OK. So they've got this super nice stage. The sound guy is nice. The waitresses are sweet. The drinks aren't too badly watered. All good. EXCEPT we were schedlued to go on at 11. So we dropped our gear off at 9, and the other members of my band split up to check out the other bands in the rocksquawk fest. Then the sound guy comes up and tells me they're going to cut the music right at 11, so we have to go on now. It's like, 10:20. So I scour downtown and round em up. We go on, do a couple songs, and the response is great, we sell cds, promote the next show etc.
But then at 11, when we're yanked from the stage to make way for a DJ and the gangsta beats, all our friends and fans show up to see us play.
That's junk. I felt really bad.
So just a heads up to the organizers of the fest. Y'all gotta watch that owner. I've heard people complain before, but I've never really heard of this. It's just cold.

But thanks for letting us play. No real bones to pick. Just with the owner of Ned's, and I suppose there are better battles. We had a good time.

Yeah, I thought that was pretty stupid of them as well. They were (probably) thinking "these bands can't get any draw, so let's just rush them out and pack the place with regulars." So, because nobody knows that we're playing an hour earlier there's a minimal draw, which just reinforces the owners wrong assumptions. Self-defeating and dumb. But otherwise,great show as usual guys! Frostbite, The Unemploid, (the Gracchi) and the Ya Ya Boom Project all tore it up, and even the regulars that were there were shaking it. So regulars like to rock, too!

I'm on the same page with this issue. I DID have a great time last night, tho. We were scheduled to go on at 9:00. Around 8:30 we were told that we need to be ready to go on SOON. We were short a guitarist at that point. We scrambled; Levon showed up a with only a couple of minutes to spare; we hit the stage at about 8:50-8:55. We cut a bunch of songs from our set since we planned on doing about 40 mins. of material. I think we played for about 25 mins. all together. Unfortunately, as prementioned, we had people who wanted to see us, show up just as we were finishing up. All in all, I had a great night. I really enjoyed the line-up for this show. Hats off to Frostbite, The Gracchi, and Ya Ya Boom Project. I was totally impressed by Monica from Ya Ya Boom. She's one HELLUVA a bassist. I want to take lessons from her; her stlye kicks much ass (must also mention the fact that she's also a hottie!). Kudos to everyone last night who showed up and supported the bands. We're working our asses off to provide a form of musical entertainment for y'all (you know me and my stupid stage antics . Let's keep our heads held high and keep doin' what we do!! ~B~

So maybe the answer is that people need to know Ned's won't let anyone play past 11 p.m. when booking future stuff there. It sucks that Ned's doesn't mention that as a parameter.

Yeah, there were a number of snags, to tell the truth.

They would not stamp my wife or Dandee's wife when we got done playing and left Atomic. Whatever. Fine.

So then we go to Pearl's and they won't let us in to fucking eat. They want the $10 cover for our wives. Okay . . . so you turn down a table of 7 hungry people over $10? After we just played for free at 6:00 in the fucking afternoon? When I'm playing for free at 6:00 I guarantee you that I'm doing it as a favor to SOMEBODY. Given that fact, it would be nice if there was the tiniest bit of leniency from the low, narrow, malicious skinflints running the doors.

Seriously, man . . . that needs to change. I hope that they made a lot of money and I hope that they fucking choke on it.

Dont even get me started.

I am so asshamed that this is what the RockSquawk.com show turned out to be. Thank god my name is not on it any more.

Yow! We played at Ned's too, and they WERE trying to goad us into starting early, but fate intervened and we started on time and had a good time playing. I think it's weird, though, that the stage people cut Frostbite's set and our set short for set up/tear down(?). Standing up there ready to play but picking our asses instead is frustrating, like Ya Ya Boom says. I don't know how much experience they have with live bands there, But if they want to pre empt live music for the cholo set, they can have it. Bars that do that (Bumper's, Babes, Banana Joes, McGilvrays to name a few) don't seem to last too long.

Sorry to hear that so many of you guys had a rough go of it. Now that the associated problems can be identified, maybe steps can be taken next time to iron them out.

I got no problem with gangsta rap, vatos, hoochies etc., I'm just calling for a little organization. It'd be nice to know who these concerns should be addressed to.

Marisa

I don't know why Ned's keeps having bands play there, and I don't know why shows keep getting booked there. Everytime there is a band, I hear something similiar. For a crawl a couple of years ago they had a bunch of acoustic acts playing there. One was Kimo, who was been around a long time and has a good following. She starts playing, and the regular "creed" crowd didn't like it. The owner then turned on the jukebox halfway through her song.
Obviously Ned's isn't welcoming to musicians. I'd like to see them blacklisted.

That's too bad for Jim and Dandee. You guys sounded really good too, and I'm prtty sure 80% of our crowd was your crowd that stuck around. It was you guys, your crowd, Oktober people-Sean, and Gingerbread Patriots (who were on next) pretty much the only people watching us. I guess everyone who wanted to see us saw us the night before.Yeah, that must be it...we had fun though.

I wonder why ned's even books the band shit? Do they plan in advance to get the press and screw the bands? After hearing that shit pretty much every Crawl I'm not suprised to hear it happened again, just to hear that ned's wanted in again.

Ah, I'm just being pissy. We had a good time too.

I'll tell you what!!! I'm glad that we (Frostbite) got added on at the last minute! BUT We played first and it seemed like we only played for like 20 min!!! I mean there acting like were getting paid for this shit!! I had a great time, just wish we could stay to watch the rest of the bands!! Thanks to all that showed up!! sid

Trust me, I'm the Lord o' Cheapness. I hate paying covers, period. But what the fuck it was five bucks. I work my ass off for the Alibi website and I still had to pay $5 for me and $5 for my girl to get in. I didn't know the chick working the door at Pearl's and she didn't know me and she doesn't know every member of every band. Who gives a shit? A lot of cities have $10 cover just to get into shit holes. $5 is nothing. Besides, didn't like over 40 bands get paid $50 each? Didn't the Alibi have to pay permits and police overtime (so they could ride their segways) I was also kinda bummed "scenester" was talking shit on the Alibi during their set... trying to make the ALibi look like dicks. I know you are "PUNK ROCK" but what the fuck we just published an interview/feature on you guys... just seemed kinda lame to me when I think the ALibi is really just trying to help boost the music scene and constantly trying to help promote your bands.

Yeah, that's a good point, Jeremy. A lot of work clearly went into it. And, like I say, I had a good time.

I just think it's a shame that Pearl's lost $80-plus over $5. And I doubt that I'll be going back. That's the Big Picture and that's not good for the Alibi, Pearl's, or anyone.

NYPD got my money. But whatever.

It has been my experience that there is an IQ test that club managers have to pass and if you score highter than 45 - you don't get the job. the requirements are ever stricter for door people.

On another note (I'm a slow learner) who the freak are you people? (and I mean this in a good way - I just sorta wandered in and started typing) seriously is this kind of a nitch site? (yes, as a mater of fact I am from another planet - planet Santa fe and old too - 54)

nomad

Yea, everything works against you when you are trying to throw an event like this... people at the city do everything they can to prevent an event like this from happening, cops hate it, the firemen hate it, certain clubs don't like to support the live music... and people at the alibi jump thru hoops (and kiss ass) to make it happen. if the bands loose faith in these events then what?

quote:

Besides, didn't like over 40 bands get paid $50 each?

Do you mean us? Did we get paid? I never heard anything about money. I was happy about the free drinks, and I thought that was all we got. I am very much looking forward to this 50$. Thank you.

i was told all the bands were getting $50 but maybe I'm wrong... ? i'll check into it and keep you posted!

Let me recap the situation.

She asked the other guy at the door if we needed to pay to just eat. He said "I don't know". Followed by "We were told to start charging at 8pm and its now 8:05." That didn't do much to make me feel any better either.

Strike one: Neither of them knew if we should or should not have to pay to eat
Strike two: Its only 5 minutes after they should have starting charging
Strike three: 5 of 7 have already paid.

I think the right thing to do would have been to error on the side of politeness.

Maybe I am taking my frustrations out on the wrong people, but that was pretty shitty.