Friday, January 25, 2013

Kung Fu Vampire Interview

So my interview with Kung Fu Vampire finally got posted online today!  In it we see a suprise guest spot by Twisted Insane, KFV gives us the low down on new projects, and we find out who will be included in the next album for guest spots!  So take 20 min and go check it out.  It was filmed at the Love Bites Tour stop in Mesa, AZ.



MMFWFL,

Juggalotus

Friday, January 18, 2013

Opening acts and fans are being used

  I have been rolling this idea around in my head for a while.  Several years ago when Alex Abyss left Psychopathic Records I noticed a shift in the promotion, marketing, tickets, and merch that made me a little more than concerned.  The focus of the label shifted from taking care of the fans (family) to making the almighty dollar.  Now don't get me wrong I understand you are in the business to make money.  But from the beginning ICP and Psychopathic Records has made great effort to treat the fans as family.  They always kept ticket prices reasonable for most fans.  The merch was relatively inexpensive.  And the CD releases actually gave a little back with free add ons and other releases outside of the main ones.  Since the change in management I now see ticket prices for shows higher than ever, the Gathering unattainable by most of the fans due to cost, VIP access is $100 and now does not include the $20-25 ticket for the show (the Gathering is only $175 and covers the 4-5 day event) making normal shows almost as much as the Gathering, album releases are at least 3 versions with the only difference being 1 or 2 tracks, and merch through the roof so most of the family cannot afford it.  Psychopathic Records knows their fans are rabid and will buy almost everything they put out regardless of weather or not it is worth it.  All of these things make me feel like they are taking advantage of us as fans.  We deserve better and I think that is one of the main reasons Twiztid has left the label (although they have kept the VIP with no ticket thing).

When I moved near the Amarillo/Lubbock area I started this whole managing musicians thing.  I also booked, promoted, and threw my own concert.  That is when I noticed the opening acts being used.  A promoter will book a show and then charge openers $200-$400 for a 10-15 min slot on the show.  Then they book 8-10 openers which if you add it up comes out to $1600-$4000 from their opening acts!  That covers all of their cost for the show so anything they make from ticket sales goes directly into their pockets.  The crappy thing is opening acts feel that is just how the business works because they have been fed that crap for so long.  Truth is if a promoter wants an opener to sell let's say 20 tickets for a slot at $10 a piece I understand that.  It benefits everyone because more people are at the show and some of the cost is deflected.  But if they do that they should be willing to give their opening acts say $1-2 per ticket they sell as incentive to sell more tickets!  Then everyone is making a little something and is happy.  This is how openers are getting robbed and being used.  If you are an opening act don't fall for it.  Find promoters willing to do the last thing I suggested.  You will still have shows to do, you just wont be getting used to cover all of the promoters costs.  If you guys unite against this stuff it will stop.  The promoter should be making his/her money off the ticket sales from his/her own promotion of the shows.  If they can't make their money back they shouldn't be doing the shows!  I thought it might have just been that area but now I live in Tucson and am seeing the same thing here.  For the upcoming Drive By shows in Farmington and Tucson openers are being asked to sell 75 tickets at $20 a piece.  That comes out to $1500 for a 15 min time slot, or $100/min!  Why would this be ok?  Why would a struggling local act pay that much money to get on a show that will pull some fans but not anywhere near enough to justify that cost.  The only Psychopathic group that would be worth that would be ICP.  I have seen 40-45 date tours with a cost to join of around $2000.  That is 40-45 shows not 1!

The last thing I wanted to touch on was the fact that in Amarillo, Lubbock, Albuquerque, Tucson and many other cities there seems to be a trend of division in the local scene.  This means that any new acts to the area are forced to choose sides or not get put on any shows.  It also means that quality acts from outside that city are not being put on shows so that the promoters friends, venue owners friends, or people down with a certain clique are the only people ever allowed to perform.  Promoters if you have a quality act willing to pay their own way to get to your city to perform and all they ask is that you don't make them pay to play or sell a certain number of tickets (due to their cost of travel and hotel) let em get on your shows!  It can only make it better.  Local acts, don't be so quick to tell an outsider to get lost.  They might be really good and you both can help each other.  All the division is the reason we are losing the edge we once had.  We are so worried about our own personal squabbles we are losing sight of our purpose, making money.  If someone gets you into a diss war, you lose focus on making a great album which can make you money!  If you are beefing in your city and fighting anyone who doesn't like you, you will end up in jail, which makes you lose money!  Leaving petty difference behind and supporting another artist will not kill you and it improves your chance for success.

We need to change these things in our own community.  If we don't we will continue to be used and continue to lose money.  I am not an expert by any stretch but I have seen my fair share of business and how successful people make it.  If we don't change the course of these things we can guarantee the Underground movement will not survive.

MMFWFL,

Juggalotus

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

New year/New Blog

Whats up family!  Well the New Year is upon us and with that comes the start of my new Blog http://interviewsreviewsandmore.blogspot.com/2013/01/welcome-to-lets-review.html#!/2013/01/welcome-to-lets-review.html

This blog is going to be all things non-underground music and movie related.  Have no worries I am still going to be doing this blog and covering all the underground news, CD's, and shows I go to.  So go check out the new blog and show some love to a fellow Juggalo as I venture out of my comfort zone and do my best to open minds to things outside of our normal!

Keep on the lookout over on Faygoluvers for my CD reviews and any other interviews that may be coming your way!!

MMFWFL,

Juggalotus