poor choices

[rootofnewt]

See, there's this thing about weeknight club events. Opening bands should do just that--open. They should start well before midnight, so that the headlining band goes on no later than, say, 12:15 or 12:30. Folks have to work, study, or sleep. Some folks have to drive a long way. Everybody should get to see both bands, but it's kind of hard when the main act doesn't go on until 1am or later. This is what happens when an opening act is told they start at midnight and have a 45-50 minute set. That's not cool. It's seriously not cool.

Keep in mind that those bandmembers have to have or be drivers. And those drivers have to be awake. Sure, maybe the promoter can handle those weird hours, but some of us have chronic illnesses which require sane hours. Some folks have to work the next day and have to put forth a hell of a lot of effort. Some have classes. It's a disservice to the patrons of the event, as well. On a weeknight, I expect to be leaving a club around 1am--if a band goes on later than that, I have to stay (and risk my precarious health) or leave and miss the act I've *paid to see*. If I were a fan and discovered an opening act wasn't going to start until midnight on a weeknight, I'd skip the show and wait for another chance to see the main act.

Sure, I don't have to pay money to get in to shows where my husband plays, but I have to pay in energy, pain, and oxygen deprivation.

Musicians do this for the love of the music. Sure, any compensation is nice, but the compensation in this case seems to be a complete lack of appreciation or consideration. The guys in Silent Muse are nice, but that doesn't mean other people won't stick up for them. They don't deserve this kind of bullshit.

Comments

[fiendmorte.livejournal.com]

The decision was made by Jaide.
We asked for no earlier than 11:30, expecting to either get that or be told 11:15.
We were given midnight.

The reason given to me: So everything is straight soundwise (there was some issue at a previous show) and all that, and so people would get a chance to dance to the dj's before the show.

The crowd at Sacrosanct, for the most part, stay until it's all over, and we have to start kicking people out. A thinning crowd is not an issue.

It sucks about your health problems and all that, and I sympathize. I just want you and everyone in Silent Muse to know that it was not our (Dead New Year) decision.

[red-frog.livejournal.com]

This is why I don't often hear music around here. Even starting at 11PM is too late for me if I'm going to get up the next morning.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

I don't think weeknight shows should start later than 9pm, but that doesn't work in the goth scene. It either has to do with the hours worked by most of the customers or the venues not being available until later.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

SM asked for you guys to open for them. You should be grateful you got a gig at all and not insist on opening no earlier than 11:30pm. Going on shortly after 11pm wouldn't hurt you. Trust me.

[ismene.livejournal.com]

So many weeknight events are sparsely attended here because patrons want to be home by midnight. Most goths here have day jobs and want to sleep before going into work at 8 AM. Promoters keep bitching about slow weeknight attendance, but still keep putting things on late when they know most of the core scene works days. Sheesh.

[seeliespright.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I can come if this is the case.

When would everything be finished? 2? 3? and then there's driving on top of that...

[fiendmorte.livejournal.com]

Well, it would, since we KNOW, being that we go there EVERY WEEK, that people don't start really showing up until 11:30.

As far as I know, Silent Muse didn't ask for us to open for them. We wanted a show. They wanted a show. We were put together. We were not requested, if that's what you're alluding to.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Opening bands have to get out the word. You tell folks, "Hey, we're playing at 11 or 11:15, get there early to see us play."

Then, when you get on stage, you play your heart out whether the crowd numbers three or three hundred. Them's the breaks.

I like how you're speaking for Silent Muse. Quite impressive, as you know them so incredibly well and talk to them all the time.

[fiendmorte.livejournal.com]

When did I ever speak for Silent Muse?
WHY would I ever speak for Silent Muse?

I speak enough for myself that I don't have time to speak for anyone else.

I don't understand why everyone's having such a shitfit over this show. It's a show. They can show up and, as you so plainly put it, "play their hearts out, whether the crowd numbers three or three hundred."

I'm done with this. Honestly, I'm not sorry, especially after all the bullshit drama I've had to deal with due to the way I wanted to promote this show. I'll be glad when it's over, and I can move on to promoting the next show we have at the Raygun next month.

End communication.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, Silent Muse didn't ask for us to open for them. We wanted a show. They wanted a show. We were put together. We were not requested, if that's what you're alluding to.

Right there's where you presumed to speak for SM. Maybe you haven't spoken to SM and aren't aware that they requested DNY to play. Sure, I'm not in SM, but I'm married to a member. Maybe you know the band better than I do.

Sure, it's a show. When it starts an *hour* later than it should on a weeknight, it's an imposition.

[fiendmorte.livejournal.com]

Well, if you must know, we were both trying to get the opening slot for Ego Likeness at one point, and since we BOTH wanted a show, Jaide hooked us up.
Whether or not they wanted us is out of my knowledge being that I can't read minds, BUT I do know that Jaide promised us a show, and it was finalized by myself and Will, Chad, Patrick, and Jaide at Stu's "Save Ferris Party" after already talking to Jim and Jaide about it for around one month.

You read my first comment all wrong, and decided to take the defensive. The original comment in this thread was meant as a kind of sympathetic thing towards you and Silent Muse, letting you know that it wasn't MY or Dead New Year's decision. Take it as that.

[red-frog.livejournal.com]

You'd think that you could listen to jazz trumpet before 11PM. :P

[krasota.livejournal.com]

o_O

yeah. That's nuts.

Want tea or gelato sometime?

[krasota.livejournal.com]

drop me an IM, okay?

[red-frog.livejournal.com]

Yep. Early next week? I take off on Wednesday, then don't get back until late Friday.

BTW, V's new gallery space is opening in Richmond next Friday night. If you and your monkey are up to it, you should go. Some cool art in this space. With ~50 artists, you're going to see something you like. :)

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Sure, next week works. :)

I'm not sure I can handle two Richmond trips in a weekend, but thanks for the tip.