NEVER Pay To Play

This is Bon Von Wheelie:

AWESOME!

She is AWESOME.  Not only does she plays drums for the inimitable Girl Trouble, she also runs a fantastic and important website called Never Pay To Play:

http://neverpaytoplay.com/

The concept of pay to play is simple.  From Never Pay To Play:

"The transfer of money from an artist to a promoter before playing. The term pay-to-play is used to describe a performance where an artist (primarily applies to musicians) turns in money before taking the stage. This payment can originate either directly from the artist or be collected from the artist through the sale of tickets (aka pre-sale). All or the majority of the collected funds go to an independent promoter or to a pay-to-play club."

In other words, you are paying the promoter to allow your band to play a club.  Companies like Gorilla and Afton (and many, many, many more) are essentially using bands to do all the dirty work while they sit back and collect a paycheck.  It's disgusting, demeaning and degrading.  They twist everything around to make it look as if they're doing the bands a huge favor when they're really victimizing bands for profit.

What's worse is these companies are total *ssholes about it.  Check out this email from an Afton employee to a kid whose band didn't play the game the Afton way:

Hey (name withheld),

I'm not happy. IF you want anymore of my shows you need to reply back about this immediately. If you want me to remove you permanently than just say so.

You agreed in writing to do two things:
1. Show up to Perform
2. Sell the number of Tickets you agreed to sell when you activated Tickets & Confirmed this show.

Not only did you fail to sell the amount of Tickets you agreed to sell, but you had a low door draw and your total draw ended up being very low. It is not ok for you to be so unreliable.

You directly breached the terms of the written contract agreement you and I had with each other. Until you explain what happened I cannot book you for anymore of my shows - and I have to "Blacklist" you. Is that what you want?

IF YOU WANT ANOTHER SHOT:
1. Reply and explain yourself.
2. You must verify in writing that you will Sell enough Tickets next time.
3. I will hold you to your written word if I give you another chance.

Tell me how to proceed. Should I remove you? Or do you want one more chance to show me you can be a person of your word and do what you say you'll do?

Amy Cordy
Booking Representative
AFTON, LLC

Are you kidding me?  The arrogance is mind boggling.  You can tell the attitude is that the bands are working for the promoter, which is not at all the way it's supposed to be.  See, they're called promoters for a reason.  Their job is to line up bands to play shows then PROMOTE those shows.  That's why they're called promoters.

And some promoters in the pay to play game do promote their shows.  That's true.  But it is indisputable that pay to play hurts bands and only benefits promoters.  I can't stress this enough; you are paying the promoter for the privilege of doing their job for them.

The problem is, a lot of young bands come out the gate wanting shows real bad and they get the impression this is the only way they're going to get them.  These jerks are capitalizing on the desire a band has to play their music for people.  If there are venues that will book you without a pay to play policy, play those venues!  If not, look into renting a venue with some other bands or do it yourself and put on your own show.  It's easy!  You can do it!

When you're in a band, doing business with crooks is no different than in any other industry.  Ultimately, you will get burned.

I've been playing live shows in bands for over twenty years and I have never done a pay to play show.  The first time I was approached for a pay to play show I literally laughed in the guy's face.  I couldn't believe someone was asking me to pay them to have my band play a venue.  The idea is so penultimately opposite of the way it's supposed to work.  You want me to advertise and promote the show, load up our gear, bring it to the venue, set it up to play the songs we worked hard on, break down our gear, go home and pay you to do it?!?  How about I pick up your dry cleaning, make your dinner, raise your kids and f*ck your wife while I'm at it, you f*cking leach?

All of these submorons have the same bad attitude that they're doing you a favor.  They climb up on that high horse, talk down to you and act like they know how to help you succeed if you just play the game their way.  Check out this do and don't list from Bmore Bandbooking's Facebook page:

How to make a promoter happy at your expense.

Don't buy your own tickets?  There shouldn't be any damned tickets in the first place!  If you want tickets sold, you sell the damned things, promoter!  How do the other bands benefit from you not selling tickets?  How does anyone but the promoter benefit from you selling tickets?  And buddy, don't tell me what a band is or isn't.  Sure, there's work involved but if it wasn't fun, I wouldn't bother.  The tone of this rules list is condescending and the logic is twisted.

Back to Bon:

Y'know, the awesome one.

She and Girl Trouble were actually sued by Gorilla after she posted her opinion of their predatory practices.  What did Bon do?  Fought like hell and won.  You can (and should) read the whole story here:

http://neverpaytoplay.com/Lawsuit/&GorillaLawsuit.htm

If you're in a band, stay away from any pay to play situation.  It's bad for your band.  If your friend's band is going to do a pay to play show, let them know they're making a mistake and hurting the music scene.  Direct them to Never Pay To Play or Musicians Against Pay To Play on Facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/403653866123/).  Don't be a victim!  Spread the word!  Let people know!