So last night the Nick Wolff Band was to play a going away show at Peabody’s in Cleveland for a friend of the band, promotor Bill Bailey.
Nick (our singer) even went on 92.3’s local show a few days ago with Bill to promote this event. The title of the show was Bill Bailey’s going away benefit featuring 216, Keratoma and others. We decided to do this event at Bill’s request,even though we have a long standing policy of not working with or playing at anything affiliated with Peabody’s because of the scam they run on local bands, especially young bands. It works like this…

This article appears in Jan 16-22, 2008.

2 replies on “For those about to rock… you best sell some tickets first”

  1. This is a huge problem. Sadly the young naive bands all fall for this ticketselling bs and the Battle of the Bands guaranteeing them headlining shows, prizes such as studio time and the biggest prize – to be shopped to major labels. Yes, the big lure. What makes you think Universal is going to sign some kid band just because they won a battle of the band? Hell, half of them don’t even have a studio produced demo. They either have the club sell them a copy of their live performance or give out some horrific demo they did in their friend’s basement.
    Bands need to stay away from the SHARK clubs and promoters. And you are right, you can do a show yourself have an incredible turnout and make an assload of cash.
    Bill is a standup guy too. Sorry the club screwed you like they do everyone in this town. And they wonder why noone gets noticed in Cleveland.

  2. Yes What a freaking scam this is.
    We are a more mature band and I have played in the Chicago area years before moving to Phoenix and never did we have to sell tickets.
    We got paid a portion of the cover charge and drink sales.
    But I don’t know if this is still the case in that town.
    Sadly this ticket BS seems to be the MO here in Phoenix.
    After setting up on myspace, the offers began to pour in from these shark clubs.
    Now I know why the booking agents avoided my questions about pay and didn’t return my emails when I asked, with only the exception of one who was honest enough to spell it out.
    Not only does this entirely suck, it is tacky and makes the band look desperate.
    What is this, the Amway system for bands?
    Bug all your friends and family so they begin to want to run the other way when they see you coming.
    We’d rather do no shows than this kind of crap.
    Besides, we can make several $100 doing private parties and we get to eat and drink free too and can afford to pay our sound man.

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