in the meantime, they moved all the factories...

On Friday, I put on Outcry Collective, Young Guns, Cut The Blue Wire and Scholars at The Fighting Cocks. It's no lie that I'm not a massive fan of the first three bands, and I only booked that lineup because Blakfish were originally on the lineup and it's always good to help them out. But after the show I was at total breaking point.

It's one thing putting on loads of shows with bands that you're into, because if you lose money then at least you can say, "Well, I put on this amazing show and I really enjoyed the night." Except Friday was not that at all. Scholars were really good but they only played to about five people. Not even the other bands dignified them an audience, because they were out the front of the venue having a drink with their mates. Not saying that they SHOULD have been in the venue watching, they can do what they like, but it's only polite.

So having lost money on my last four or five shows I was basically at breaking point by about 10pm, when some guy came to the door and claimed he was on the (rather extensive) Outcry Collective guestlist. I'd made it a cheap list of £2 entry because I really couldn't afford to lose yet more money on another show, so when this guy showed up, I explained he had to pay two pounds, he gave me a look and went, "What?!" as to say that £2 was an extortionate amount to pay for a gig. At this point I'd had enough so I just let him in free, far rather just let him be a prick than have to justify any of my actions to such a narrow-minded individual.

Of course, there will be those of you who read this who will be like, "OMG DEL BUT YOU ALWAYS ASK TO BE ON DA GUESTLIST!" At risk of sounding all "one rule for me, one rule for everyone else", and while I also don't feel a need to justify what I do, I'm going to anyway:

1. If anyone ever asked me to pay a reduced amount for a show, I would gladly do it. And HAVE done it.

2. I would never, ever ask to be guestlisted for what is essentially a DIY show. Even if it is all mates' bands playing (Tellison/Tubelord/Colour in Leeds recently = good example. Gem puts on some really good shows in Leeds, you should check them out.

3. In terms of what putting on shows has cost me this year (I'd estimate I've lost somewhere in the region of £600-£700 this year), you would probably agree that it evens itself out. Me not paying in to see Youthmovies in London on Thursday, for example, was a request so I could flyer one of my own shows, and not end up with a massive debt at the end of it.

4. Everything I do within the music industry is always done with the best intentions at heart. While a few years ago I was pretty naive about everything (and I don't claim to be a wise old man now, I'm still learning new things every day and taking it all in with an open mind), it's a difficult industry to be involved in and there's a massive minefield of politics and people who seem to be working against each other rather than working for each other.


So while on Friday I had all the life sucked out of me and I went to bed feeling like I had a lead weight on my shoulders, Saturday more than redeemed everything and restored every faith I have in music, the music-buying public and just PEOPLE in general.

During the day I had pulled my hamstring playing hockey so I wasn't in the best of shape come the evening when I went to buy the rider for Youthmovies/Adam Gnade/Colour. When I arrived at the venue with £100-worth of food and drink, I half-expected it to be chaos but in fact, everyone was in good spirits - we even finished soundcheck early, which NEVER happens. The gig came, we had 110 people in, it was amazo. It completely re-affirmed every reason why I put on shows, everything about the night was enjoyable and all the bands were lovely.

Sometimes I wished that happened all the time. Not to make it completely effortless, I quite enjoy some of the legwork behind putting on shows, but it would be nice to sometimes have something to show at the end of the night, and feel like the end product justifies the effort I put into it. Because I put a LOT of effort in. And despite owing a few people here and there, I consider myself to be in that 10% of "trustworthy promoters" in the UK.

Here endeth rant, I really needed to get a lot of that off my chest. I can't see myself doing many shows next year because I'll be concentrating on my band more, and helping out Tubelord and Colour to a greater extent.

2009 is promising. But 2008 hasn't finished yet, and I have a lot of unfinished business to address...

Current listening:
Sigur Ros - Heim / Hvarf
Secondsmile - Years
Jose Vanders - The Red Black Blue & Tortoise