Music Venue Trust & Work Ethics

Feeling pretty discouraged, I shouldn't be surprised that people are this way? It just seems to be happening more than it should? Everybody always seems to want what I have, even if I really don't have much? I wanted to keep my working relationships as positive as possible? I want to support all the music venues in our area since they are scarce and far between. I would like all my reviews and write ups to say all nice things about my experiences with promoting the music scene but unfortunately that would not be realistic? I have read other local music blogs and they all seem so nice and smooth compared to my experiences? I guess working on the other side of the scene in being a promoter makes it all the difference as these other writers really have not got into it in that sense. I have tried not to enclose to many personal details in the process of creating these shows but it has come to my attention my efforts have all been in vain. I was hoping that these experiences would all be on the up and up and that I could say nice things about the people I have worked with. That these individuals you meet and/or work with are only in it for themselves? You work hard and try to do a great thing for the local music scene and all you get is a slap in the face. Business relations can be difficult in any profession but this is getting to cut throat it is ridiculous. I'm not sure what I'm going to do? Am I going to continue with all of this? I don't know Sometimes I think it would be much easier and save on working with dishonest people if I decided to take another career path but my passion and heart is with music. Are people really that jealous they can't stand to see someone succeeding? Am I really that big of a threat to you? Does this stuff just seem to happen to me? Sometimes it feels like it. This is just crazy.

All the bands I have worked with have been super awesome and they were great to work with except one that I will not name. The problems mostly stem from finding a venue and the people you have to deal with in this process of promoting the bands. I do not need to go Hollywood and make this stuff up to enhance the article, this stuff is for real. I report it as I see it, plain and simple. I would prefer never to have to work with shady people ever but that would be in a perfect world and you know that is not the world we live in, so I face the realities of it all. I have never been one just to sit back and take it, especially if I see wrong doings. I think I have become some what lax and bite my tongue a little to much lately? But no more if you don't speak up people will just walk all over you. Yes maybe it would save face, but I would not have piece of mind just to sit back and take it up the tail pipe. If I don't stand up for myself, who will?

Promoters take on many financial risks among other things when trying to get the bands everyone wants to see to come to town. I am not a rich person and I have tried to make some great shows happen with little financial backing. I use what I have and then try to get sponsors to help with the rest. The process of getting sponsors has been a grueling experience. If I had more financial backing and/or my own venue I could make things really happen.

I have found with one club owner in particular he is just out for himself. He takes advantage of the ideas and kindness of others for his own personal gain and doesn't care who he steps on in the process. Then he acts clueless when something is brought to his attention, and you remind him of the deal he made with you, then he tries to back out of it. Some people are great manipulators and turn things around to look like any mishaps is all your fault? You make a mention of a bad experience you have had with them and they turn around and say you have a lack of a work ethic and throw the ignorance card at you. The only thing I am ignorant about is trying to find the best in people and trusting them at their word, if you don't honor your word you really don't have anything. Unfortunately a lot of businesses are like this. I guess I really want to give a person the benefit of the doubt in hopes things will work out for the best and my efforts will be rewarded?

This one venue in town I have decided I would not work with, and this is quite unfortunate since there are few venues supporting live music in Spokane. I just cannot work with someone who takes advantage of others ideas and backs out of business deals or pretends he doesn't know what you are talking about when you confront him with them? I won't name, names but it's not to hard to figure out if you are from here? I have had some problems with business deals in the past and that goes with the territory, but never anything like this. After my last experience with him when I worked so hard to get a popular band here, I swore I would never work with him again. Before all of the problems arose and before I knew how this person operated I threw out a few concert ideas to him in hopes to keep a good working relationship and bring some more great shows to town. It wasn't until later that I found out I didn't like the way he conducted business and decided not to work with him again. I had already gave him my show ideas on a silver platter.

Well a little over a month goes by and I'm giving that experience some time to cool but still working on the show I forgot I had told this venue owner about. I mentioned to him about a couple bands who had contacted me to set up a show in town on their way through and gave him their name and contact information in hopes we could get something going for them. I had all but forgot I had done this? I was still working on getting them a show set up and then I was hit with it again. I'm scrolling through my social media and, wham, there it is in black and white, the show I was still working on, was confirmed somewhere else? Imagine my surprise since I was in the process of confirming them at a different venue here in town? So this makes almost 3 shows pulled out from under me by 2 different people in 3 months? All that work just so someone else could profit and take credit for, all that work for nothing. From now on everything will stay hush, hush and locked inside my head until the show is set in stone and I have that contract in my hand, no more, Mrs Nice Guy.

Most of the shows I have set up, I'm sorry to say I have lost money on, or did not make a dime on except one, and still it was not much. I cannot keep bringing great shows to town unless I get more support in doing so, and that means any support? People need to buy a ticket and come to the shows first off and support the bands and the venues even if the show lands during the week. This is some of the excuses I hear but really what is one show or a couple hours less sleep to attend? Some of these shows do not come around often so take advantage of them when they are presented to you especially if it is a low dough show and you are on a budget., no matter what day it happens to land on. Second I could use any support, just knowing people appreciate my efforts helps give me a reason to continue doing this. I have been discouraged in these past months with the turn outs of the shows and the problems I have had with the lack of venues available, along with my ideas and shows being stolen, not to mention not getting credit for the work I have done. Everyone likes to hear positive feedback and that all their hard work is appreciated.

Normally I would not suggest supporting any business that I feel has dishonest practices and takes advantage of others efforts without giving credit where credit is due. Unfortunately with this particular business as we are talking music venue, Spokane does not have many to choose from. If anything the bands deserve the support and even if it is at this venue for now I will still encourage you all to support it for the musicians sake only. My main purpose for writing this article was to give public awareness to some people's business practices and it is a bit of a warning to proceed with caution when dealing with people like this. Eventually everything will come out in the open for all to see. As for me I'm not one to give up, so I will continue with my passion of music with a watchful eye. Until next time, keep it real and try not to take life so serious it is much to short. Hang loose and have fun and most importantly Rock N Roll. This has been a public service announcement.