We have to do our part of the job but on the same end, we shouldn’t
be held accountable for the entire risk. We have a ticket minimum
that we have to sell and asking a local band to sell these ob-
scene quantities and we all do our best. But sometimes it doesn’t
work out and then we are stuck fronting that money. It ends up
becoming a pay to play by the end of it, you know? We’ve been
pretty lucky to where if we aren’t hitting that minimum for what-
ever reason, we will go out in the parking lot and start slinging
them. Maybe I shouldn’t say that but I like what you said about
the sponsorships and stuff. I really think that promoters have to
take part of that risk as well as the bands.
NoSelf CONCLUDED
What are some of the common
mistakes that you see made in the
independent scene for bands?
NS: In my opinion, I think the biggest mistake is that we try to
compete with each other. We’re all trying to get to the same goal
but none of us are going to get there in the same way. To compete
with your peers, especially on the local level, it really doesn’t
make sense to me. And since we are all trying to do the same
thing, we should all try to promote each other. If I promote the
show, then I am promoting all the bands that are on there. And if
we are all doing that, then we are promoting each other indepen-
dently. Then we are all going to be better. We are all going to get
a bigger fan response and better turn outs. Then there’s overall
more revenue coming in. But to me I think that’s the biggest prob-
lem. We try to compete to be the biggest local area band which I
always thought was laughable. If you’re a local band, you’re a
local band, you know?
What do you see as far as promoters,
booking agents, and venues and the
things that they could do to increase the
value? Its not like it was in the 80s and 90s
NS: I concur. That’s the biggest problem. You will get these
national bands that come through and what ends up happening
is the promoter puts all the weight on the local openers with
the ticket sales. By no means I don’t have a problem selling tickets.
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We think that the closing of so many
clubs around the country will actually
help grow the quality of local music.
NS: That’s a very valid point. It’s over saturation. And it’s not
only for an individual artist but there are so many bands now,
and there are so many venues, that there’s three shows a night in
Orlando on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So you’ve
got 12-15 shows to go to every weekend and a lot of them are the
same bands. Fans are torn because they are undecided on what
show to go to. Do they go to this venue or that venue? There’s
over saturation of the market in general and I think it’s a pretty
big issue. Going back to the ticket sales thing, requiring out of
town bands to sell tickets to a region that isn’t theirs or their
area; it is really tough on them.
True. I want to thank you all for taking the time and talking about
what’s going on with you guys and for the industry. That is so
important and for you guys, you’ve not only done it but now are
taking that next step. It’s so crucial to really get that message out
there as far as how can we do it. I think the first thing that you had
said was the collective and working together. I don’t want to bring
up the 80’s again, but back then it was pretty cut throat. People
used to take other people’s fliers down. Bands used to put fliers
out on people’s cars and then another band would come over and
replace their flier with the other flier. Back then it was cut throat.
NO SELF: I think being cut throat is kind of human nature. Again
it’s that double edged sword. Yes we are all working towards the
same goal but we’re all working towards the same goal. So we
are trying to do it as individuals and we are trying to do it as a
group. Everybody is trying to get to a different milestone.
Submit music or contact him at: [email protected].
Inset Photo by Chuck Burns
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