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

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#164
HTML: 
Believe me i feel you. I was the lone "no" vote. It is what is, but Mower sells out shows here in SD. They are a marketing machine and they have sold a boatload of tickets. I can't be negative when they are out working their butts off to promote this show. They ponied up for the advertising, we didn't.

Whoever the hell Mower is - you want to be the NEXT Mower

watch them like a hawk - I'm sure it's the old adage 1% talent/99% perspiration

learn business & marketing - build a local 'brand' that everyone knows (yeah, I know it's a bunch of work that isn't music but...)

I remember a least 20 yrs ago eating 3am breakfast at Denny's in Fort Lauderdale FL with my jazz band - in the next booth were a bunch of goth wannabes one of which was this clown named Warner (I think) and they were planning on making the Big Time

well, I'm semi-retired and this goth clown is Marilyn Manson - trust me it wasn't talent

I saw the same process 40 yrs earlier with Devo in Cleveland OH - I was a gigging pro but for weeks & weeks there were flyers posted everywhere - every telephone pole, headshop window 'DeEvolution is Coming' - everyone laughed, oh well
 
#168
pnchad said:
HTML: 
Believe me i feel you. I was the lone "no" vote. It is what is, but Mower sells out shows here in SD. They are a marketing machine and they have sold a boatload of tickets. I can't be negative when they are out working their butts off to promote this show. They ponied up for the advertising, we didn't.

Whoever the hell Mower is - you want to be the NEXT Mower

watch them like a hawk - I'm sure it's the old adage 1% talent/99% perspiration

learn business & marketing - build a local 'brand' that everyone knows (yeah, I know it's a bunch of work that isn't music but...)

I remember a least 20 yrs ago eating 3am breakfast at Denny's in Fort Lauderdale FL with my jazz band - in the next booth were a bunch of goth wannabes one of which was this clown named Warner (I think) and they were planning on making the Big Time

well, I'm semi-retired and this goth clown is Marilyn Manson - trust me it wasn't talent

I saw the same process 40 yrs earlier with Devo in Cleveland OH - I was a gigging pro but for weeks & weeks there were flyers posted everywhere - every telephone pole, headshop window 'DeEvolution is Coming' - everyone laughed, oh well
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Thats funny but you missed some of this. We are not by any means trying to be anyone but ourselves. We were a band for 5 years ending in 2005.

We were called Devices and did 2 albums and an EP under that name.

Fast forward to this past january... we got back together and changed our name becuase the guy from Disturbed now has band called Device. Mower asked us to be on the bill. We discussed it and this is where we are now. We are not children looking for "the big break" or anything like that. This is our first show back as a group, the opportunity came up and we took it.
 
#169
Downunderwonder said:
I'm just telling you the story as I'm reading it since you don't seem to see the wood in the trees that I see.
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I do see the wood in the trees and I agree that's it's not very fair, I agree that HOB is taking advantage of musicians, and I agree it's not terribly ethical. But show me where HOB has been dishonest, show me what fraud they have committed, and show me what they have misrepresented or where have they tried to deceive? There is nothing in the OP's story that smacks of a scam!

Our disagreement may be due to our respective definition of a scam. Mine is from the dictionary, where is yours from?
 
#173
gustobassman said:
Boy.... you guys are harsh! We sent out text messages and posted on facebook that we had a show. Sold 100 tickets in less than 2 weeks. Hardly "work".

I havent done pay to play in 15 years, FWIW. im very against it. The guys wanted the show. Im one of four people where majority rules. Instead of bitching, i went with it. You may have turned it down. For a new original band to get radio ads, internet vids, posters and all the rest for free on techinically the first show is great. A sold out night at HOB isnt bad either.

EDIT: i shouldve made it clear that we WERE a band together for over 5 years. We stopped playing in 2005. We were mildly successful on a local basis and did some short runs. 2 albums and an e.p. We decided it was time to get back on it and come out with a new appraoch and theme. This show will help that. It is a different band than the one posted in my sig.
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I wish you much success! I do have to agree with the others' sentiment about "pay to play". Personally, I don't believe in it, but I do recall (back in the early 70s - we were kids) playing for "20% of the door". Did that once or twice and then said "to hell with that!"

Again, I hope your show is a big success. I haven't done the HOB gig in a while and I was surprised to hear that they have fallen into that "pay to play" crap harder and harder? Guess we'll strike them off our list. No contract - no play.

Break a leg Bro!! :bassist:
 
#176
gustobassman said:
The gig is august 3rd. Three radio stations are set to do ads for the show. We paid nothing out of pocket and are playing not later than 10:00.

I will say it again, i was never on board with this. The other guys voted me down. Whats done is done. I dont like to do p2p, and never have. Tickets are sold, the band is happy and moving forward.

Its one gig people.
Click to expand...

Make sure you wear your sunglasses, shorts, and a long coat. Also don't forget to play a cheesy Sig bass ...
 
#177
The telling part of this story is that HOB (apparently) did not inform your band how to make money off this deal. They said, "Buy these tickets and you can play. If you sell them all and need more, you have to pay a higher wholesale price for anything else." Oh, "and you can sell some tee shirts." It's great that you get to play HOB to your friends who are paying for the experience. But like everyone says, the bands are basically providing free services to HOB, which doesn't give a **** if you make OR lose money on the deal. I still think you should look into how to capture email addresses for everyone who walks in that door. At least you can spam them for future gigs and hopefully make money off people who aren't only from the "friends" crowd.
 
#178
I'm having a hard time seeing how any of you guys can get Your panties in a bunch over this. The OP has stated over and over that this is not how he usually conducts his business - it's a one time deal.

Get over it, the world will most likely still be turning tomorrow, and if it isn't it sure won't be the OP's fault.

And good luck gusto, have a good one! :)
 
#179
This example of P2P is over & no the sky didn't fall

But as individuals trying to find a way through the mess and have some sort of musical career it would be advantageous to understand what's really happening

I have not seen any reference to who is actually approaching the bands. Is it a HOB employee? I'd guess not. A independent talent agency or agent??

If so, they are the culpret as they are selling a package to HOB, hyping up the bands with BS & then pocketing a good piece of the ticket sales - I'd almost guaranty it.

Without them in the way the same exact process would see some portion of ticket sales going to the acts. If they have an exclusive contract with HOB there's no changing things. If they do not, there is no reason not to play a great set & approach HOB management directly re: a real paying night.

If it was me trying to get ahead in this environment you'd best believe I'd want to know how it really works - no speculation.
 
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