Hey, all -
I couldn't agree with Kip more. I feel pretty naive, but I was *shocked*
when I learned that the NEA bands didn't make anything, other than what was
in those pathetic plastic tip jars. Seeing a joint like Robert's on a
Saturday night, packed to the hilt with hundreds and hundreds of people,
not even checking for wristbands at the door (what do they care as long as
they sell more beer), and then having the audacity to have the *customers*
pay the band out of their own generosity - well, I found that downright
offensive. I thought I had paid for the music when I bought my (utterly
useless) wristband. All the club had to do was open their doors and rake
in the cash. How can they get away with it? Because we, as musicians, let
them. We have no one but ourselves to blame, and that's the worst part of
it. Most musicians can afford to play for free because they have day jobs.
They have day jobs because they can't make money playing music. Because
they'll play for free. Because they have day jobs... You get the picture.
As much as I'd like to, we can't blame the club owners and promoters.
They're only businessmen and if any businessman could get a product for
free and sell it at a 100% profit, they'd be a fool not to. And you can't
really expect them to feel a moral obligation to then kick a few bucks to
the sucker who gave his product away. Well, you can expect it, but you'll
be disappointed.
It's a sad and ass-chapping state of affairs that will only cease when all
musicians band together and join hands and lift their voices in unison <cue
"We Shall Overcome" and flag-waving visuals> and say, "We deserve an honest
wage for an honest day's work! Or at least free beer! And we're not going
to take it anymore!" Then to cap off this touching moment, I'll have the
monkeys fly out of my ass.
I just made myself really grumpy,
Erin
