I had an interesting discussion with a couple of other artists this weekend. Like MANY of you, we sat at a show with non-existant crowds the first day (Yes, it was beastly hot like a lot of other shows too...) and better but still low crowds on Sunday. Most individuals were not making money and worrying about just making cost for the weekend. As we began talking, realizing this was a common issue amongst us all, we began with the usual grumblings of "Man, this show sucks!" However, as I had lots of time to sit in my booth and think rather than sell, I'm wondering how do we appropriately review shows this summer since we all seem to be having a "Market crash"/bottom-out-of-the-art-market kinds of experiences? How do we rate a show when weather could be a cause for individuals not coming out, as well as "the economy" and other non-tangibles that are out of the promoter's hands? Do we compare what was stated in the application/prospectus to what was actually delivered? And, what was also interestingly brought up by others, how do we truthfully review and not worry about the ramifications of speaking honestly. I had one artist tell me horror stories about a show promoter getting a bad review from an artist so she blackballed the artist from all her shows and then told all sorts of other promoters in the area negative things about the artist, thus keeping her from getting in to all sorts of shows in her area. Is that possible?!? Can we really get blackballed by being honest about our experiences at a show?? If we can't be honest here, amongst other artists who NEED the information we have, then what's the point?
Just wondering what others are thinking and how best to reflect this summer's events...
PS - There were several AFI artists at this particular show this past weekend and I've noticed none of them have reviewed the show yet... Wondering if they're waiting as I am to say anything!
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Yes, that was Peter Tork, from the Monkees, doing the intro to the Buffalo Springfield song. This video is significant in a couple of ways. Stephen Stills wrote the song as a reaction to the hassling of club goers by police, on Sunset Strip. I added it to express my displeasure with people being afraid to express their opinions for fear of getting blackballed by a show. That thought has been expressed many times on this forum.
It was unintentional that I picked this live version recorded in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival. This is significant in that it was the only time David Crosby performed with the group instead of Neil Young. He's the guy on the left with the black mustache. Btw, 3 of the 4 remaining members of Buffalo Springfield, that's Stephen Sills, Richey Furay, and Neil Young, have reunited for a tour this fall. The only one missing that is still alive is Jim Messina. If you can, try and see this concert.
For me it's the sum of all the facts, figures, and coherent or even incoherent thoughts in all of the posts that help to make me a stronger and more savvy artist.
It's become part of my "job" as an artist to be willing to read it all: good, bad and ugly.
Well said Michael. But i will double your martini with my martini that he does contribute usual info. He just makes you think a little harder about things. Something, a lot of people don't want to do. He has contributed mightily in many ways. Maybe he thinks a little outside the box, but what is wrong with that? Most people don't like to hear it told "like it is."
Hope to see you around somewhere this summer . Then we can have delicious discourse over edible courses with great victuals included.
Aye, aye caramba! The first good jousting session of the summer and i was off having martinis with Ellen and didn't even come upon this bloody blog til now.
Thank God! Munks is in his usual engaging mood, for a while I thought he might have lost the edge--too much shooting shots with Bill the cat.
You gotta admit he raises the level of discourse to heady levels and it provokes lively responses. I really live for these moments.
So here goes Nels.
I believe the thread has been about a discussion of whether one can really give a true blog about their experience at a recent show, and hope it won't bring nasty reprocussions upon them.
First off. If you said something a bout a show and they black-balled you, guess what? That show aint worth doing.
I know. I know. Maybe it was your pet little show and you made a little moola at it, say $2k just for discusssion. If they black-ball ya, just go find another, there are hundreds out there.
Little example. Many years ago I had been doing the SouthHaven Art Fair, a one day show in July. Always had a favorite spot up front. Always made $2-3K at it. So this one year I show up and they had moved me to the rear of the park out of my favored position. They gave that spot to a local. I asked why they moved me. They said they had reconfigured the show and moved everybody to a new spot. I looked over and saw photographer John Galbo was still in his usual spot. I asked for mine. They said no. I said "Go f--k yourself and left. Next year Ididn't bother applying. The year after that, they invited me back. True story.
I have never been afraid to tell it like it is at shows. Only two shows, run by dinky little directors, have ever come back at me. No great loss. I replaced their shows in a heart-beat.
That said. Times are tough. But lots of people out there are making good sales, including me. You gotta do fresh new work and go out and sell it.
Last weekend, Columbus was off by 60% over last time I did it. But I still made money.
I fully agree with Munks' position in everything he has stated. We don't try to just trash a show, but we can pick out, objectively, things that need to be improved. And not worry about retrobution. (I know, I mispelled it, this too, tough luck).
These forums are good for robust debate. It is good to see some serious flaming going on.
Munks is not vicious. You just gotta toughen your hide. He is not going to give any slack. he wont give me an inch and I bought him lots of free tequila last August.
Let the summer games continue. This was better than dessert--i am skipping my apple-rhubarb pie for this. Umm. delicious.
Guys (and gals),
I would just like to be able to share useful information here. Totally not worth it if I have to wade through epic rants that are either serious or tongue in cheek in order to find the 3 useful comments in the whole thread.
I think the point was "How do we share real info about shows in a year like this".
We (even Amy and I) are all sharing views and concerns. Trading ideas and viewpoints. Communicating ideas and adding comments. Sharing knowledge and perspectives. A video even got thrown in for good measure. You even added some thoughts that, while a bit incongruent, seemed appropriate enough and added to the thread and made it "worth it" to the rest of us. Everyone, including you, even with your last post, added to the exchange of ideas and expectations.
No one can guarantee that the next post you read anywhere on this forum will be something you consider useful or not. Hopefully it will be, but maybe it won't be.
Is there some useful information that you would totally like to share?
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