldn't have been older than 21) calls me from a company called Gorilla Music out of Cleveland OH.

She asks what type of music we play. Guess she never listened to the links, lol. I tell her, and ask what bands they already have on board. She tells me they have 1 hip-hop band and 1 progressive metal band! ***?! She then tells me it's a battle of the bands with 9 bands, 30 minute sets, winner gets $500 and 20hrs of studio time, and the judging is based on crowd response. The order the bands play in is determined by the number of tickets they sell (shocker!). I ask if the tickets are through Ticket Master and she says they have a girl there that makes them and mails them to you. You get 100 at first and can get more if you need them, and the presale price is $8. I ask what the cut is...mind you each time I ask a question, she asks some guy next to her and you can hear what sounds like a call center in the background...she says - get this - there is NO CUT!! Her exact words were "just hand the cash over when you get there and the winner gets $500". ROFL!!!!

It took all I had to not laugh. I just politely declined the offer and thanked her for calling. I really wanted to rip into someone that works there, but I realize she's just doing her job, and I'll likely never speak to anyone that's actually in charge. Not that it would matter anyway.

Anyone out there ever attend one of these "battles"? Is it as awkward as it sounds? I'm almost tempted attend just to see how big of a fiasco it is, but I'd never give my hard earned $$ to one of these scumbag companies...

[brendanbassist]

Ha ha, they used to be called Gorilla Productions, but it sounds like the same group. I was in a band that ended up in one of their Battle of the Bands some years back because our drummer signed us up and we never looked at the details. We actually won, but there's a second catch- the guy collecting the ticket money bails immediately after the show ends, and then later you find out after calling someone higher up in the company that in the fine print it says you only win the $500 if you win the SECOND round, although they verbally told you along you get $500 for just winning the botb that first night.

[bassgod0dmw]

Sounds pretty standard to me

[clutebass]

Years ago when we were first starting out we got invited to play one of these shows put on by Gorilla down here in Cincinnati. They sent us tickets and being naive we were super pumped about it. At the time it was going to be our first gig and I had never heard of the pay to play scams and such. We were warned that there was a fee for cancellation and that basically we just turn the money over when we get there. Fortunately our drummer ended up not being able to make it, then a huge fight ensued and the band broke up and we couldn't play the show. We called the guy to cancel and he didn't answer and never called us back. We didn't lose a dime. Fast forward about 7 years, I laugh at how pumped we were for what was clearly a scam. In fact we just got asked (the band actually all got back together 5 years later) to play a Christmas show for a fairly renowned venue down here. Told us we would have to sell 60 presale tickets. I told the guy no thanks if its a pay to play gig. He never wrote me back! Haha

[TolerancEJ]

My old band participated in some BoB's (not Gorilla). We neverpaid anyone; nor do I think we received payment. Mind you, they were charging admission at the door for both events.

For one show, we knew the promoter already had a plan of making one of his artists the winner. Just a set-up so they could add a BoB win to her credit, in order to build her up. We took 3rd place in this one & I honestly can't remember if we received a prize.

Another was based on musically unknowledgeable crowd response (Ugh!). There were only a handful of decent bands. The rest were complete "poop". The worst band out of everyone ended up winning. None of the talented artists even placed in the top 3. Much like today's American Idol (and similar programs) winners.

[CapnSev]

Absolute scum of the Earth.

Selling tickets to a show

There's another thread that is almost dedicated to Gorilla Productions and their legal problems, but it must have been deleted because I can't find it.

[Spinal Tapper]

I played for these guys once. THESE ARE THE GUYS giving music "promoters" a BAD NAME.

Never again.