Pay to Play:

For years now, Hollywood clubs have been showcasing local bands ("local" in Southern California usually means anyone who lives within three hours of the Sunset Strip), and having them pay to play there.

What does this mean? Well, it works like this. Band X is going to play a show in two weeks, on a Wednesday night in a club in Hollywood. They buy a predetermined number of tickets for the show, and then have to sell them to whomever they can, or eat the money. So let us assume that Band X has purchased $400.00 in tickets, and the face value of them is $10.00 a piece. A four man band will have to then sell ten tickets each just to break even.

Normally, very few tickets get sold, and the club simply keeps that money. What other venue have you ever heard of where the entertainment pays to play, does all the promotion, and eats the gas bill and load time of the equipment? Can you say, "Sucker"?

I can hear what you are thinking: Why on Earth would anyone do this? It is because these crooked club owners dangle fame, fortune and recording contracts in front of the band, who is desperately looking for their "big break."

The problem is, the representative from that major recording company who was supposed to be in the crowd always meets with a last minute emergency, better luck next time. Another great story is when the club owner leans in and says real quiet, "They never tell us who they are - it could be any one of those people! Play your best!" This gentleman should be promptly hit in the mouth, because he is ripping you off, and calling you a fool while he does it.

At least the band gets a few free drinks for playing, right? Not on your life. In fact, all the band members are happy to pay six dollars for a bottle of beer, because it's Hollywood, man! It makes me want to puke. All this work for no drinks, no music representative, and a forty-five minute set, which is probably half as long as the drive back home.

You may be wondering how I know so much about this subject. I was once the tool who was paying to play. I was never happy about it, but like other new bands, I was thrilled to be playing on Sunset Boulevard. It only took a few times of the recording agent mysteriously not making it, though, for me to learn that lesson.

Is it always a total scam and rip-off? Probably not, but I would suggest doing research about the club before dropping a few hundred dollars to play there. If you honestly believe your band is one step away from "making it", this avenue could pay off in the end. It seems to me, though, that the entertainment should be paid for their time, not the other way around.