Why must this happen...

[edbass]

Look at some of the "musicians" that sell platinum. It generally isn't about the talent, there are plenty of truly talented performers starving and just as many hacks making big money.
Pertaining to local club scenes, I've said many times;

If you get up on stage in your skivvies and band two pots together, and 150-200 hard drinking people regularly come to see you do it, you are the best band that club owner ever heard.

Is it morally righteous? IMO sadly it doesn't really matter; it's been my experience that it's all about the bottom line, and the quicker you figure that out, the quicker you will start making money.

[Geddyfleaharris]

Originally Posted by Jason P Bass

Could be a useless middleman, or it could be someone looking for a band that can draw 35 people to turn into a band that can draw 100 people. I've never made it to that level so I couldn't say.

And that puts a lot of things into perspective. Until you play in an all original band it is sometimes very tough to appreciate how hard it is to develop a following that consists of more than immediate friends and family who will come and see you just because it is you. Getting 2,3 or 5 hundred people out to a show, just with your band as the draw, is a lot tougher than one might think.

Even more perspective is this - I saw Testament this past spring in a small venue in our city play to MAYBE 750 people. Now Testament might not be the biggest thrash-type band out there but they have been around +/- 20 years, played major festivals and done some big time tours. 750 people might even be an over statement. My point being that drawing people is not just a simple "hey our band is playing. Come and see us" and developing a large, loyal following is even tougher.

[Spinal Tapper]

Originally Posted by Geddyfleaharris

And that puts a lot of things into perspective. Until you play in an all original band it is sometimes very tough to appreciate how hard it is to develop a following that consists of more than immediate friends and family who will come and see you just because it is you. Getting 2,3 or 5 hundred people out to a show, just with your band as the draw, is a lot tougher than one might think.

Even more perspective is this - I saw Testament this past spring in a small venue in our city play to MAYBE 750 people. Now Testament might not be the biggest thrash-type band out there but they have been around +/- 20 years, played major festivals and done some big time tours. 750 people might even be an over statement. My point being that drawing people is not just a simple "hey our band is playing. Come and see us" and developing a large, loyal following is even tougher.

+1,000,000