obligation crisis

Scenario: You are a promoter at a music venue and a band performs at your club. You do it as a favor to a friend and give the band a show KNOWING full well they...

A. SUCK
B. Will not draw a sole
And finally
C. Will never play the venue ever again.

So they finish their mediocre set and they are excited to have played the club because it has a good reputation and cool staff and they want to come back. So they approach you worn out and sweaty from giving it there all and they ask...
"So what did ya think, did you like it? Do you think you would have us back?"

What am I supposed to say, and what would you do in my place?

A. Lie and say with a forced smile. "That was pretty cool. I will see what I can do for you"

B. Honest. And say "Well actually, no I didn't really like it at all, and No I don't think I will have you back"

C. Leave the door person in charge of paying the band and hide until they are gone.

Oh you know Igor Spectre too?


j/k...If I didn't personally like it then I would say so. Just because it isn't my taste doesn't mean no one else will like it. If I had bands playing of a similar style, I might have them back as the first act. If they are as bad as you say they are, audience reaction will reflect this. After that point you can tell them "Sorry, but we had a lot of negative feedback. Take some time and work on your set and if it's different enough from the last set, we'll talk".

Doing so takes the pressure off you and puts it on the paying customers, and in ths business that's whose opinion matters.

be honest and tell them straight out. it's better coming from you than some drunk guy throwing a beer at them and yelling "you suck" at them all night

be honest and tell them straight out. it's better coming from you than some drunk guy throwing a beer at them and yelling "you suck" at them all night

But isn't that what rock n roll is all about?

Maybe you could sugar coat it and say something like "you guys sounded ok, but need some work before I can get you another set here." They should respect that knowing your putting your own reputation on the line by getting them the gig. Who iknows maybe they'll come back and be kick ass!

Al? Sorcha? Someone want to make a citizens' arrest?

Oh! Oh! Could I? Or would that be pretentious since I'm new? But damn, I like handcuffs.

A, dude. Don't crush their self esteem. I was in a couple of shitty bands, and I wouldn't have wanted someone to tell me the truth.

Oh! Oh! Could I? Or would that be pretentious since I'm new? But damn, I like handcuffs.

I think Al and Sorcha have seniority. Besides, I think you need to get deputized first.

I am new here as well so, do what you will with me. Make your arrest and slam me around. I have thick skin.

Thanks for the thoughts everybody. Just so you know, I made a judgment call and lied. Some bands are easy to be straight with, but some of these aggressive running down the dream types just really spooks me and I always lie. Maybe I am part of the problem. Anyway, the band eventually found out what I really thought after not booking them for sometime and now they are pissed to say the least. So my bad and I wish I would have been brave and honest.

The reason for the post was to get rid of the guilt. It was weighing heavy on my SOLE!!!!

Certain of the grammar police have nightsticks and they use them, and perhaps not in the way you are thinking.

I think Al and Sorcha have seniority. Besides, I think you need to get deputized first.

Well, jeez. Could someone tell me how to do that then? And will I get a complimentary set of handcuffs along with it?

perhaps "you're not the type of band I usually promote"
no matter what it's going to feel like a painful break up.

If they can't seperate personal relationships from business ones, then they shouldn't be hitting up their buddies to get them a gig.

Maybe this story will give some insight.

A few years ago I started up a band with an old friend of mine. I was the one who made the phone calls and got everyone together. We had about 5 rehearsals and then everything went quiet. I asked my friend, Rob, when we were going to get together again, the only response I got was "I don't know". This went on for a couple of weeks. I was talking about how things were going with another friend of mine who was in no way connected with the band, but we had the same circle of friends. He told me that they had decided not drop me from the line up and that they already replaced me. This was after weeks of me bugging them about rehearsing. I decided to play my cards close to my chest. I spent about a week talking to Rob, trying to set up a rehearsal which he always gave some excuse on why we couldn't on that day. At this point Rob and I were friends for about 8 years. I gave him ample opportunity to tell me what was happening and he did not do it. After I told him I knew what was happening, his excuse was "Well, I didn't know how to tell you".

Now anyone who knows me knows that I'm a blunt and rather up front person. That's how I am to other people and I prefer to be treated the same way. If they had come to me and said "We don't think you're working out", then that would have been fine. Sure I would have been a little depressed, but that's understandable. Sometimes musicians just don't connect. I was hurt and offended that I was replaced without being told what was going on and that my friend of 8 years did nothing to tell me what was happening. I think after that long of a friendship, I deserved that respect.

So here it is 4 years later and I'm booking shows for them. Funny how things turn out.

I realize that the point is moot, now that you've already dealt with them, but anyhoo... if it were me I would have pointed out the lack of audience to them, and said something like "I can only have you back if you can get at least X number of people to show up. This isn't a charity, ya know". If you did give them another chance with that condition, and they still didn't bring in a crowd, then I think you could refuse to book them again without guilt. Or at least I could... I have a history of being mean to the bands I deal with anyway...

[Edited on Aug 21, 2003 by Iris]