Killing time while on tour

[zalo]

But Zalo, you want to sleep on sofas every day for 6 weeks at a time and be dependent on someone else's timetable? I guess it depends on the luxury of the promoter's pad...I remember a lovely cat piss smelling flea pit in Pittsburgh of one "promoter".

yes, i understand the possibility of a bad apartment, but with out that promoter you wouldn't have had a show in that town

i dont know, i came from a punk/hardcore background, maybe my acceptance and desire to get on the road is a little bit higher than everyone elses

but when your goal is to play as many shows as possible and get paid as much as possible while doing it, the need of creature comforts diminish

an extra 400 dollars a week is huge

you have to think of where the money is coming from before you ask for it, 5 dollars a head, 40 people show up, 25% to the venue, a hotel room costs 50-60 dollars, that means after the promoter takes 10%, there is only 30 dollars or so to split up between 3-4 bands? even if the locals arent getting paid, thats only 30 dollars you made from the door that night, i would rather take the 90 and sleep on a sofa

[SubFunk]

really? you guys require a hotel room?

i dont know about you, but i would rather have the extra 60 bucks in my pocket and sleep on the promoters sofa then stay at a hotel

also, who said anything about a nanny? all the best promoters i know meet up with you when you get into town, take you home, make you a meal, and then head to the venue together

touring is a money making venture, why force people to pay for things when you could put that money in your pocket?

@Android Bishop: We'll play one of your shows anytime!

yeah, i was pulling a bit of a leg here...

that really depends... if i know the promoter already well, or if there is that 'feel' you can have sometimes and it tells you he might be an OK chap, then i am also OK with a private accommodation... but it has to be somehow a certain comfort, i mean after traveling under circumstances a long way and playing for a long time (i usually did 4 hours plus... ) you want to be able to either crash out in peace and sleep well, or have a party with some chicks, so a sofa is certainly not OK. at least a separate room is OK in my book.

and being looked after, i think is also standard... that does all not mean you need to behave like an arrogant superstar DJ, but you are guest and as i said already should be treated like one... (at least those attributes are my vision of a warm hospitality)

by the way, when i used to have the soniclab, i only had once areal super asshole DJ around and he was from Berlin. (the only one who was never ever booked again) everyone else was just a nice guy or girl.

chris vine wrote:
But Zalo, you want to sleep on sofas every day for 6 weeks at a time and be dependent on someone else's timetable? I guess it depends on the luxury of the promoter's pad...I remember a lovely cat piss smelling flea pit in Pittsburgh of one "promoter".

yeah, good point, if you are really on tour and play 2 - 4 times a week and traveling, you want a decent bed & shower, simple.


also, just make a tech rider, a rider is always good, you do not need to screw up and demand hookers and blow 'en mass...
but just point some simple standards out, technically for the stage and your comfort, a reasonable rider is totally accepted, and you can even point the parts out you are always willing to negotiate, all the DJs i have ever booked simply sent a rider upfront, if there was ever a problem with accomplishing any of the wishes, then you get in contact and discuss it, simple.

it always worked.

[zalo]

if you are really on tour and play 2 - 4 times a week and traveling, you want a decent bed & shower, simple.

i have always considered touring to be playing 6-7 nights a week, usually how it works out its 27 shows in a month if you circle the states

there was a long period in my life where there was a sofa in my bedroom, no bed, it was easier than getting used to a bed for a couple weeks then sleeping on sofas again for a month or so

there is pretty much no promoter that i know of that will give an unsigned band a guarantee, especially an unsigned non-local band with no draw in the area

you have to consider that if a show completely flops and no one shows up, its on the head of the promoter to pay the venue and the bands, they are taking a risk to start off with, asking for anything more than a roof over your head could be enough for them to back out of it, now you have a day on the road that you have no chance to make money (aside from selling cds at the gas station, which i have had to do), and another 5-18 hour drive that you didnt get gas money for

again, the idea is to get home with more money than you started out with, losing shows demanding certain accommodations isnt going to help you accomplish that

[LOFA]

But Zalo, you want to sleep on sofas every day for 6 weeks at a time and be dependent on someone else's timetable? I guess it depends on the luxury of the promoter's pad...I remember a lovely cat piss smelling flea pit in Pittsburgh of one "promoter".

Are we talking about the same, "most important thing to ever happen to the Steel City?".

[chris vine]

Are we talking about the same, "most important thing to ever happen to the Steel City?".

I have no idea, we were only there for about 8 hours. If my memory serves, we arrived in time to do the show after driving from NYC, landed in the cat litter and split as soon as poss in the morning. US touring. I'll take Germany any day for nice people, dependable PAs, Hotel etc. Italy for the food


Zalo, yes I understand where you are coming from and agree with you regarding all the stuff about promoters not paying extras for unknown bands - but it still sucks, and I wouldn't do that again myself....reaches for walking stick.....it shouldn't have to be such a big thing to get decent accommodation, but in a lot of cases - it is.

[evolwizard]

ok, touring is a money making venture, I agree. Not only for the artist but for the promoter as well. If you are a lousy performer, you won't get much work. Simple enough. Also, if you are a lousy promoter, talent will (should) be less likely to use your services. It's an agreement. You can't say.."I've been ripped off!" if you agree to the terms. Remember as an artist, YOU are the talent. You have a say. You make the call, and you agree to the terms. It's ok to request things like a hotel room, or any other private accommodation that suits YOU. You CAN request things such as "A list of fun things to do" in the particular area. You can request bottled water or Guiness Stout. More often than not, the promoter will desire to keep a relationship with the artist because the artist is the promoters meal ticket. Maybe I've just been really lucky to have had the quality experiences that I have but I don't think so. I know business relationships can sometimes involve compromises but lets not sell ourselves short guys. We are the ones that stay up for days trying to get our tracks/sets right. We are the ones who push our bodies to the limits with travel and playing out. If you are passionate about doing what you do, regardless of what it is you are doing, don't let someone else sell you short. You are only then selling yourself short and you will become resentful and eventually rob yourself of the passion your talent requires. Sorry guys..I know this was windy, but I am sincere about this. I am fed up with business hands in the cookie jar fuckin it all up for everyone. You know what would be really sweet? What if we organized a tour of ableton artists? Maybe that has been brought up before and I missed it. Maybe it could be a day long festival with workshops and demos etc..hhhmmmmm.
have fun.