Pay to Play?

For the Door? Selling Tickets?

I may be old fashion, but I don't understand why any band would want to pay to play anywhere? Or, why should they spend weeks selling tickets to get people in the doors to see them play three or four songs, get their equipment trashed, or worst yet...sell 50 tickets and find out that 10 other bands sold 60 or more and now they are off the schedule for the night.

Also, what about these battle of the bands that seems to be popping up all over the place. Who is to say what band is better then the other. Isn't this just a way for the clubs to get free entertainment in their doors? Isn't this just another form of pay to play?

I'm a fan of live music and when I want to go out, I want to see at least a full set from a band. Not a couple of songs, then have to wait for them to clear the stage and set up someone else. Don't forget the sound checks with everyband. Those should be done before the doors open.

If you are a band, club, or fan, please let me know how you feel about what the Cleveland clubs are doing. If your a club owner, maybe you can explain why these things are happening. Maybe in the 80's on SUNSET STRIP it was ok to have a band pay to play. Come on, this is Cleveland, HOME OF ROCK AND ROLL!

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What Other Visitors Have Said

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Musician
Play to pay.. Think about it besides the economy being the way it is and the times changing from the 80's to the present the competition has become even ...

Band
I have absolutely NO problem with what the clubs are doing. I personally prefer selling tickets... I'd rather KNOW someone is coming to my show because ...

Artist
I agree. The problem with this industry now is that artist are not allowed to just be artist. Now they got to be a and r's, promoters, and everything else ...

Band and Fan
Anyone want to team up and invest in a place that showcases local talent, records the same, has talent agent on staff who can help develop and guide younger ...

Band and Fan Not rated yet
As a 16yr old musician in a band, i completely agree with the fact that this is all a scam. ive played the Peabody's Battle of the Bands...that sucked....

Road Pirate Productions International Not rated yet
You are 100% correct, it's insane that venues are charging bands to play. Artists are providing a service for the venues. Come on people (artists) stop ...

Fan Not rated yet
Let's face it, the club owners have gotten lazy. It used to be that the club was responsible for unearthing talented acts to bring people in the front ...

Former local band member Not rated yet
I have done the pay-to-play/selling tickets deal two times before so my band could play a few of the bigger named venues. Never again. Stacked bills with ...

All of the above Not rated yet
I think the negative aspects associated with pay to play venues is a result of �strumn & humn� bar bands with delusions of grandeur having their bubble ...

Band Not rated yet
Pay to play is unacceptable. Maybe these club owners need to start there own bands and then see if they can find some guys or gals to play in that band ...

CHROMEKICKERS Not rated yet
YOU ARE 100% PERCENT CORRECT!!..THIS SHIT IS NOTHING SHORT OF A SCAM!!..ESPECIALLY TO YOUNGER BANDS WHO ARE THRILLED TO BE PLAYING A STAGE LIKE PEABODIES,...

Artist Not rated yet
I've been playing for 40 years. In that time I've done a couple benifits for good causes. They were NOT at bars. I think I was about 17 and did a battle ...

Shadows Force - The Region's Hottest Rock n Roll Party Band Not rated yet
WOW! If alot of this shit just doesn't hit home? I'm am certain now that we are definitely NOT the only band dealing with these problems. Who else out ...

Artist Not rated yet
In the day and age of the dollar the question I hear most often is "how many people will you bring?"
Sure this is a business we are in but, what happened ...

fan Not rated yet
i've been a working musician for forty years in cleveland and i've only been involved in one battle (marlboro country talent round up) that was legit....

Band Not rated yet
I knew that this happens in other cities, but it gives me shivers to think that Cleveland bar owners have become so petty and pathetic as to try this. This ...

Halle friggin luoya Not rated yet
I couldn't agree more. Bands in this town are treated poorly by many venues. It takes a great deal of time and effort for bands to put together a product ...

band Not rated yet
AMEN BROTHER!!!!!!!!!

Lat from The FOWG Band Not rated yet
My band has a good following so the venue gets extra customers which probably pays 30-50% of our gig fee. But we don't guarentee that anybody will show ...

band Not rated yet
I would never pay to play! This is a business and thats whats really happening. You need to provide entertainment that will draw or keep people in the ...

Tbs band Not rated yet
i dont understand there are so many places to play why would one pay to play ???????. i do four shows per week in the tri state area and never have i heard ...

Band (www.onthebeachband.com) Not rated yet
"Pay-to-play" and "for-the-door-venues" exist, for the most part, because of poor business planning. Anyone who has ever taken Business 101 knows that ...

Fan from Akron Not rated yet
I've been to the clubs that make the band sell tickets. And I will never go again. It was the worst night. You end up sitting all night listening to ...

Band Not rated yet
Never pay to play...It's all about the three P's -Pay -Promo -Perks.

No $$ but hang out backstage with your Hero - OK

No $$ but 100 new people hear ...

Band Not rated yet
If your good, you'll get paid. If your young and in-experienced, you may have to pay your dues for a while (no pun intended).

www.hairrazor.us

Band Not rated yet
I may be crazy but I aint stupid. Been playing out since I was 8 years old everythging from Polkas to Metal and Country to Jazz but I have NEVER paid ...

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