[Harp-L] ~GATEKEEPERS & MUSIC EXPERTS~

["ChipComcast" <jandkday@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

BROTHERS & SISTERS OF THE IRON:

 Since we are whining about hecklers & some of the downers of live performances,
I suppose I can 'spew some venom' on 2 certain breeds that  I have to deal with to book my band.
  We have no agent and I do ~80% of the booking, why? I am the hustler-type, & the other
fellows have different talents, ie: web,recording etc.
  Now that the pleasantries are out of the way....

" I WANT TO STRANGLE FAT SOCCER MOMS WHO DECIDE THAT BLUES DOES NOT WORK!!
ARRRRAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!  I WANT TO SNAKE THROUGH THE PHONE LINE AND RIP 
THEIR LUNGS OUT WITH A PLASTIC FORK!"

    Ahem, er-ah sorry harpers.  These gatekeepers with corporate sponsorship and way  to generous grant monies
who book sad-ass Rod Stewart & Beatlemania bands for their local borough 'summer concert series'
seem to think they are the appointed musical experts! After I patiently explain we do WEST Coast Jump, no cry in your beer,
& it's not loud Stevie Ray guitar wars etc etc, and yet this one today asked me:
"What is your draw?"   IT"S NOT A CLUB BEEATCH! IT"S AN OPEN AIR SHOW AND YOU HAVE 
1,0000's SHOW UP FOR A SPOON PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!       I know as  I have sat in the Audience in my Lawn Chair
Quaffing Beer...ARRRRAGGGGHHHHH! WHY DO I DO IT?    IT HAS TO BE FOR LOVE!!!!
   There are thousands of these 1-1.5 hour gigs and many 'get it' but as of late I have had to deal with a recent herd of
fat losers!  It's good bread for the band and a nice change from smokey clubland, and that is why we like to include several
of these a year.


 Next:

"I WANT TO SLAP THE SMIRK OF THIS "BOOKING AGENT" WHO IS SHUTTING ME OUT OF THE 
NEW JERSEY SHORE CLUB SCENE!"

 Beware!!!!! This 20 something kid called Zippyproductions approached 2 clubs that I used to work with. ( directly with the owners
and I had an on going relationship with).  He is adding 15% to book bands and the owner has gladly delgated the job so as to not deal with
"OTHER" flakey musicians & phone calls at all hours of the day, lunch,dinner etc.( I repect owners time & call only during 'slow windows')
 This CLUELSS CREEPOLA is putting all this alt rock into older crowd establishments 
and I have tried to deal with him but my promo is left aside...did I piss him off? Has he no marketing savvy?
Are we not cool enough because we have no tattoos or backwards baseball caps?

  I tried to go around him but the club owner has to get the calendar back in order to book. I even told these club owners a nice tip
I got from my uncle who has a bar in New Orleans:  Designate a day for music calls: IE:  Monday 2-5 is only when I talk bookings.
This way my staff knows what to say & I am at my desk with my calendar doing accounting....SIMPLE!

ArrrGH! spit spit hate hate..GRRRRRRRRRRR

:-)  Er, ok I feel better now, gimmie dat  phone!

James Day