dibblers

[Boniato _ <boniato__@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

now youre gedding way personal--it doesnt say "artist" on my buisness card, 
i prefer entertainer... i recognize that you dont ask your performing 
artists to sleep on a mouldy couch in the basement of your venue or on the 
floor in your living room, i was addressing "promoters" in general terms...
theres nothing like showing up in belgium after a days car trip with a 102 
fever from dehydration, and being asked to wait until after the show, 8 
hours later, to get to crash at someone's house, when it was agreed that 
accomodations would be provided.

i think josh and rom should get paid around 2 grand for their popularity, 
stature, and output, especially when i see superstar dj's getting paid 10 or 
15 for doing a show (granted, those dj's mostly play all night, so maybe per 
hour, it works out); but the pitiful microsounders should not be castigated 
for wanting to make something for their time. if they dont draw, get a 
grant, or write it off (as you do).

i am just tired of the now cliched punk/diy reference (tho jake gets at 
least as many girls after shows as sid did). yes, i could book the dead boys 
for $400 when they were in town, but that was while sire was putting them up 
in a motel while they were working on we have come for your children.

i will never forget sitting in a club owners office when his secreatry came 
in and said, "the girl can have your shirt tailored by tonight, but it's 
going to be $1,000; is that okay?" to which he nodde his approval... just 
after asking me to drop our fee from $600 to $150, because he didnt have the 
budget for it.

there are ridiculus riders, but i would imagine most expect to fly coach, 
would like something a little better than the $39 hotel room (tho, in europe 
you can get a very nice, clean room for that, with a shower), and would 
probaly appreciate the nice meals you serve.

chances are, theyre getting support from a "local" act for free, a common 
practise as every one knows how little money there is to spare for the 
out-of-towners, who sometimes are playing for the nebulous "door".

i still find it difficult to take someone seriously as a promoter, if theyre 
doing it in their spare time. philanthropist, if you dont like thye term 
producer. you seem to have more respect than most, but there are some very 
arrogant people that take themselves way to seriously in their role as 
"promoter", partymaster is more like it, two-bit hustler at the worst.

i find it no thrill to do the rock n roll van tour, but if i have to, clean 
sheets would be welcome, and a smile at the end of the show. i am far from a 
whiner, i just value the people i work with, and have happily produced shows 
for free in order to make them happen, and there are more shows that ive 
performed at where i lost money, than made any, and still had to pay for my 
sparkling water. i just try not to do those any more, except where it 
directly supports another "artist" or label or institution that i find doing 
good works.

promoting is difficult, that why we assign that task to others. i would 
refrain from characterising a performer as being unreasonable, in what they 
expect for their services; i just wouldnt work with them if i found them so.



I make way more money from my day job then when I was attempting to live
off of my art work. I there for can do a lot more as a result with my time
like make music and bring in "artists" like your self to play in my
city...
no one else certaily will if I dont...
;)
Neil...

On Thu, 11 Oct 2001, Boniato _ wrote:

> on the other hand, there's nothing wro ng with being a dabbler,,, rather
> than promoter, producer is probably a more apt term. then you can have fun,
> lose money, and not get yelled at for having a day job.


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