Gigs Where You Have To Sell Tickets To Play

IrishOlly

Its a trend I've been noticing a lot lately. Personally I think its sad that people would regularly take gigs on the basis of selling tickets to play. Are you really that hard up that you need to do it?

It's responsible for most of the names I've seen regularly playing the likes of Life Festival or the Music Mystery Tour.

Interested to hear peoples opinions on it.

BigDaddyCan

I got offered a festival this summer that I would have had to sell tickets to and I turned it down, I don't think its acceptable for a promoter (and I say this as a part time promoter) to expect artists to sell tickets for a gig that they are playing at, what ever about the promoter cutting the artists fee (not a fan of this but it happens), I think its just not acceptable for a promoter to ask an artist to do their job for them

Jay D

IrishOlly wrote: »

Its a trend I've been noticing a lot lately. Personally I think its sad that people would regularly take gigs on the basis of selling tickets to play. Are you really that hard up that you need to do it?

It's responsible for most of the names I've seen regularly playing the likes of Life Festival or the Music Mystery Tour.

Interested to hear peoples opinions on it.

I personally wouldn't really be into it but you have to see where the organisers are coming form.

The Music Mystery Tour is not very well known or even big, in fairness, so for the likes of that it's pretty vital as much word is spread as possible and it would be very difficult to do so without some sales from all involved.

brianc27

the promoter can ask the djs to help out with promotion and try their best to sell tickets but to tell them they wont be playing unless they sell a certain amount is a load of bollox.

Sham Squire

I have no sympathy for promoters. I've put on gigs and have mates that currently run nights in Dublin, Galway and Cork. If you can't get the promotions side of it sorted, then promotions are not for you (as I decided for myself, hence I don't do it anymore).
Musicians/Djs should not be asked to do that side of it. If they manage to bring a load of mates/family/fans then great, but it's really not their job. And if a festival isn't very well known, then the promoter needs to work harder/smarter.

eeloe

I was taken off the line up for a festival this summer for the fact that i couldn't sell the tickets!

not really pushed anyway, i wasn't told i HAD to sell the tickets at the start, once i was told i wouldn't be playing due to me not selling the tickets, i soon dismissed it!

terrible way to run things!

brianc27

name and shame

Bowel Cancer

brianc27 wrote: »

name and shame

Some **** festival in Carlow. This sort of carry on has been going on in the band scene for years. Shame to see it creep in to clubbing.

BigDaddyCan

Bowel Cancer wrote: »

Some **** festival in Carlow. This sort of carry on has been going on in the band scene for years. Shame to see it creep in to clubbing.

ya i was asked to do the same for that festival, happening this weekend?

Zascar

Promoting in ireland is a very very tough game right now. The club scene is not what it used to be, long gone are the days when all the clubs are rammed and there are queues outside to get in at most of them. There are so many more festivals now than there was a few years ago, that it's hard to get the numbers. So naturally promoters ack the DJs to tr to spread the word and sell tickets - as an artist at the gig ou will probably be trying to promote it anyway. But actually having to sell x number of tickets to be able to play, that's cack

eeloe

Ah I'm sure ye all know which festival it is!

The organizer rang me one day outa the blue telling me the tickets, which were 30 euro each had to be sold by a certain date.

30x30=900

They said I could keep 100 for myself as my fee for playing and the other 800 handed over!

When the date came, I hadn't sold any tickets as none of my mates were interested in going all the way to Carlow to a festival that didn't have a bar.
Organizer then told me I owed him the 800 for the tickets if I still wanted to be on the line up!

ianuss

eeloe wrote: »

Ah I'm sure ye all know which festival it is!

The organizer rang me one day outa the blue telling me the tickets, which were 30 euro each had to be sold by a certain date.

30x30=900

They said I could keep 100 for myself as my fee for playing and the other 800 handed over!

When the date came, I hadn't sold any tickets as none of my mates were interested in going all the way to Carlow to a festival that didn't have a bar.
Organizer then told me I owed him the 800 for the tickets if I still wanted to be on the line up!

w4nkers

brianc27

so what happens if you only sold 10 tickets and he said you werent playing, would he expect you to hand over the cash.

eeloe

I'm not sure, didn't actually get that far, once i was told i owed the 800, i told him to forget about it!

Diageio_Man

Raymond C rockwell you are a cancer to the clubbing scene in Ireland. Please go away .