It’s been 16 days since I posted anything here. I’ve been busy over the Christmas break and beyond with family things. I have not been able to read many of my fellow bloggers posts and I feel bad about that. I will hopefully be able to catch up. As well I have been organizing my first concert. Ok, well not exactly MY first concert, but this is the first time I have ever organized a concert.
- Securing the bands – I wanted 4. I had 2 on board from the start. The other 2 were a problem. Some bands were on board but wanted WAY too much cash. The bands that have managers were the ones that were most expensive. The manager would try and shine me about how awesome the band is, but money talks. I probably reached out to 50 or 60 bands, but most had prior commitments, were working on a new album, or just couldn’t make it for whatever reason. The 3rd and 4th took tons of phone calls, emails, texts and Facebook messages. Ok 4. Not so fast. The 4th band backed out 3 weeks after they committed. Now I need to scramble and find a 4th again. More calls, emails etc. Finally 4 again.
- Securing the venue – I assumed this would be easy. Well you know what happens when you assume. I quickly got the feel of what it is like as a promoter. Money talks, bullshit walks is the saying. Most venues want a cash outlay. They want me to come up with cash up front before I can use their venue. Umm. Uno Problemo Senor. I have no liquid cash. I’m married and have bills. The conversation I would have with my wife about dipping into our finances to fund a concert that may or may not ( or most likely not) turn a profit would likely end within 60 seconds. I assumed that when you want to bring a band to a venue, and therefore bring fans to that venue, that they would welcome you with open arms. The fans would be paying to get in, and paying for booze, so what’s the problem. I guess I didn’t look at it from the venue’s point of view. They need to pay people for bartending, door, set up, clean up, etc. If not enough show, then they have to pay staff from their own pocket. They are not in business to lose money. I finally found a place that seemed to suit. It was within my target area and the price was right. I had to call, email, and go see them and sign forms, but it was finally done.
- Advertising – This is something that doesn’t magically happen. If you want your event advertised, you have to do it yourself. More emails, calls, Facebook posts, making posters, driving around and hanging posters(sometimes having to put them amongst dozens of others). Calling and emailing radio stations (some don’t post their info and this takes more digging) to see if they can promote your event.
- The Sound Guy – The venue I chose does not have a p.a. This means I need to arrange it. I asked the bands but none of them had this setup. I got some tips and got on the phone. The prices seemed ok, but then I would still need a guy to run it. The venue knew a guy but I thought he was a little too much. A local music store gave me a name, but he was booked. He sent me to the guy that I settled with. He was already doing sound on New Years Eve at the same venue for an AC/DC cover band, so I knew he would work out. Also, the price was right Mr. Barker.
There are more incidentals. My wife offered to help sell tickets at the door. Anything to keep costs down. This was a hell of a lot more work than I thought it would be. I was sort of under the gun a bit due to the time constraints. I didn’t start this until late November, and the event is January 14, so only about 6 weeks. In that time I truly have been busy, and I have been feeling sick as well (boo hoo). Don’t feel too sorry for me though as I leave tomorrow morning for Cuba for 7 days of relaxing on a beach(I probably won’t have any access since Cuba is kind of like 1995 or so as far as the internet is concerned). If you are anywhere near Kitchener, Ontario, Canada on Saturday January 14th, 2017 stop in and hear 4 awesome doom/stoner/NWOBHM/sludge metal bands.
Here is the link if any of you can make it
http://www.1075daverocks.com/events/72912
Hopefully this event goes off without a hitch. Maybe this will turn into an annual event, or maybe this is a one and done deal. Either way, the music will kick some serious ass, and in the end, that is all that matters.
Now I just have to be busy practising my espanol. How does “Ola Amigo. Mucho grande cerveza, por favor” sound? (It sounds pretty damn good to me)
I had no idea the work you were putting into this show. If I can I’ll be there (that’s an if).
Have an awesome vaycay!
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That would be cool. Any of your buddies are welcome too. Oh, bring earplugs.
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I think you will like these bands Mike. The NWOBHM band I mentioned has a lead singer that reminds me of Rob Halford. The one band has Mercedes Lander of Kittie. I think it will be a great night. I’m excited for Cuba and for this show.
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Ooo Mercedes…
I know she had another band with Tanya candler ex Kittie. Is that the one?
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I think that band was The Alcohollys. The band coming to my event is called The White Swan.
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Alcahollys,right! Now I’m going to research White Swan.
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I may be doing an ongoing post series about Ontario bands with a fellow blogger, so I was keeping the band info a little on the down low for this post. Once this event is over, I can get back into it. That other blogger has been waiting patiently. He really is a trooper. He really likes a song called The Trooper too.
😉
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I heard that blogger is good to go whenever you are! Rock!
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HOLY CRAP we got ourselves a DOC McGhee!
Awesome stuff Bop and quite the undertaking for sure……
Enjoy Cuba dude ..u definitely need some BopTime!
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Like Ry Cooder says, I might have to Bop ’til I Drop.
Unlike Doc Mcghee I will not be trying to smuggle back 40,000 pounds of pot back into Canada.
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HAHAHA….cool Mikey and Aaron will organize a Kitchener Peace Music Festival and the Headliner will be Skid Row minus a lead singer as who ever wants to karaoke the songs can join Snake and Rachel and whoever is left in that shambles of a band….
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They also now change the lyrics to “We are the old farts gone mild’ and “58 and Life”.
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… which lead directly to Doc setting up the 1989 Moscow Peace Festival.
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“Do you have anything to declare?”
“Just this 40,000 pound container of, ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, cigars. Yeahhhhhhh cigars.”
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Have fun in Cuba & I hope the show goes well!
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Gracias
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Or is it Grassy Ass? Either way.
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De nada!
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Wow, this is fantastic! What an experience! I say it’s already a success in that you’ve got all moving parts lined up with time to spare! I understand what you mean, though, about turning a profit and I wish you great success with that.
Enjoy Cuba and feel better soon! 🙂
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I am laser focused when it comes to something I have passion about. I was on the computer many nights until 2am or later (band dudes have some crazy hours), weekends etc. to get this thing done. I think with the contacts I gained though it will be a lot easier if/when I ever do this again. Thanks. I think a ton of sun and some cerveza will help my suffer through it.
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I’ll say, laser focused! This experience will definitely help you next time — and I hope there is a next time. You have the passion and it will only get better as the process becomes easier.
Sun and cerveza will definitely help. 🙂
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Awesome. I’ll be there in spirit, fella… really hope it goes well.
Have a blast both on the night and in Cuba!
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There will always be an open spot on any event I put on for Jim Dead. Perhaps this will jump start the Canadian tour.
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Was actually talking a few weeks ago about a holiday… maybe Canada beckons then. Fit in a gig while there.
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Sweeeet.
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Have fun in Cuba. And never forget: gazpacho is a liquified salad, not a cold soup 😉
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Thanks. Either way, like Kramer, “I’m out.”
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Sounds like you could use the break. Good luck on your concert…I can’t make it to kw, but I’m sure it will be great!
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I hear my local gamer store is having a huge sale that day though.
😉
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Cluckin’ bell, Bop, you kept this quiet! This is insanely cool that you’re setting this up and supporting new bands. Best of luck with it. And hope you have an awesome time in Cuba too…
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Thanks man. The trip was great and the show was awesome. Loud and heavy.
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Good job! Congrats!
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Best of luck to you. I’ve done stuff like this playing in bands, but it sounds like you’re doing it much more professionally. My advice : Don’t expect it to go off without a hitch!
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There was one slight hitch regarding one band member having sound issues and getting shocks. Other than that, it was great.
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Wow – that’s amazing! Sadly I’ve been barred from the Schwaben Club since that unfortunate incident with the donkey. Shame.
Holy Hell!
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I thought I saw wanted ad posters around town with a lego face. Now I know why.
There was a guy years ago in a van selling bootleg VHS copies of the “Donkey Incident”. I thought it was some weird German porn.
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I was there for that. Do you know that donkey is still in therapy?
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Oh come on, Mike give me a break! I went over it all in Court so many times – how was I supposed to know it wasn’t an inflatable sex toy?
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Mainly because inflatable sex toys don’t usually have real hoofs. Didn’t you have to take a court-ordered farming course after that?
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Fuss, fuss, fuss! I mean who puts on a nativity scene with a real donkey these days anyway?!
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The Schwaben Club, apparently. Bop had to get special permission to remove the animals for his show. They don’t want satanic stage rituals.
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Well, isn’t he just the goody goody?! To be fair, it is harder to throw a donkey into your audience than a chicken – I know what I’m talking about there too.
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Yes, I heard you were the one who prodded Alice Cooper to throw that chicken in Toronto in ’69. You told him, “don’t worry, birds fly.”
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Thank God there were no mobile phones in existence when I kidded him into throwing the mule into the crowd the following night!
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Thankfully that incident has been far less reported.
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Before I booked this show I had to sit through 3 instructional videos on what is not allowed. Between the 3 of them, the “donkey incident” was mentioned roughly 58 times.
Apparently Gov’t Mule is not even allowed to drive through our city now due to their name.
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Oh man, how did I miss this post? HOW DID IT GO?????
Also, how was Cuba? Nice, I bet. So much good music there…
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