Post written by Bon Von Wheelie of Girl Trouble. Edited with permission.
Link: www.myspace.com/neverpaytoplay

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

1. UNSOLICITED SPAM EMAIL, SMS: You typically receive a friendly email or text message from a production outfit 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 in Myspace, Friendster or Multiply and are often badly done. 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 production 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 not even 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, crappy equipment, 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 cheer 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 recording contract, receive free recording time at a studio they own, have major label A&R reps to evaluate you, etc. Some even use their main acts to reel you in. (Oi, tugtog kayo kasami ng EraserDub tsaka ng Intolerachrurch!) 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”.