How to Use a Promoter for a Rock Show

Video Transcript

Hi. This is David Jackel on behalf of Expert Village, and I'm here to talk to you about what to do if promoters, if booking people don't follow through with what they promised you when you're booking a show. Sooner or later this is going to happen to you. You're going to deal with a situation where you've booked a show with somebody, they promised you a certain guarantee and then later on, they flaked out and they can't give you the money. So what do you do? Well, it really depends on the nature of the situation. Realistically, there's not much you can do because they're holding all the cards. Musicians are in high supply and there's not that much demand, and it's just the opposite with the clubs. So you need them a lot more than they need you most of the time. However, clubs don't want to get a bad reputation for being unfair to bands because then what's going to happen is the good bands are going to skip those clubs and those clubs will get less of a draw because no one good is playing over there anymore and they become unpopular. So clubs want to do the right thing most of the time. They want to make money, but of course they do. Everybody wants to make money. You want to make money. That's why you want to get paid. So what you should do if someone says well, they can't give you the guarantee, well ask them why not and explain to them that you guys did have this agreement. Ask them what you can do from that point on. One thing you may have to do is say, "okay, well. Can we make a better arrangement for next time then?" Because if this is someone that you want to work with in the future, then you don't want to, you don't want to develop a bad relationship. Remember that just like you, the Booking Agent is trying to hold things together and sometimes things go out of control. Let's say they've given you a guarantee and then the draw isn't there like it was supposed to be there, then they're out of luck, they're out of money. And sometimes, they're paying you out of their own pockets. So, if you feel like this is a promoter where they really tried their best with you and you're going to want to have a relationship with them in the future, then sometimes it's good to cut them a break and say, "sure". If it becomes a repeat thing, then you know this is someone that you don't want to book shows with. But if it's a one time event, you should let it go.

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