Stay Away From Pay To Play
"Paying To Play is NOT OKAY"

Female
97 years old
Washington
United States



Last Login: 7/6/2008
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  http://www.myspace.com/neverpaytoplay  

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GeneralPLEASE CHECK THIS LIST FOR THE LATEST ON EACH PAY-TO-PLAY COMPANY.

BIG TIME ENTERTAINMENT

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BODOG BATTLE OF THE BANDS

EMERGENZA


     Stay Away From Pay To Play's Details
Status:Single
Zodiac Sign:Scorpio



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   Stay Away From Pay To Play's Blurbs
About me:
THIS SITE IS MAINTAINED THE BAND GIRL TROUBLE (SEE OUR MYSPACE PROFILE FOR MORE INFORMATION). WE ARE MUSICIANS OPPOSED TO THE PRACTICE OF PAYING TO PLAY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE A MUSICIAN OR A FAN, PAYING TO PLAY WILL RUIN YOUR SCENE! PLEASE JOIN OUR CAUSE. THANKS AND KEEP ROCKIN'!

WHAT IS PAY-TO-PLAY?
Paying to Play is the practice where independent promotion companies (not affiliated with any specific club) exploits young, inexperienced musicians for their profit. These promoters rent “dead nights” at local clubs to host pay-to-play shows. They typically send flattering spam emails through myspace to new bands notifying them of shows they can play, either straight shows or Battles of the Bands (BOTB). Many of these new bands have barely formed. In order to play these shows, the company requires that the band sell a quota of expensive tickets with all the money being turned over to the representative before showtime (or obligates the band to purchase tickets outright). The band sees a very small percentage, or often times nothing, for all their hard work. The promotion company pays the club rent and takes the biggest profit for themselves with very little effort and no promotion. These pay-to-play companies are acting as unnecessary middlemen. FYI: This practice can also be intiated by the club itself. Any time a band is required to sell tickets, they are paying to play.

WHY DO PAY-TO-PLAY COMPANIES SEEK YOUNG MUSICIANS?
Since older, established musicians will not fall for this practice, these companies primarily target the young, new band who is just starting out. These targeted newcomers don’t realize they are being exploited. We feel that if this practice is allowed to continue it will ruin the scene for the next generation of musicians. Paying to play is an exploitation of musicians that should be discouraged. Please help us spread the word...

---------------------------------------------------
WHAT DOES PAYING TO PLAY SAY ABOUT YOUR BAND?

These pay-to-play companies will tell you that doing their shows is a way to let people know how hard you can work, that you are a go-getter, that you want to be successful. THAT IS A LIE. In reality, no real hard-working band would ever think of doing a show like this. They know they are a huge waste of time, effort and money...not to mention they’ll do damage to your image. The image your band (or you as a solo act) projects can be as important as the music you play.

So you need to ask yourselves a few questions. For instance, who plays these shows? Aren’t these shows typically filled with beginners and bands who need more practice time? Do your favorite bands ever pay-to-play? Of course not! No legitimate band would ever fall for doing these stinky gigs. They’d never consider selling tickets and handing all the money they collected over to some “company rep”. Older bands view this practice as pathetic.

It’s important to consider what your image will be and how people will view you. What does paying to play say about your band?

* We’re not good enough to do a real show.
* No real club will book us.
* Our music isn’t worth anything.
* Nobody really wants to see us so we have to resort to selling tickets.
* We are desperate.
* Our band isn’t the real deal.

Paying to play sends the wrong message. Doing these shows makes a bad impression. Paying-to-play can do more damage than you think!

-------------------------------------------------------
FLAG AS SPAM! Big Time Entertainment's head honcho, Ryan and Gorilla BOTB is spamming everyone again. Don't forget the fantastic new "Flag as Spam" feature on MySpace. Spread the word! Let's at least hamper them from using MySpace as their main marketing tool.

OUR EXPERT TEAM OF PAY-TO-PLAY INVESTIGATORS ARE AT WORK. CLICK TO THE LEFT FOR FULL INFORMATION ON EACH COMPANY.

BIG TIME ENTERTAINMENT IS ON THE MOVE IN THE U.S.!

Here's a fantastic blog from Zadoc of the Syracuse NY band, Zadoc...and the Nightmares. I couldn't have said it better!

David D'Alessio exposes some CD Comp action!

CHECK OUT THE BLOG BY AMANDA HEIRONIMUS FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO

PLAYING WITHOUT PAYING...BY BON VON WHEELIE

10 WARNING SIGNALS IT'S A PAY-TO-PLAY SHOW

1. UNSOLICITED SPAM EMAIL: You typically receive a friendly email from a company you’ve never heard of, with show dates to choose from, or how to sign up for their Battle of the Bands (BOTB) contest. Their websites are usually professional looking/elaborate. No matter how new your band is, or if you even are a band, they’ll claim they are interested in your music and want to work with you. Typically they don’t even listen to you.

2. THEY CLAIM THEY ARE NOT PAY-TO-PLAY: The pay-to-play company goes out of their way to mention many times over that they are not. No legitimate booking company has to make this claim. These companies are constantly doing damage control on blogs and message boards, trying to defend themselves against unhappy musicians. Always google first to see what other bands are saying on musician forums/blogs (FYI: “glowing praise” on their pay-to-play site does not count).

3. YOU ARE GIVEN TICKETS TO SELL: Whether it’s a requirement to play a show or suggested in order to win a contest, a bands’ role is not to be in charge of pre-ticket sales. Promote the hell out of it, but let the club (or promoter) do the actual ticket selling. You are “the artist” and your role is to put on a good show that people will want to see.

4. YOU HAND MONEY OVER BEFORE YOU PLAY: If you hand any money, no matter where it comes from (your friends, family, your own pockets, the sofa cushions) to a company representative before the show, you are paying to play. The representative keeps a detailed tally of who came to see which band either by asking at the door or counting hands at a BOTB. This is never the way real shows are produced.

5. THE COMPANY TAKES THE BIGGEST CUT: You get none (as in BOTBs) or a small percentage back from the money you turned in. No matter what the situation, the company always takes the biggest cut for themselves. They are acting as unnecessary middlemen.

6. ONLY VERY NEW OR INEXPERIENCED BANDS ARE ON THE BILL: Pay-to-play companies work with inexperienced bands. Notice who’s on the bill (if they can even tell you) and see if it’s anybody you’ve ever heard of. Established bands are hip to this con job and won’t do these shows. In fact, ask any established band what they think of paying-to-play (unless you are profanity sensitive) and see how they view this practice.

7. CRAPPY SHOWS: Too many bands on the bill, a mismatched lineup of acts, too short of time on stage, admission price higher than normal, and an audience that won’t stay for the whole show (or are only interested in the band they came to vote for).

8. BIG PROMISES, BIG PRIZES: If you play this show your band will be on the road to Fame and Fortune. You’ll play in a venue you’ll never get on your own, you will win a chance to do a major tour, play at a major festival, get a million dollar recording contract, receive free recording time at a major studio, have major label A&R reps to evaluate you, etc. The percentage of any of this happening through these shows is remote at best.

9. NO PROMO: The company doesn’t print flyers for the show, there are no special print ads in the local music papers, no mention in the free concert calendar. The only promotion is done by the bands. Only the club might list it on their website and that’s it. BECAUSE...

10. YOU DO ALL THE WORK - THEY GET ALL THE MONEY. And if the show doesn’t turn out well and you complain, you get the blame for not working hard enough, or for being a band that will never make it in this biz. In addition, pay-to-play promoters will always stress what a big favor they do for bands, how much they are sacrificing to help you obtain success, how they too are musicians who’s only unselfish goal is to “help other musicians”.

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Stay Away From Pay To Play's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 205 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Antique Scream (WEST COAST TOUR JULY 08)





Jul 3 2008 12:03 PM

FUCK PAYING TO PLAY! PREACH ON!
NYC PUNK





Jul 3 2008 7:23 AM

RIGHT IN MY TOP 40- HELL YES!!!!!!!
Jake And Ryan Music





Jul 1 2008 4:23 PM

Your hours of research saved me much aggravation.
Spread the word everyone!
UROCKON





Jun 30 2008 2:22 AM

Thanks for being a friend of www. urockon. com
Vancouver Independent Promotions





Jun 29 2008 11:08 AM

Thanks for your comment, You have an awesome site here, great information source! VIP
LURID





Jun 26 2008 8:23 PM


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


The Athiarchists(DVD RELEASE AUGUST 1st WOW HALL)





Jun 26 2008 11:47 AM

We totally support what you are doing here. Pay to Play is wrong!! You are on our top friends.

The Athiarchists
SpitUpon (2 New Tracks Up)





Jun 26 2008 7:41 AM

HELLO!

GREAT SITE! KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT!!

MUCH RESPECT!

-SPITUPON
3 INCH MAX


Is Online


Jun 26 2008 9:38 AM

Photobucket
MOORE’S DARK HALO !





Jun 25 2008 8:08 PM

Photobucket
Slippery When Wet





Jun 25 2008 2:36 PM

Wishing you a rockin' Hump Dap

Pay To Play sucks
LAST STONE CAST





Jun 24 2008 7:50 PM

Photobucket
Jeffrey Howard





Jun 19 2008 7:16 PM

I love this page. It's called common sense.

***,
Jeffrey
Gary, drummer for McCuin





Jun 19 2008 5:33 PM

~Clear Channel~
MCCUIN~JUANITA’S JULY 18TH~LITTLE ROCK,AR!!!





Jun 19 2008 7:35 AM

We are asking everyone to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE click this link that will take you to our new single Broken on the Clear Channel Radio NEW! artist player site and play our song!! The more plays we get on this player the faster we can be played on the Clear Channel Radio airwaves from coast to coast!! The link will take you directly to our song on their player, so there is no searching around, and the song is less than 3 minutes, SO PLEASE, WE ARE JUST ASKING FOR 2 MINUTES AND 51 SECONDS OF YOUR TIME TO HELP US OUT!!!

Thank You In Advance!!!!
McCUIN

http://www. edgelittlerock. com/cc-common/artist_submission/player. html?rt=164757
Royal Jam Music USA





Jun 9 2008 8:40 PM

Thanks for the Add! Keep up the good work!
John Wilkes Booth





Jun 9 2008 6:53 PM

I agree. But I think most of these guys don't even look at your page. We have it plastered all over our page that we refuse "pay to play" shows.
But they still contact us all the time
STAB CITY





Jun 9 2008 4:33 PM

thanks for putting this page up. i urge all bands to put this page in thier top friends list not only to help spread the word but to let those scammers know not to message you with this crap.
The 27’s





Jun 9 2008 2:01 PM

lol so what about like the chance/loft in Poughkeepsie? is that pay to play because we dont have to sell tickets but we only make money if we sell tickets, but when we playedt he chance 2 weeks ago they let you keep a good profit you know?
HYMS (Peter Smiloff)





Jun 7 2008 8:42 PM

Pay to Play. One of the reasons why I refuse to play here on Long Island

Let's end this!
Daddy Rocks





Jun 4 2008 10:02 AM

Great Site. Let's knock out these a-holes.
Daddy Rocks!
NO 2 PAY 2 PLAY!





Jun 2 2008 5:35 PM

yell about it everywhere, let these morally bankrupt promoters see we're not going to stand by and let it happen
John Wilkes Booth





Jun 2 2008 3:52 PM

Power to the people!!!!!!!
X-15





Jun 2 2008 3:18 PM

Oh yeah, i read your information and, oh boy, we could go on.....

I love it! Keep kicking ass. Protecting musicians when vulnerable. Manuvering one's way thru the crap in order to gain notariety.

rock on,
X-15
MONSTER FEST (official) HAS TICKETS!!





Jun 2 2008 6:41 AM

Photobucket
Slippery When Wet





May 30 2008 2:05 PM

Slippery When Wet loves you
Have a rockin' weekend
<3
Linda Vee Sado
Moshpill





May 29 2008 12:31 PM

hello, thanx for the add
cheers from Greece
Notorious Kelly





May 26 2008 5:55 PM

We have lots of rants on Clist here in Portland about pay-to-play, coffee shop gigs, open mics, etc.

I enjoy being part of the open mic/jam scene (big list on my page) where beginners and developing artists/bands can get better.

I'm also working on getting performing artists of different genres cross-pollinating and supporting each other for inspiration and maybe taking more control of the scene - putting on our own shows so venues and pay-to-play don't have as much sway.

What do y'all think of that?
ASSES OF EVIL





May 22 2008 4:43 PM

thanks for doing what you do, phoenix is also heading in the wrong direction, read on:
Thanks for the reply, but really we don't want a band playing that is going to pay to play. We ask the band for their support in selling tickets to fans who will come to the show and the bands also get paid when selling tickets.

In return, we are providing bands with advertising, mentioning the band's name not only in New Times, but Radio as well, providing professional flyers, posters and tickets with bands names, websites, various calendars in New Times, Radio, Venue, Street teams, e-mail blasts and of course dont' forget, we are paying for the National headliner, venue and all other costs.

Anyway, thanks for letting me have your answer, if you have time, come visit the show, it is going to be awesome. See one of the longest working punk band with original lineup.

Barb
Hellfire Concerts
480-330-3102

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: ASSES OF EVIL(new CD out now!)
Date: Apr 21, 2008 11:34 AM


sorry
can't do pay to play

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: HELLFIRE CONCERTS
Date: Apr 18, 2008 10:20 PM


Interested in supporting the Adicts? May 23, Friday in Tempe? If you are, please give me a call 480-330-3102.

Thanks,
Barb
Hellfire Concerts
LoNero - Guitarcore Originators





May 22 2008 3:47 PM

Hi,
You got it! The more we can do to stop these people that push Pay to Play the better off musicians and the world of music and independent music will be. What the bands don't seem to realize is that they have more power then they think.
Without bands bars and clubs don't get people in the door.
It's time bands stand up for themselves and stop letting scumbag "promoters" take advantage of them!!!
Punk Shows / Music Photography / teamgoon.com





May 20 2008 9:39 PM

Great MySpace. We have been against the Pay to Play for a long time.
There is an editorial on it that you can see in our forum under list of upcoming shows
Muddy River Nightmare Band





May 17 2008 11:53 PM

Muddy River Nightmare Band would like to take this opportunity to thank you for being so blindingly hip that you want to add our fantabulous rock and roll band. We think that fucking rules... but more so, we are fucking honored that you would consider adding us out of the millions of angst ridden emo-core crybaby bands that myspace has.

With much love and appreciation... we raise a glass of PBR in your general direction.

Sincerely,

Fat, Angry, Old, and Drunk
aka Muddy River Nightmare Band
Standard Deviance





May 18 2008 4:49 AM

Yaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!
Marie Black





May 16 2008 6:49 PM

Thanks for the add. I love what you're doing.

Marie
MASTERGURU (Needs band members)





May 15 2008 2:55 PM

Word is bond! Fuck that shit... Buncha scam artists...
Societal Decay





May 15 2008 2:42 PM

Emergenza is a complete rip off and a bunch of scam artist
Nemesis Booking





May 14 2008 2:36 PM

Thanks for the kind words.

Nemesis
Indie Star Records-GPB western tour this summer