I focus your attention to "THIS BLOG"

I dunno. I have a ton of comments on this. I sincerely wish I could say I was surprised to hear it... considering the same thing happened to me.

Hmm..I can't read it.

wow, lots of drama... sorry to hear that.

it's not nice to focus the attention of a blogger to a blog that she cannot read.

Maybe Jenny's profile is private...? Is that what's coming up?

perhaps. no worries. i have research papers to be writing...

yeah, set to private. us lowly folk can't read it.

Can you copy it over to the board for us?

Here ya go...

Fired & Then... The Latest News!!!
Current mood: angry
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers

Here is the latest, if you haven't heard. Another reason that I am sad about people in this world.

I like to think of myself as a true supporter/activist on the scene. I have dedicated a lot of my life to this music scene and love it beyond measure. Well... last Wednesday I was relieved of my duties at the District Bar & Grill as their booking manager. Maybe...because they had paid me less than half my salary in the last 4 weeks, I don't know. Maybe because they hadn't paid me a percentage owed to me on their St. Patrick's Day show for booking a show that generated over $3000. Maybe a lot of things.

To make matters equally fuck you Gamble... they cancelled the set that I was booked to play at the Crawl just hours before I was supposed to play it. Then, to drive the knife in deeper, they texted me and told me I was not even welcome in the club to see the bands that I had put on our Crawl wish list. How sad are these people.

I have difficulty getting my mind around how people can treat people this way. I think it is safe to assume, I won't be getting a good reference there. You will be happy to know that they are basically saying fuck you to local music now anyways and doing a night for gay guys on Thursday and Saturday. Nothing against gay guys, make no mistake, but what about the local bands that have bled on that stage and been here before these new promoters busting their asses to support a locally owned venue.

To finalize the kill, you may remember my blogs on the injustice system... Well, today I am going to court to have my final trial. I was offered a plea bargain months ago, which I did not take because the owner, John Montoya assured me that he was behind me and would cover fines and what not, since...I was there because I took pictures of him getting pummelled by the cops.

Now he is retracting his support. Mind you... after I was his key witness insuring he got off his indictment at the Grand Jury.

So, what do you think and how is this okay to do to people. I hope to have the support of my friends and the people out there that agree it is not okay to treat people this way.

It is not okay to lie about them and not to pay them for the work that they did... None of it is okay. It will be interesting to see how they continue with the way that they treat their employees (2 walked out in the last 2 weeks) and how they treat local musicians, who have supported the downtown music scene for a lot longer than the new promoters who will be only hosting events there until their club near the airport opens up.

Trust me when I say, that they don't care about this downtown music scene. And apparently, neither do the owners of the District.

I guess they got what they needed and fuck the people that helped them...



Please join me in my "No Support" platform to the people that don't support this local community, or the people in it...

OK... I had said what I needed to say and hope that I see you in any other downtown venue but that one. Other than the great people that work there, I am going to be happy to see them close their doors. I gave a lot to that local music venue and was put out and shut out for no really good reason whatsoever. How is that fair???

no, it's not okay. suck.

What's up with shady live music venue/bar practices? My guess is people with no business background decide to open a venue and then can't handle it when times get rough. I'm not dissing on anyone specific, it's just that this is a consistant problem in every scene I've experienced.

Jenny's definitely a true supporter of local music. It's too bad people in this business are unreliable.

Ahhhhh yes... The District. I think the Gay thing will work out well for that bar. That's always the feeling I got from that place.

Ralli's is at least 500 times better. I love the concept of a bar that actually provides good sound equipment, pays bands, and uses their venue as a place to showcase local talent. Unfortunatley certain venues only look at the money aspect, and moreover, do not even respect the musicians that keep their business afloat.


Hmmmmmm.... can't say we didn't see this coming.

That's crazy! I was under the impression that you were like the only reason a lot of bands played there at all.

Not that that place is a haunt of ours really anyway, other than a few staff members who are cool (the sound guy is good). Actually, I was pretty sure we weren't going to be allowed back after our last show... Noelan actually paid to cover possible damages... (and I'm pretty much done with double-booking)

On another note, why don't they tip when I deliver pizza there? The staff at Burt's, the Launchpad, The Distillery, Anodyne, Atomic, Bubble Lounge, Knockouts, Ralli's, etc- pretty much any place where they also live off tips give me huge overtips, but District stiffs my ass hard every time- like exact change hard: they give me pennies that they have to count out rather than give me even an extra nickle. to the point where I stopped delivering there and ask the hostess to do it so she can have a smoke break.

We played there on saturday and it was pretty brutal. Frat boys galore and nothing but trash talking. I don't think there was a single member of my band or the people that came to see my band that didn't get accosted by some fratty.

And now this...

Good riddance to that bar I say!

And yea...agreed on the sound guy comment levi. He was very helpful and cool.
-Zac

Our opinion of the District has been scarred for a long time. We took a show there on May 11th because Jenny had been wanting us to play there and every member finally okay'd playing there again. Needless to say... after this situation with Jenny... we have absolutely no reason to support that bar so that show can go to hell. They overplayed the crap out of us... upwards of 3 - 4 times a month. And then, after WAY too many gigs at one venue, decided that "ColdSnap can't pull a crowd anymore" and then badmouthed the band to a bunch of people. Giving us a shitty rap downtown.... another reason that ColdSnap is not really focused on playing down there anymore.

I wish our story was different from others... but I've heard the same thing from a number of other local bands. A venue that doesn't support it's acts shouldn't be a venue. They should go ahead with their Gay nights and their swinger parties... ColdSnap won't be playing there again.

Oh... and incidentally. If anyone from the District has a problem with me reposting Jenny's blog? Email me. jim@coldsnapmusic.com

I'll give you the same finger-full as I just gave RockSquawk. Don't shit on the musicians that help YOU pay YOUR bills.

quote:

Originally posted by Zac:
We played there on saturday and it was pretty brutal. Frat boys galore and nothing but trash talking. I don't think there was a single member of my band or the people that came to see my band that didn't get accosted by some fratty.

And now this...

Good riddance to that bar I say!

And yea...agreed on the sound guy comment levi. He was very helpful and cool.
-Zac

That's the impression I had about that place, that's why I have never stepped for in there.

I never made it down there, and now with what I just read I never will. Sounds like what Gio said - person with limited/no buisness experience cant cover his expenses because he overspent in months earlier, so he's "cutting unneccessary expenses" now.

What a douche that owner is. Didnt you have a signed contract stating what you were owed, J?

quote:

Originally posted by Rhian Batson:
Didnt you have a signed contract stating what you were owed, J?

I dunno if she did or not. =P I just reposted it. Apparently caused some drama as well... I'd like to see the District come up on here and explain their side... but honestly I don't think they really care enough to.

I have to wonder if I missed something (completely plausible). Was there any sign that this was coming on?

I mean, if they want to change their format, there are better ways to do it than being dicks about it. I know this is going to hit people the wrong way, but not everyone is in it for the music, and business is business, but you don't have to treat people like crap to succeed in your venture.

I was just taken back that she wasn't even welcome there any more. It makes me wonder if something happened that she got blamed for that she doesn't know about. It just seems irrational. But then again, I think the rationality of most people is beyond my comprehension.

Jenny, hang in there. The better man usually wins in the long run and when they get their come uppance, we'll all join you in a toast.

I’m sorry to hear about this but not surprised.

We should all assemble downtown and throw eggs and tomatoes at the building while yelling out, “Boooo! Fore Shame! Boooo!"