Most local musicians have been given the opportunity to play a show requiring some kind of fee to be included on the bill. Most times, this involves bands being expected to sell a certain amount of tickets to be considered or even worse, having to buy those tickets in advance and then run around hoping to recoup costs before the show. Add to that the increasing frequency of four-, five- and six-band lineups on shows, and now you have to contend with not only a tough local music market, but also three to five other bands out there trying to recoup their costs for tickets to the same show you're selling for. Oh yeah, the promoter or club owner is also trying to sell tickets independently. True, if you sell enough tickets, you may not only recoup your costs but may also make a little scratch to boot. But that's easier said than done for a lot of bands in this city, especially considering the aforementioned competition of ticket sales from both other bands, promoters, and bar owners.

Most bands are already struggling to keep gas in the van for the next gig or stocking up on more merch; paying to play a show is usually not a financially feasible option. Yet bands (in this city, at least) are increasingly finding themselves needing to guarantee some kind of turnout to be considered for a show. And that guarantee comes from cold hard cash. Didn't sell fifty tickets for the show? Tough, that was the deal and now you have to give the promoter money for tickets that never got sold and seats that will remain empty throughout the entire night. And let's not forget the title of the guy asking for the guarantee and taking your money: The Promoter. Doesn't it seem logical, just by definition alone, that the "promoter" of an event should be more responsible for the turnout? After all, his job is promoting the show. And if he is also the one booking the show, he needs to be selective with the bands he chooses and book wisely to ensure the night goes as smoothly and profitably as possible. So a promoter who claims to be just that yet expects the artists to cover all the guarantees should actually be carrying the title "greedy douche bag," because that's all he is.

There are times when paying to play is acceptable, or even necessary. Most times, this is referred to as a "buy in." Whether you're buying in to be the opening band on a national tour with a national act or buying in to a large four-day festival where thousands of people will see you and you'll have the chance to sell buttloads of merch and music (where almost all profit comes from in this day and age), there's one driving factor behind why it is okay under these circumstances: opportunity. A real and valid opportunity for good exposure in front of large audiences is worth paying for every time.

Remember that you are the artist and are the one providing a service. Don't throw away money to get on some bill that has seven other local bands on it. There's nothing special about that and the opportunity is limited at best. Demand to be treated like an artist, not a promoter; let promoters do their jobs if they are truly capable. At the very least, this will weed out some of the greedy douche bags and will help set a better standard for the booking and promotion of local music in this city.