Nothing about it was ever fair

Managers work off a percentage. Booking agents work off a percentage. Club promoters work off a percentage. Labels even work off a percentage (granted, a very high one, for the majors). What makes bands think that they are too .... to do the same?

Believe me, I'm the first one to frown at 'pay to play' events. It's ridiculous for a band to presell $1000 worth of tickets and not get paid anything for their work... I've seen so many promoters scam bands out of money, without even realizing.... However, in this notes - I'm not complaining about the unfairness of the music industry in general - I already know it is so. I'm complaining about egos and unwarranted expectations.

The only time a band really wants a guarantee from a club or booking agent, is when they don't deserve the money they're making. Otherwise, they'd be able to actually come out ahead with a percentage deal.

What's so unfair about a door deal (ie - club takes a percentage / bands take a percentage of the money made at the door)? Everyone gets paid more, the more people they can get out to the venue. As a club promoter, I imagine it must be pretty difficult to determine whether a band deserves a given guarantee. What if it rains? What if the traffic or horrible or there is road construction on a major freeway on the road to the venue? That will definitely affect the draw (esp in LA). And then they are simply out the money. And, contrary to what some bands may think, promoters aren't rich either. If they were, they'd be booking Grammy acts like Green Day and Lady Gaga, not your band.

As far as touring is concerned. I love it when I can get a band a guarantee. However, that comes with time and effort. If you've never been to a given state, or city, there is no reason that they club should be confident in your ability to pack the house. Why would they offer you $500? Clubs try not to be in the business of gambling - at least not lately. Venues are closing left and right. Every time I book another tour for a band, another venue I knew of is no longer open...

Really, if everyone were held accountable for the success of a given evening, and everyone did their job to get events together - it wouldn't be such a point of contention. Bands aren't the enemy of clubs. And managers aren't the enemy of booking agents - etc. We should all be working toward the same goals here. And once people forget that, it really is hard to make a success of anything.

Bands, please remember this - a good number of us are out there promoting your music in one form or another because we are genuine fans of your band. I don't work on projects that guarantee me zero for fun - it's because I genuinely believe in the music I'm promoting. And I would hope that bands would do me the respect of reciprocating the "fandome" by putting some effort into themselves. Afterall, that's what we're all hoping will succeed.

Upcoming Attractions...

Oct 31 2009 8:00P
Halloween Boogie Den w/ Black Party Politics... TBA @ A&D
Vintage Warehouse

Nov 13 2009 10:00P
Killradio @ Beauty Bar @ Beauty Bar

Nov 20 2009 9:00P
Black Party Politics @ Blue Cafe w/ We the Granada @ Huntington Beach CA

Nov 28 2009 8:00P
The Boogie Den w/ Black Party Politics, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Legs on Sale.. @ A&D
Vintage Warehouse

Dec 3 2009 9:00P
Maldroid & The Punk Group @ Studio Seven @ Seattle, WA

Dec 5 2009 8:00P
Maldroid & The Punk Group @ Johnny B’s @ Medford OR

Dec 6 2009 7:30P
Maldroid & The Punk Group @ The Indigo District w/ Science Heroes @ Eugene OR

Dec 17 2009 9:00P
Vanaprasta @ The Stork Club @ Oakland CA

Dec 21 2009 8:00P
Vanaprasta @ Studio Seven @ Seattle, WA

Dec 26 2009 8:00P
Christmas Boogie Den with Black Party Politics and more TBA @ A&D Vintage @ A&D
Vintage Warehouse

Working on a short NW tour in December with Maldroid and The Punk Group.

Dates should be announced soon:
Dec 3 Seattle WA
Dec 4 TBA
Dec 5 TBA
Dec 6 Eugene OR
Dec 7 Portland OR

Check out some cool stuff from the bands:

Halloween!

Upcoming summer shows...

Aug 6 2009 9:00P
The Color Turning, New Limb, Yellow Red Sparks @ Detroit Bar *CD RELEASE* @ Costa Mesa

Aug 13 2009 8:00P
The Color Turning @ Verve Lounge @ Aptos CA

Aug 14 2009 7:00P
The Color Turning @ Main St Cafe with Launchpad Away @ Manteca, CA

Aug 15 2009 9:00P
The Color Turning w/ Goodness Gracous Me @ Main St Brewery @ Roseville

Aug 19 2009 9:00P
The Color Turning @ Johnny B’s @ Medford OR

Aug 20 2009 9:00P
The Color Turning @ Blackforest @ Eugene OR

Aug 21 2009 8:00P
The Color Turning w/ The Punk Group @ Kelly’s Olympian @ Portland

Aug 23 2009 9:00P
Black Party Politics @ King King with Beatmo @ Hollywood CA

Aug 25 2009 8:00P
The Color Turning @ Le Voyeur @ Olympia, WA

Aug 27 2009 8:00P
The Color Turning @ Studio Seven @ Seattle, WA

Aug 28 2009 8:00P
The Color Turning @ Venue (moved from Richard’s on Richards) @ Vancouver, British Columbia

Aug 29 2009 9:00P
The Color Turning @ Red Room @ Kennewick, WA

Aug 29 2009 11:00P
Black Party Politics @ The Boogie Den @ East Los Angeles, CA

Sep 2 2009 10:00P
The Color Turning @ Stork Club with Make Me, Sister Grizzly, and Chambers @ Oakland CA

Sep 4 2009 9:00P
The Color Turning @ Red Devil Lounge w/ Foxtail Somersault, Tomihira @ San Francisco, CA

Sep 22 2009 8:00P
Woven @ Knitting Factorhy with Karnivool, Opus Dai @ Hollywood CA

Sep 29 2009 10:00P
The Color Turning @ Viper Room with Mata Leon (formerly Overview) @ West Hollywood

First Killradio show back in LA

Killradio will be playing their first show back in LA in years....

The band will be playing with Black Party Politics, Nancy Fullforce, 1921 A, and The Inheritance on Saturday, July 25th.

Location:
The Boogie Den (A&D Vintage Warehouse)
3521 Union Pacific Ave
Los Angeles CA 90023

Open bar for 21+. All ages. $4 per pound vintage clothing for sale. Taco truck outside.

News!

NIne 12 Records is now the booking agent for The Color Turning.

Also, keep an eye out for Maldroid's two upcoming tours....

Our newest edition to bands we manage - Black Party Politics - is recording. Keep an eye out for summer show dates.

Killradio is finally, after three years, playing a show together here in LA this summer. Show date(s) should be announced soon.