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Preparing for the Anger

D

DizzyExiled

Jan 22, 2010
349
2
44
Chico, Ca
#1
So one of the bands I've been working with from behind my keyboard has a gig coming up opening up for a national act

Two nights Electric then Acoustic. Four acts for the electric show consisting of 30 minute sets for the support and the headliner has a 120 minute set.
The acoustic show has 3 acts with a 30/30/120 set time.

the problem arises, potentially, with the fans of the band I'm working for. The reasons being

1. We're a regional act that has packed the very same 600 cap venue on more than occasion.
2. Tickets for these shows are running about $40 per night, when it's just us, the cost runs about $15.


I'm pretty sure the die-hard fans of ours will be coming to see us and not caring about one or two of the other bands. We also expect the local openers to run their sets long and push our 30 minute set down into the 20 minute area. (Murphy's law and all that)

My question to you fine folks is how to do the damage control?
We just released a handful of live recordings for free, in a fan appreciation thing and now we're going to piss off a few of them for something that is out of our control. Also we can't gripe too much otherwise we'll piss off the venue/promoters.

Thoughts?
 
#2
If your fans really are fans, they will pay the $40 to come see you. Maybe they will even discover some new music they like. The way I see it, your fans should have no complaints. You (the band they know and love) are opening for a big national act! They should be proud of your next step. If they complain, explain it to them that way. It was the next big step in your career. I don't get mad at my favorite bands when they get signed or move to a major label. The need to put food on the table and pursue their dream too. So what if I now have to pay $50 instead of $5 to see them. I am proud of them.
 
#4
Yerf Dog said:
If I was a fan I can't imagine something like that pissing me off.
Click to expand...

+1

If you do get any complaints, you can simply explain via whatever medium the complaint was registered in - blog, forum, myspace/facebook, direct email, in person, etc. - that you were hired for this gig and the details of the gig (i.e. the ticket prices and set lengths) are completely out of your control. How can any RATIONAL fan be upset with that explanation?

Now, if your fan base consists mostly of irrational people with anger management issues, then you might be screwed... :eek:
 
#5
DizzyExiled said:
So one of the bands I've been working with from behind my keyboard has a gig coming up opening up for a national act

Two nights Electric then Acoustic. Four acts for the electric show consisting of 30 minute sets for the support and the headliner has a 120 minute set.
The acoustic show has 3 acts with a 30/30/120 set time.

the problem arises, potentially, with the fans of the band I'm working for. The reasons being

1. We're a regional act that has packed the very same 600 cap venue on more than occasion.
2. Tickets for these shows are running about $40 per night, when it's just us, the cost runs about $15.


I'm pretty sure the die-hard fans of ours will be coming to see us and not caring about one or two of the other bands. We also expect the local openers to run their sets long and push our 30 minute set down into the 20 minute area. (Murphy's law and all that)

My question to you fine folks is how to do the damage control?
We just released a handful of live recordings for free, in a fan appreciation thing and now we're going to piss off a few of them for something that is out of our control. Also we can't gripe too much otherwise we'll piss off the venue/promoters.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
why would they get mad.....if this turns out to open some doors you would think that your fans would be thrilled
 
#8
Thanks for the input folks much appreciated, The aforementioned national act is, w/out naming names, one of the fairly well known bands from the 90's, had 3 or 4 vids on mtv and have fallen to the wayside.

The majority of our fans are cool about things, but it seems that lately that certain people are expecting more for their buck on entertainment...

That balancing act of being the people between the industry and the fans is quite a precarious exercise.
 
#10
i think you are saying your opening bands going late will cut your set shorter and you are playing after them? that shouldent happen. it certainly wouldent happen on a pro tour. if the band before u goes on late or has problems, the set still ends according to schedule. johnny a.
 
#11
Well a follow-up.


The two nights with the "National Act" didn't happen.

One Night with 1/3rd of the "National Act" with two week old 'fill-in' guys who never rehearsed any of the songs showed up 3hrs late the first night (missed soundcheck, proceded to load in, and surprise the house with his own mixer and monitors, and played an acoustic set on the Electric night completely meth-ed out of his mind. Show ran over the soft, hard, and "somebody get this guy off the stage" curfews and we still got our full set in.

He then bailed out on the second night leaving us to headline and the promoter to drop a deuce in his pants.


the $35 tickets scared most the crowd away, We've sold out the place, but the sales were 1/4th of cap. Due to the "National act" failing to appear ticket prices were dropped to $20 and the promoter had to stand out by the box office otherwise the venue owner was going to remove something... Not exactly sure what, but that's the idea that I got from the mushroom cloud he was oh-so-temped to lay on the guy.

Our frontman/bassist said during the second night "We'd like to thank Days of the N-" erm.. " *National act's name* for giving us more time to play." I thought it was cute. Our friends were the third opener on the second night, their contacts in Vegas said that the "National act" front man passed out on stage after tripping over some guitars during their show at the Hard Rock.

I don't think "national act" will see good sales on the new album.
 
#13
I'm curious, did the venue offer you more money when you had to headline?

I'd talk to the actual promoter too, send him an email stating that he breached your contract as well, as you were to open for him and sold tickets at prices to accomodate him. I'm sure the promoter won't react favorably immediately, but you might want to have the promoter throw you a bone and when he gets another national act coming in the area see if he can put you on the bill. That is the least he can do.

I've done about a dozen shows like this in my 30 years. So I know what you are up against. One show I did we did our set, completely loaded out, and the headliner never returned from wherever they went after sound check. Their backline was still there. The venue manager came to us and asked us to do another set. Sure was nice playing through the sound checked, super professional backline (this was early in the career days).

Because we did the club owner that big favor, he gave us several opening slots for other national acts that came through. Wasn't like getting paid the big bucks, but it catapulted the band.
 

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