A lot lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of unsigned bands going on shows where they have to make fans go on websites or contact the band themselves to get tickets in order to get in the show. I would refuse to play shows like that when I get my own band going. Why? When you do shows like this, it could be a possible pay to play scheme or a scam. Don’t trust anything that’s not ticketmaster. Even if these ticket websites could be legit, the ticket pricing are usually overpriced anyway. The reason that a lot of bands want to get on shows where fans are forced to buy tickets, is that this is more evidence that these local bands want to feel like “rock stars” when they are not.

When you’re just a local musician, you should be willing to play free gigs, or play shows where they have to pay at the door. I’m willing to play free shows, ’cause I’m not about the money when playing music. I don’t have the rock star attitude like most bands have around here. Plus, it’s a bit of a pain to go on websites that you don’t know well to give them money to people you don’t know. See, what I’m saying? Fans would do anything to go see their favorite band, and they just don’t realize what they’re doing when their using credit cards on ticket websites that you don’t know much about.

I wouldn’t force people to go through all that hassle just to get a ticket. Bands disrespect their own fans when they do that, just my observation. It’s not ticketmaster guys, get out of your fantasy worlds.

Kev