EGO's or NOT?

[HeavenlyFairytale]

This is what ticks me off.

When I read that bands say that they prefer a smaller club when it comes to shows or fests because they can be closer to the fans. Which is nice. BUT, When the band ASKS for a ton of money and they expect to be treated like rockstars. Is it because they think that they are the only band that people want to see? No wonder why festivals and smaller shows cost alot to see your favorite band. Damn you rockstars!

 

[MetalRose]

Actually the upkeep of some bands is HUGE. I've worked small shows and big shows. I think what ticks me off is the local bands that are huge in their area, and ask for insane amounts of money... sometimes their asking price is MORE than a national act coming through.

THAT'S ego's for you.

But you have to think of what goes into a show and what you must pay. Bands are responsible for their own transportation, car, plane, etc. That's where a lot of the money comes in, as well as hotels, food, etc. Not many bands make a huge profit on touring. Most bands make the majority of their money on merch sales for the night.

Example, PP, (I'm using this an an example so I have no idea how accurate or on this is). Tad Morose came in from Sweden. There are 5 guys in the band. How much do you think 5 plane tickets are? Plus, visa's (if needed), hotels, food, per diem?

Yes, some bands ask way too much, but they feel they have to hold on to their fading rockstar status. I won't name what bands do that... but in all honesty.... Most big local bands have bigger ego's than a lot of the national acts coming through. Not all, but I've encoutered it more on a smaller level.

Counter points?

-MetalRose

 

[HeavenlyFairytale]

Oh yes. I have booked many local and national shows in IL, WI area and I know what goes into booking shows just like you. But even though you fly them bands over they still want $$$$$$$$. I am just blowing off steam. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

 

[MetalNations]

Amen to that METALROSE!!

 

[MetalRose]

But they can't do it for free either.

I had a band come into town a few months ago. They asked for about $500 plus food. Not a big deal... seeing as how there were 5 guys in the band each got about $100, but they all had to chip in for gas, hotel, and their next gig was 4 days away.

To put in perspective, $100 for 5 days isn't that much at all considering.

See if you can put it that way to justify their fee. Also, some bands will bargain and also high ball a lot of booking agents just to see if they can pull it off.

Also, how many tickets at $30 you would have to sell to break even, then $20, etc. See if the price of the ticket is worth the band... and you can go and barter that way.... Some bands I wouldn't pay more than $15 to see, others I would pay $50 to see. Also with the down market in music, my guess is that the average fan wouldn't pay more than $20 to see a show, depending on line up. (Based on your last reply I can see where your local is... and I'm in about the same area, so I'm going off what the market up here says vs the market in LA).

If you are looking at working with an 80's market band, I've noticed that they sometimes highball the booking agents/promoters. So feel free to call bullshit, or ask what their numbers were at the last 5-10 shows and bargain that way.

Am I making sense?

-MetalRose

 

[MetalNations]

Oh yes. I had bands do the same thing (Highballing)

 

[Bryant]

This is what ticks me off.

When I read that bands say that they prefer a smaller club when it comes to shows or fests because they can be closer to the fans. Which is nice. BUT, When the band ASKS for a ton of money and they expect to be treated like rockstars. Is it because they think that they are the only band that people want to see? No wonder why festivals and smaller shows cost alot to see your favorite band. Damn you rockstars!

Hmmmm.... please do not think of this reply as bragging as it is far from it:

I have been playing guitar for about 18 years and for the length of time I have been playing, I am really nothing special because I simply got bored/disgusted with different things..... having said that, at one time, I was practically a prodigy. I was as good of a guitarist in my fourth year of playing as I am in my 18th (on electric anyway.) Nothing is tougher than telling a good guy who just doesn't have good enough timing to be in a drummer that he isn't in "the band" anymore. Also finding band members that have similar tastes, along with technical ability, experience, and ability to become a "family" of sorts is tough. Being in a band is very hard work mentally, emotionally and physically though it is "fun".
Guitar, drum, PA, etc. maintenance costs money as does transporting your rigs from place to place. Equipment is pretty tough in general and designed for road use, but it still tears up and guess who shells out the repair costs ?
Going "on the road" costs money.
One other reason why costs are up is because ticket sales are down. In the 80's more people went to metal shows. Columbus Georgia isn't exactly a haven for metal, but in 1984, Dio and Dokken played there to a near sellout crowd. Neither band can sell out a large bar now..........


Bryant

P.S. When I was talking about the "prodigy" part, I was probably overstating my talent, but the fact is, I was a demon 80's style player influenced heavily by guys like Wolf Hoffmann, Vito Bratta etc. and the music scene was changing into a different monster.