Sleazy Concert Promoters

[KFodor]

I thought I'd start a thread here to see if some of you are seeing and hearing some of the things I do.

In the past couple of years, I have noticed a distinct trend where some...not all...but some concert promoters seem to be acting like record companies...following bad business models, then blaming radio when their ideas for (so called) "big" shows don't work.

Some of this "sleaze" (and I will call it that) books shows with acts that, on average, draw crowds of 2,000-3,000 into 18,000 seat arenas. You tell them such acts will not fill the arena. They ignore your advice. They buy a small schedule on your radio station...and you spend the next several weeks fending off phone calls 7 and 8 times a day from said "promoter" who demands...not asks...but demands you:

* Add songs which are stiffs (just to "support" his show)

* Give freebies (banner ads, etc.) on your station website.

* Mention his concert once/hour.

* Demands a "free 4 hour remote" on the day of show, since the lack of ticket sales is obviously "the
station's fault".

* Demands adds of songs which are not even in your station's format....to support the show.

Some this "sleaze" seems to want you paint the name of the concert on your tower.

I know of one promoter who is demanding this type of "service" of a station that is not even in the market where the concert will be held! (It's some 50 miles away!)

Now, in fairness, we work with some really good promoters, too. But, I am seeing an influx of more "sleaze", lately. And, no matter how upfront you are with these, and I use the term loosely, "promoters", they just seem to want to beat, flail and flog you into submission. My take: they're a client. We give them what they paid for...we give them what we give everyone in their position. We overdeliver and underpromise, but...we don't compromise our programming...period.

 

[Countrykev]

Heh, I could recite a few off the top of my head that fit that classification exactly. These types have been around since radio began.

Anyway, we all know how mad we get at sales staff when they effectively "whore" out the stations, so the programmers shouldn't do the same. It's one thing to mention a show (especially if it's a big show, matches the format) and add a song into light rotation or bump up a song already in rotation, but if you give these guys the world they'll expect it everytime.

 

[KFodor]

Kev:

I couldn't agree more. And, you're probably right about such promoters being around since the beginning of time. I suppose it could be I see more of it now, since so many sales types and management types "drop their drawers" to get a buy. And when the client gets away with this type of abuse with one company, it's natural for him/her to try and do it with everybody.

But, you're also very correct about something else. Last time I looked, it was still our company's name on the license...no law says we have to paint the client's name on the tower. (Even though, it might get us another $1,000...)

 

[rickradio]

no law says we have to paint the client's name on the tower. (Even though, it might get us another $1,000...)

Unless the place is run by Jon Horton.

 

[Gabba Gabba Hey!]

I love it when you tell a promoter that the line up (he is trying to book) will NOT fill the place he wants to book... and he does it anyway and then, of course, tries to blame you. Thats good times right there!

Or how about the HIPHOP show promoter who books some show with tickets reaching the price of close to 100 bucks... and the headline acts don't even show up! Once again, thats good times. *This one is something I always look forward to watching from the sidelines. Not even coming close to these shows. No matter how many tickets etc... you want to give me to give away.

Or how about a promoter who brings in a novelty act, which does great the first time, however, when the same promoter brings in the same novelty act less then a year later, actually six months or so, and the show tanks... the promoter literally tells people that it was YOUR FAULT. This is AFTER you told them NOT to do it. Once again, very good times.

Or, and this is a freaking classic move that a promoter tried once, the promoter says they want to book a show and they want you do be the exclusive on it. However, they want to see your play list. They literally ask you to fax them a copy of your playlist. HA! HA! *That show did come into town and only sold 600 tickets for a facility that held 2400.