On Booking
There was a time when I was a lot angrier about the state of booking shows in the music world. Granted I was younger then and more apt to be angry about pretty much whatever, but the hodge-podge of bizarre, baroque, weird, mysterious, and sometimes downright aggravating behaviors exhibited by bookers, sometimes the same one at different points in
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4. Bands, if you cant afford to tour without getting $3-400 a show, and you do not meet the above criteria, DONT FUCKING TOUR!! or trim your machine down to the point where you can do it for $100-200 a show, less if you can. More people in your band does not make a better band, it just makes more mouths to feed and, and a higher cost. This scene in particular is very forgiving of two people and backing tracks (we know from experience). *IF* that is you can put on a good show with good songs. No amount of gear or number of bodies on stage will help you if your songs are not good or you don't somehow connect with the audience.
The audience does not care about your gear or the number of people onstage. They care about the band that loves making music, and loves performing no matter how many people are there.
If everyone involved has a reasonable understanding of what to expect, then a successful show is much more likely.
I guess what it boils down to is this.
Promoters
Don't book shows that cost more than you can afford to lose.
Always assume that no one will show up, and you are booking the show for yourself.
Never assume you know what kind of numbers a band will draw.
No matter who the band is, you need to promote the hell out of the show.
Don't let bands take advantage of you. If a band wants a bunch of rare alcohol or whatever, fuck em.
At this level, requests like that are insulting to all involved.
Bands
Do not charge more than you are worth.
Do not ask for anything from the promoter except items required for a quality show.
Do not mistake internet popularity for actual bodies.
Just because you made something doesn't mean its good.
You probably have too many people in your live act, get rid of some.
For that matter, get rid of anything that you take on tour that does not make you money.
When you are pricing your tour, do not forget that promoters also have to pay for sound people, pa's, venues, promotion, food, etc. The cost of a show is not just your guarantee.
Always assume that no one cares about what you do, and plan on living off the bare minimum.
Then if you are wrong, everyone wins. But going into any business situation assuming you are owed anything is fatal for everyone involved.
One of my favorite quotes that kinda puts it all in perspective.
"Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered"
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