I promised myself I would maintain a positive, upbeat, and provocative blog, but some things you need to purge and get off your chest so people have an idea of what I have to work with day to day trying to do my thing.
This so-called business of entertainment is quite simply a major pain in the ass, and most of you have no clue what a cluster-fuck it is to manage a band and keep it afloat on the road or in any market.
Most arrangements start with someone contacting/offering you an opportunity, and of course is always starts off as positive as any would hope, but almost always the situation changes and the proposed agreement ends up having a different face and personality of it's own....they're always different depending on the person you're dealing with.
Mind my use of steady analogy to explain myself here.....it's a simple way I like to break things down explaining myself.
You see, in our thing, Hardcore music whether it's shows, music releases, merchandise, or licensing you find the LAW named after MURPHY comes in and something happens....delay in product....cancellations at last minute...."we're over budget"....someone's flaking or just plain fulla shit....lack of time....injury....weather conditions....something has to knock on the door just before you get to catch your breath.......and at the same time you have to balance your personal life, care for family, loved ones, and keep a roof on your head.....I have to wear every hat every day without fail or someone gets let down.
You're not allowed to be a nice guy or you just get played close to every time you go out and try to work and separate yourself from the dead-weight, bloated carcasses that seem to be everywhere in this thing....while at the same time finding there are truly stand-up people....it just seems too many just can't seem to keep their word and maintain fair play.
The one thing Leeway always did back in the day when we dealt with such shit we just did OUR JOB and just ran with the ball as best we could regardless of whether this so-called business person or entity fulfilled THEIR END....we felt and agreed to BE HONORABLE and WE HELD OUR END OF THE DEAL EVERY TIME...it's something to take pride in, and I guess it makes you the better man....but at the same time a lot of these rats get bolder and after they have their nose in your ass they might as well take a bite.
I'm not into playing this anymore to be the better man as much any more, and it's why I try to establish new, and better relationships today instead of just going backwards...but you still end up catching a rat or raccoon messing your yard up while digging through your garbage. If you don't end up chasing it, or killing it you have yourself quite a headache week after week cleaning up another's mess and whatever else you allow vermin get away with.
There's really not a grown man out that cannot just go on the road for a period of time for glory and for the music...it's impossible....how do I expect to have grown men(some with kids at home) go on the road and play with me for free? Are you for real? Yet some of these partnered groups the band has to deal with try and double-bang you and never seem to be able to balance a budget....some of these "entities" have been together for 25 years and still can't get it right...
I'm sorting through the assholes who want to book a show (because the see $$ signs and convoluted expectations), and then after your reputation and name has been announced and confirmed they're backing out because whatever they were smoking/drinking when they first came up with this idea doesn't seem to make sense when you take a more sober look.....I have no interest now working with any promoter who cannot keep their work or do not have the skills to actually contribute to the show....throwing a flyer on Facebook doesn't cut.....I mean WTF?! This ain't "Field of Dreams"....and the line in the movie is "if you build it they will come"...not "if we post it..."
A promoter....a real one, that is, knows his scene/market and should know what to expect......I even see the biggest bands in NYHC who draw and carry large guarantees play to 61 kids when they should easily draw well over 350.......
When this happens only a true promoter steps up and does his job by standing by his agreement/rider contract (verbal or signed)....you know what that means....he takes the loss, and works on the next event....feast or famine......it's not easy, but that's what should be other than back-pedal, change the song and dance time.
I know how hard it is to promote.....I tried, and was even trying to make a scene happen after CBGBs closed....I was in a HALO after breaking my neck, and I did everything I could to keep my word and pay everyone......you can never make everyone happy and there's always gonna be some fat bitch crabbin' and carpin' shit around....thems the breaks....you pick yourself up, admit you failed, and move forward or move on
I fully understand when expectations fall through and it's why I set lower goals so I don't end up disappointed, but the excuses a lot of these mutts use never seem add up and then they're not man enough to discuss it with you so you have to chase them down because they can't be up-front or take responsibility. It's got to be an ego thing.....or fear.....I would take honesty and give a guy a break as long as their real about keeping their word....I fuck up too, but I stay in touch and I see it through.
Over 30 years I've fallen many times, but I keep coming at you....I brush myself off and I try again, and again.....learn from your mistakes and be fair....it's hard not to take all of the nonsense personal but you have to stay the course and have a plan because something or someone always comes along who can't carry their weight or want to jam your game up.......it's hard to be a nice guy in this thing.....I'm too old to be a boy scout, but I remember the motto; BE PREPARED
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