Comments on: Pay to Play?

By: Robbie K.

Robbie K. — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:06:54 +0000

This should be mandatory reading for every young musician or starry eyed dreamer.
Pay to Play is THE way of doing business in NJ. The Asbury Music Scene, the Live Nation venues like The Stone Pony and The Starland Ballroom are all pay to play venues.
There is an inherent problem with pay to play. It never credits the artist with past success and in fact if the artist is good at “pay to play” and don’t complain, they will always be such because the ticket money split so favors the promoter that they would be a fool to relinquish it if the artist isn’t bitching despite consistently overselling minimums.
Artists love to scream “boycott pay to play venues!!!!!” but it will never work. All the promoter has to do is book Magnetic Death Snot one night and tell some young band that if they do the show, they will be “included in all promotion” and the management and support team of Magnetic Death Snot will be in the house that night and will check out their set.
At that point the young bands self survival kicks in and helllllooooooooooo opening act, problem solved for the promoter.
Pay to play is a bane in our existence but one we have to deal with. I believe you have the best ideas to make that situation work for each individual band.
You are correct. We bring the party….the party is where ever we are.

By: Dennis Decker

Dennis Decker — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:57:39 +0000

All this means is that the best PROMOTER gets to play. That is why live and recorded music for the most part sucks big time. The music business wants to blame file sharing for all their woes but the truth is that the best promoters can take it to the point that a major label signs them and gets their music played world wide. The public gets to hear said music, finds out that it really is not for them, and does not buy because the musicians and their team were way better at promotion than music. If you think I am wrong why did Susan Boyle sell all those CD’s? Why did Michael Jackson sell so well after his death? Why did Arcade Fire displace M & M from number 1 on the Billboard charts? The answer is that they actually gave people something they really wanted to hear.

By: scott rowe

scott rowe — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:32:46 +0000

This is so well put. About all you will accomplish by playing those is clubs is to make the Armenian Mafia rich-as that’s who runs most of the Sunset Strip clubs these days. I would much rather pack a little dive bar someplace, get a few free beers, a little money and an appreciative audience and club owner any day. The only way to put a stop to this is for us as musicians to refuse to buy into the “the industry big wigs will see you there” crap that gets pushed by our so called “music industry”. When I lived and played in Rockford this sort of thing was unheard of. I never worked for less than $112 per night unless it was a benefit. It is really a pity what has happened to the music scene in LA, it certainly was not like this in the 70s when I was growing up.

By: dave in LA-ish

dave in LA-ish — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:10:11 +0000

A great read.
I’m originally from Boston and “pay to play” is unheard of there. Unheard of. Since being in CA I’ve succumb to this method on a couple occasions and agree that’s it’s just not worth it. I have to admit that I was a little naive about the whole thing but this article touches on the venue not being the draw, but the band. We certainly fell into that for 2 different venues and in the end it was for naught. A big room with your normal 30-50 people makes you look so amateur. I agree playing the smaller venue and having a better show because the vibe is more personal and it is at least perceived to be more successful solely based on smaller room, same amount of people.

By: Dickey

Dickey — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:13:37 +0000

Pay to play and the bands that believe in doing so drives prices down and takes money out of my pocket. That makes me VERY GROUCHY! Any band that does not insist on a set minimum for the night, and NOT the door % are traitors to their profession, scabs of the worst kind! in my book. I am EXTREMELY militant about this. I have gotten very nasty with a few clubowners who have tried to screw me. I’m a nice guy, but mess with my $$ & you’re steppin’ on a rattlesnake! The clubowner has to pay his liquore distributer,waitstaff,electricity,water,repairs,etc. Why should the band be any different. What if he told his liquor distributor “Hey, I’ll pay you a % of the liquor sales. Guess what would happen? Those kegs would be back on the truck faster than you could wink an eye. I lug too much equipment (Pedal steel, guitar,2 amps,effects,etc) Not to get paid for it. @#$#^%^&* Pay to play!!

By: Clint

Clint — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:29:53 +0000

I totally agree. No one said life or the music business is fair. I have been in the business for over 30 years. If you disagree with the pay to play, think just for a second about how many bands and musicians are out there. Millions! The club owners have their pick of talent. Now, once you have the exposure and you are a hot commodity, then and only then do the rules change.

I can’t say that I am a “fan” of pay to play. But, guys and gals, it is what it is. I promise you that the music will always be fulfilling. But the business will always be a grind. Put together a band that the public can’t live without, have a hit record or some kind of gimmic that sets you apart from the rest. Then you won’t have to worry about any issues like pay to play. Until then, you might want to practice this principal that I learned a long time ago; “Don;t be a star before you are”. Life has to be lived on life’s terms, not yours. Get with the program or get out. Denial only leads to anger and more frustration.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:22:58 +0000

I’ve never paid to play. I just don’t understand that concept. You are there to entertain the clubs crowd. Anybody that follows your band to the show is just gravy for the club.

By: kooluke

kooluke — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:23:19 +0000

I DON”T AGREE,PAY TO PLAY HELPS BANDS TO PUSH THEMSELFS.YOU MAY THINK YOU CAN SAY YOU PLAYED SOMEWHERE AND YOU DID”NT,BUT IT CAN BACK FIRE ON YOU.I HAVE BOOK GROUPS AT NO CHARGE AND GUESS WHAT,NONE OF THEIR PEOPLE SHOWED UP.IT WAS LOCAL NEAR THEIR HOOD.GUESS WHO THEY TRIED TO BLAME,YOU ALREADY KNOW.ARTIST TODAY DO NOT HUSTLE THEY SIT BACK THINKING FAME WELL DROP IN THEIR LAP.IF YOU ARE PROMOTING YOURSELF AND YOUR GOOD YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING RID OF 15 TICKETS.ONE THING I KNOW WHEN YOU DO THINGS FOR FREE,PEOPLE DO NOT RESPECT THE GAME.

By: g

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:18:37 +0000

Yea Labels are history – as soon as that sinks in – these clubs wont have ‘THAT’ carrot to dangle around – suddenly playing Pay to Play Places wont be as important – just a propped up over hyped house of cards that is ready to implode on itself
Theres no such thing as a ‘resume’ – for musicians who continue using that in their thought process – FYI
Spend your time and money into creating songs – recording – an original sound
MP3s are the new currency – cheap ill admit – if their was an exchange rate – mp3′s would be below pesos
but – thats what would get people to your show – hearing something they like – Radio play – cant have radio play without a freaking song

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:57:20 +0000

You can always say you played a place. They never really check it out. You don’t have to buy into the pay to play garbage and 99 percent of the time most of you will never, ever get anywhere without touring of becoming such good musicians that you can work as a sideman. My band in Austin never plays LA, we don’t even play Austin. We go to Europe and tour and we often break even and this has led to us being interview by several labels,. But, labels are dead anyway so times are changing.,