From the Obsidian Throne

After a few recent deals that have fallen through with local promoters and my band Immolith, I felt obliged to offer my thoughts on the trials and tribulations that most bands face when the are unknown playing extreme metal….So without further ado, here is my take on the “local metal scene” and live booking.  Keep in mind that I’ve been at this since the 90’s.  I’m old, and have played plenty of shows.  I have a career outside of music, and don’t need to play live at this point to make money.  I only want to do so for the experience of it all.  I write music, and want to perform it.  But here is what I see and where I think the problem lies with the way the underground music scene works.  Local small time promoters won’t book local underground bands on their own merit because they don’t think local bands can draw enough people to make any money on the show.  So these same small time promoters gamble lots of their own cash on so called “signed national acts.” They think these somewhat more well known underground bands will draw better.  The problem is these “signed national acts”  expect to be flown in, or given travel expenses, and have guaranteed money from the promoters. The only thing wrong with that is these “signed national acts” can’t really draw either.  Especially not well enough to cover what they demand.   So the promoters are forced  to lay out a one or two thousand dollars to get a “signed national act” into their venue.  Not really willing to bet that 2K on that same “national act” they just booked, the promoters look to get local bands to foot the bill with “pre-sale tickets” to cover the investment they’ve laid out.  But even local bands are hard pressed to sell the required 30 tickets to a show they are on with this “bigger” band, and often wind up paying out of their own pocket for the privilege of playing with a big band on a “good” bill.  I’ve seen it way too many times!  Here’s my solution…

1.  Underground “national acts” that demand guarantees to come play: Get a fucking grip!   If you were worth the money you are demanding, you’d be on a bigger label and you’d be on a bigger tour at bigger venues.  And more importantly you and the promoter would sell tickets nationwide wherever you’d play to cover your “guaranteed money.”  Since this isn’t the case, stop demanding so much god damn money, and agree to come play for a percentage of the door, and see how much you can really draw?   Oh wait, you can’t draw so you can’t afford to come…   Well then stay the hell home!
2. Promoters, if you really want to support underground metal don’t book “national acts” unless you are 100 percent sure that band you are booking can cover what they demand on their own merit.  If not, don’t book them.   When you do book bigger acts that can cover their guarantee on their own merit, let one or two local bands get an opening shot on the bill to build an audience… That local band  doesn’t get paid, but they get the chance to open for a bigger audience. And most importantly that local band doesn’t have to “pre-sell” tickets to get that opening slot.
3. Promoters should also give locals a night to do locals only show,  and give each band a chance to play.  No local bands get payment unless they draw more then 10 people.  If they do that band gets  a couple bucks a head for each person they draw over 10….the rest goes to the house and promoter for giving the local bands a chance to play.
Just a thought….

Feel free to tell me how wrong I am and offer your more enlightened suggestions….

In Blood,

Isiamon of Immolith