unscrupulous promoters

Subject: unscrupulous promoters
From: GUEST,Reggie Miles
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 01:47 PM

Someone once quoted something to me in jest that went something like this.

"The halls of the music industry are thick with thieves. Cheats, liars, and swindlers lurk around every corner waiting to pounce upon the unwary.... Then there's the bad side."

I'm not one to accentuate the negative, but it seems I've just been approached by someone, a promoter, who has developed a rather bad reputation for himself as con or worse. All the testimonials aren't in yet, but from the few I've received so far he doesn't seem to be someone I want to be involved with. I count myself lucky as I've not really invested much time or energy in any kind of business relationship with this fellow. Further I feel very thankful that those fine folks who alerted me to his background did so before any real damage was done.

Have you had any similar mishaps on the road to success that you'd like to share?

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: GUEST,Reggie Miles
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 02:46 PM

I guess it's every performer's fantasy to have someone come along who has an interest in their talent and is willing to help out with those aspects of the business that can be challenging or otherwise illusive. When that "someone" also offers their help for free, as this guy did, it can give your ego a little boost and get you thinking that finally things are on the right track. Like all those happy endings you see in the movies, you start to allow yourself the luxury of giving in to the dream, just a little, that everything you've worked so hard for all those years is finally going to pay off and turn out as you secretly hoped, better.

I don't know if you've heard my song F-R-E-E. It's all about those who would use the word and/or idea to ensnare the unwary. It's on my latest CD "Fresh Picked" and the words are posted on my Songs page at my website at Geocities.

http://www.geocities.com/nobro2/Songs.html#2

I'll save you the click.

F-R-E-E   Reggie Miles © 2004

Four letter words don't bother me,
Except the one that's spelled f-r-e-e.
It's not that I mind when people use it.
It's just that some folks like to abuse it.

Like the guy on the phone the other day,
Who had free airline tickets to give away,
And they came with a complimentary hotel stay.
I asked, "What's the catch?" Here's what he had to say.

"You'll be flying fourth class on your trip through the sky.
You'll have to cover any taxes and fees that apply.
And your meals will cost extra in this situation."
So, I hung up the phone on our conversation.

And started singin'

Four letter words don't bother me,
Except the one that's spelled f-r-e-e.
It's not that I mind when people use it.
It's just that some folks love to abuse it.

Then I received an email spam.
"Free, millions of dollars!" It began.
"Follow my instructions. Read my book.
It won't cost you a dime to take a look."

"Just send me your credit card information,
And some additional documentation,
A Social Security number, a picture I.D.,
And fill out this 895 page questionnaire for me."

"I'll need your phone number, your passport too,
Your fingerprints, or a retina scan will do.
A notarized copy of your birth certificate,
And don't forget to send it in triplicate."

Well, I just started singin'

Four letter words don't bother me,
Except the one that's spelled f-r-e-e.
It's not that I mind when people use it.
It's just that some folks always abuse it.

Then a notice came, special delivery.
You've won a house make over, absolutely free.
Well scrape and we'll paint your entire abode.
I knew that I should've said, "Hit the road!"

But the house needed paint so I said, "Okay."
And before I knew it, it was house paintin' day.
They came and they painted all the daylong.
But before it was finished, they'd packed up and gone.

So there I was left with a half painted house,
And an aching back, and an angry spouse.
And now 24 months later, it still isn't done.
Painting a house just ain't much fun.

So, I started singin'

Four letter words don't bother me,
Except the one that's spelled f-r-e-e.
It's not that I mind when people use it.
It's just that some folks are bound and determined to abuse it.

Here in the home of the brave and the land of the free,
We spell freedom F-R-double-E-D-U-M-B.
Unchecked government spending keeps raising our taxes.
And we keep right on electing the same evil axis.

What a fine example, to all would be thieves,
How we exploit the weak to feed our greed.
Twisting the meaning of freedom for all to see,
Here in the home of the brave and the land of the free.

That's why I'm singin'

Four letter words don't bother me,
Except the one that's spelled f-r-e-e.
It's not that I mind when people use it.
It's just that some folks never learned how.

So, if you've got a free offer, don't darken my door.
Don't bother emailing or calling no more.
Don't waste your breath trying to con-vince me.
That anything's worth having if it's F-R-E-E.

You can keep your free bargains and your two for one deals,
On software, or hardware, on drinks, or on meals.
I don't want your free CDs, your free debt reduction.
You can keep your free books, and free website seduction.

Take me off your callback list. Just let me be.
There's nothing you have that I'm wanting, you see.
One last piece of advice, and it's free from me.
You get what you pay for, and more than you bargain for,
When it's F-R-E-E.

Four letter words don't bother me,
Except the one that's spelled f-r-e-e.
It's not that I mind people usin' it.
It's just the ones that are always abusin' it.

I guess after writing a song with this subject matter you'd think I would have been immune to the effects of such an offer.

All of those lofty hopes and dreams of more success can easily cloud one's vision. We can end up being blinded by our own hopes for something better in the future instead of being content with where we are and what we've got.

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: Justa Picker
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 02:54 PM

The quote was originally attributed to Hunter S. Thompson.

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: Midchuck
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 03:01 PM

Redundancy in thread titles should be avoided whenever possible.

Peter.

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: Bert
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 03:07 PM

When I last lived in England, I used this agent in Tunbridge Wells.

He was honest, stuck to his contract and got me work.

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 04:03 PM

Go with it, but don't sign anything. What's to lose?

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 05 - 11:17 PM

If you havn't invested much time nor money.

You must be a fenomin for them to be willing to invest both in you.

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: M.Ted
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:30 AM

Back in Philly, there was a group of "cabarets", booked/managed by a couple brothers--touring groups, either on their way up or on their way down, tended to headline, with local acts opening and covering off nights--they had a classic little bit of cruelty, in which, when it was time to settle up, they advised the band that the gate had been lousy, so there was no money for them--then, without missing a beat, they'd ask the band for money to pay for the sound guys--

Don't worry, folks, they got their just desserts--the cabarets finally closed--and the brothers are now agents for a whole bunch of famous athletes--

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:31 AM

"Go with it, but don't sign anything. What's to lose?"

I recall something about verbal contracts being worth the paper they're printed on. Before you sing anything, have a music business lawyer check the contract on your behalf. An honest promoter would be happy to have you do that and sign on the dotted line in the presence of your lawyer and his.

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: LadyJean
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:38 AM

I have this bad habit. I write fiction. You should meet the crooks who want to "help" you. There was a literary agent who would be pleased to help me get published if I used their 2500 dollar edtiorial service. (No, I don't think so!) and the vanity press who would have published my book for $3000, I think that was American, not Canadian, though it was a Canadian Press. They assured me I'd make it back in royalties. Oh Yeah! Right. (Note, to all would be writers, self publishing is literary suicide.) I didn't fall for any of these scams. But other people have. So, I'm not surprised about the music industry.

Subject: RE: unscrupulous promoters
From: Padre
Date: 11 Jan 05 - 12:50 AM

In 1963, we were in Richmond, VA playing small clubs, when a promoter offered us a 'great opportunity' to sign with his agency and he would 'guarantee' that we'd be booked at the best clubs in Richmond. All he needed was a 'small deposit' to help pay for publicity pictures - about $200 I think. We decided to get the heck back to West Virginia ASAP.

Padre