RTP-area local music and culture

[chapelhillguitarist AT hotmail.com]

On Feb 5, 2:35 pm, loxp... AT aol.com wrote:
>  One thing a lot of bands tend to forget is that club owners have this 
> nasty little addiction called 'overheads'. No matter how great your band 
> may be, if they can't fill the joint, for whatever reason, the club owner 
> may well lose money, maybe lots of it.
>
> Think the bank, landlord, phone co., beer vendors, Duke Power, and a 
> bajillion other expenses will cut the owner any slack because the 
> attendance has been down and he can't afford to pay right now? If so, 
> please contact me, my family has a bridge in Brooklyn we'd like to sell, 
> cheap too!
>
> For a new, unproven draw of a band to expect they can waltz right into a 
> club like 506 is not only excessively egotistical, its fucking insane!
>
> I've been in bands since 1965 and can certainly empathize with how hard it 
> can be to get gigs...hell, we're strugglin' in Killer Filler...but the 
> reality is that there are way, way more good bands in Chapel Hill than 
> there are clubs to keep them all booked and that, coupled with the economic 
> realities faced by club owners make gigs a bit on the scarce side. 
> Particularly if you are not a PROVEN draw.
>
> But think of how much worse it would be if the clubs that are there went 
> out of business because they booked bands based solely upon skill or 
> friendship as opposed to draw.
>
> pete gamble

I understand overhead.  I understand putting butts in the seats and
selling beer.

What I don't understand is how these things can be accomplished in an
environment that is hostile to 'bands I've never heard of'.  The old
phrase 'paying your dues' rings hollow to bands who have 'paid their
dues' for years only to see newer, younger bands who haven't paid any
dues suddenly headlining at 506 or the Cradle.  It reeks of favoritism
when talented bands that the club owner may not personally like don't
get booked for gigs while other, less talented bands play frequently.

Life isn't fair.  I am not asking for a free ride or a fair life.

Simple courtesy of a response from the club manager or booking person
would be great.  Just because bands outnumber clubs doesn't mean that
clubs don't have an obligation to be just as professional in return to
someone who is professional during a request for booking.

The days of good manners seem to be over. ;)