Yeah I got this shit too. $70 to play??? Nawww.

I've been to that Wal-Mart in Scottsdale. Fucking surreal does not even begin to describe it. Oh yeah, if the Plague can scrounge the cash, we'll probably do it. We suck though.

I got an offer, as did most of the electro acts in albuquerque, so it's going around. They're just collecting as many names as they can. I might enter just to promote my label, Dread Pirate Records.

http://www.brianbotkiller.com
http://www.dreadpiraterecords.com

"fuck the naysayers."

I'm hearing something distressing about this. Maybe it's right, maybe it's wrong .. and maybe one of you know the truth. A band is saying that they need to sell 70 tickets at $10 apiece, thus the amount in question is $700 rather than $70.

Huh? Surely this ain't right. It looks like the 'pad is booking 8 bands a night during this thing, so that's 8*70=560 tickets per night that would ideally be sold, but the fire code there, is less than 200 (170, I think?). That many people just can't go into the Launchpad on one night.

So is this turning out to be a complete ripoff for the bands, or is the musician who is telling me he needs to sell 70 tickets, mistaken?

Here's the way i understand the ticket thing. You get 100 tickets to sell, though you don't have to sell any of them techinically. You could just give them all back. You can give out 20 for free, but only after you've sold the first 80. Basically, you have to give them the money or a ticket for 80 of the 100 you've been given, but you don't have to sell any of them. Though since that it's decided by vote, it's a good idea to sell tickets. And you don't have to buy the tickets in advance as a band. They just give them to you.
I'm selling tickets! Send an e-mail to yayaboom@hotmail.com if you want one. But I should know better than to make a pitch to all you cheap rocksquawk bastards
Also, I don't think it's a scam, but if it is, eh, it's 70 bucks. Split 4 ways, that's not tons of cash.
Also, Wal-mart in the middle of the night isn't bad. But disparaging and surreal surely.

I'm still a little confused.
So there's a big sign-up/entrance fee, but they give you tickets you can sell to cover your own cost? That doesn't seem too bad.
Except that they will be selling twice as many tickets as the bar holds (even if the bands only sell half). At least you are guaranted a full house! The contest is judged by a panel, right? Not crowd? Because otherwise it would come down to who can sell the most tickets and get their fans to show up earliest.

We'll sit this one out, but there are enough good bands spread over enough nights that it still seems cool. You'll let us know? They do these things again, right?

Is anyone else getting emails about free tickets from emergenza?

No no. You don't keep the cost of the tickets. But you don't have to sell them. And the crowd votes, not judges. But a person can vote four times, so it's not just your fans that will vote for you.
I like that anyone can be in it and that it's audience vote based. There's another round in April (?) and then it should be back next year.

I'm not trying to rain on any parades here, maybe I'm just being a wimp or don't get it, but... you pay to get in, and they give you tickets to sell but you don't get the ticket money? And it's being potentially way oversold? I've never played a battle of the bands that wasn't rigged (always in our favor to a point, so I never complained) but I still don't like the sound of that.

If one band sells all their tickets and gets their people to show up early they lock the rest of the crowd out and basically win. I'm not saying bringing a crowd isn't a mark of a good band, but it won't help them in the next round in Arizona or whatever.

I'm sure it'll be a good group of shows, packed with committed crowds, you get some new attention, the chance to see a lot of other locals; that could be reason enough. Go for it, that's cool. We may still try it next year if the bands around here say it was worth it. Like I said, I'm still confused, so don't take me as an authority or anything.

I feel like the contest part is bogus though (well... they all are in a way) and all of the money situation seems iffy (or at least weird). If a band could sell that many tickets at that price, then they could just book the Launchpad for a night and walk with all the money by themselves. As it is, you would be selling tickets to wait in line or maybe not even get in. Ever been bumped from a flight because the airline oversold? It's a real bummer.

Anyway, keep us posted!

quote:

Ever been bumped from a flight because the airline oversold? It's a real bummer.

yeah but at least you get on the next flight

To agree with you guys, it is a rip off money-wise! But if you're lucky enough to win here in Albuquerque then you can showcase your music in bigger cities such as Dallas, Chicago, L.A., etc. Then if you're even luckier you can showcase it to the world or at least, Germany! Well that's how he told us! That's the sole reason why we entered. We don't what's gonna happen, so we'll leave it to chance.

Then I believe the first two rounds are based on fan voting which will be interesting for those bands going on later such as yours truly (00:30)! Then the final round is a panel of judges who determines the Albuquerque winner!

Oh, well! Hey, we do get some strings, some drum sticks, and a tour manager sorta!! Also, do any of the bands that are participating in this event know if we get to check out the other shows for free or do we have to pay to see those shows as well?

--Third Hour
http://www.myspace.com/3rdhour

I Dunno.... we .... as everyone else got a invite to be in this fest. But after talking it over, and gettting ripped off before, decided to lay low for this year, wanna see what happens. I guess the cool part is that Joe obviously has his trust in them, in reserving so many days for this thing. . . But still.. paying 70 bucks and having/not having to sell tickets??? and making all that effort and your not getting anything but a set of strings, drum sticks, and an a.k.a. "tour manager"? I dunno, that just seems pretty expensive for those types of "freebies".

In the end though... seriously, good luck to all the bands performing, hope u guys do well, if this thing works i wouldn't mind seeing a good NM band in the national and international spotlight whom is still workin there asses off here tryin to get their name out, good job!

BTW has anyone heard of the actual bands that have won this thing? who has won these contracts??? i mean it seems to all be based in europe i know, but still... if it is that big of a fest that has gone on for so many years... where r the great bands that won to prove it???

Y'all might be right. We'll see