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Well, we did it!! (pay to play content)

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#45
ArtechnikA said:
I had a long response to an earlier post typed but an errant 'esc' seems to have wiped it out...

San Diego is Lost Angeles' minor league, as much as it tries to pretend it's not (I've lived in both...)

If you're on the way up, great. If you're on the way down, it could be a soft landing to retirement and obscurity. Or it could mean that you are coming to terms with being a big fish in a small pond. But there are only so many senior proms you can do before you consider hanging it all up...

So as much as San Diego is LA's 'B-Team' - it ain't cheap. You aren't renting any venue people will attend for $1500 a night - especially if there is alcohol involved - this is California...

-I- would come see the OP's set, if I still lived in San Diego. My brother still lives in walking distance to HOB, IIRC. So - date in question please - I'll help spread the word. What's the band's name?

As much as I too don't like the Pay To Play concept (something ingrained into Philadelphia politics on every level...) it seems some times you've got to pay the promotional cost to get the exposure. It's like placing an ad in a magazine or newspaper - you pay a price in the expectation it's an investment in the future. Some pay off - some don't...
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You nailed it. I've always hated the B-team :p ;)

I have stayed very busy in the last 8 years since this band played together. The other guys have not been doing as much as i have so they were stoked on the opportunity. What it brings remains to be seen, but they didn't want to let it go by.
 
#50
Floyd Eye said:
Have a great show brother.
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Will do man! Thanks!


EDIT: It's a good thing i didn't bring this subject up to you guys BEFORE we sold the tickets. I personally have a serious disdain for pay to play as much as everybody. I think letting my own personal feelings go (for once) and just letting things flow might've helped this out. The guys were stoked, they sold tickets, we're happy to play. It took me some time to jump on the bandwagon, but i think it's better off that i did.
 
#51
Not bagging, just always trying to understand this constantly-changing business. So it seems to me then, that in effect, the HOB has arranged:
* Four bands to rent their stage from them for an evening.
* Booze/merch sales from which they profit 100%
* Advertising for the event.

In exchange for their money, the bands get the benefit of advertising, can say they played the HOB, and exposure to the people they did not bring in themselves. Is that about right?
 
#53
I hope it works out for you guys. But personally I would never ever ever ever ever play a pay to play gig just out of principle. It's a dirty scam put on by crooked people. They don't deserve a penny of anybody's money.

But, as I said, I hope it works out for you guys.

Please let us know what happens.
 
#54
Beej said:
Not bagging, just always trying to understand this constantly-changing business. So it seems to me then, that in effect, the HOB has arranged:
* Four bands to rent their stage from them for an evening.
* Booze/merch sales from which they profit 100%
* Advertising for the event.

In exchange for their money, the bands get the benefit of advertising, can say they played the HOB, and exposure to the people they did not bring in themselves. Is that about right?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. The headliner is a very well-known local band that has a long history of selling out shows regardless of the venue. If people didn't want to see the show, why would they buy tickets? How is that renting the stage?

Bands have their own merch sales. Which we profit from.

The headliner paid for most of the advertising. There's 3 radio stations promoting the show. I don't see your point.

If this was all about renting a hall for a gig - this would be pointless. IMO
 
#55
The last time I ever did a pay to play was back in 1979. It was an artistic success but a financial failure. We packed the place by giving tickets away and ended up even getting a live radio concert out of of it a few weeks later. These days I have a much different attitude. You need to pay me to give up my free time even though I usually love playing. Once you get used to getting paid it changes everything.
 
#57
My son played drums for a band that opened for The Used at Hard Rock in Boston...they were 1st up not in the bill got $600 & my son said it was the best they were ever treated...got a good soundcheck abd the whole staff couldn't have been nicer. People have heard of the used no one has heard of Mower.
 
#58
If this was a national act I might be inclined to defend the situation (as I have in the past). I've played for artists who have bought their way on to a bill with a big act. Sometimes it's worth it, sometimes not.

Once was when a band that rhymes with bee bee mop was looking for an opener for the second leg of a US tour. They had 4 or 5 bands buy their way onto one show each, and they chose from those who would do the rest of the tour (paid). That case wasn't necessarily beneficial for the artist I was playing for (unless you count playing for 16,000 people), but it was for Blackberry Smoke.

But really, Mower?
 
#59
Beej said:
Not bagging, just always trying to understand this constantly-changing business. So it seems to me then, that in effect, the HOB has arranged:
* Four bands to rent their stage from them for an evening.
* Booze/merch sales from which they profit 100%
* Advertising for the event.

In exchange for their money, the bands get the benefit of advertising, can say they played the HOB, and exposure to the people they did not bring in themselves. Is that about right?
Click to expand...

Or you could play in bar area, get paid decent bucks and say you play HOB.... Still get the bang on a your site
 
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