Has anyone seen this. If not, tell me what you think of it. I myself think it's an insult to any hard working musician.......
http://www.petitiononline.com/freak/petition.html
To: Musicians, Promoters, Venues, MU
fREAK-1-C would like to bring the PAY-TO-PLAY scheme to the attention of gigging musicians...
PAY-TO-PLAY is a term used for a scheme run by many live music venues and promoters across the UK, where bands and artists are made to pay a deposit, that COULD be up to the sum of £200, and/or make acts guarantee a set amount of tickets sold, which could total 150+, before booking the act for showcase/gig dates. Many promoters/venues will then guarantee the act a small percantage of the gigs admission price, only when a set amount of the artists flyers have been taken on the door. In some cases, this could mean that as a band you have to take an audience of 100+ people with you before you can even break even.
This scheme is making it harder and harder for bands to gig at the supposedly 'better' venues across the UK, and those who do pay for the pleasure of playing their own material are just being blatantly exploited. What has happened to the days when bands got paid to play ? Bands are already paying out to rehearse, record, produce demos, print flyers, promotion etc, just so as they can gig... Why should we have to pat to gig as well.
So, the question we are asking is:
Should musicians have to pay for the pleasure of playing their own material?
If, like us, you think that the answer to this question is 'NO', please sign this petition and tell anyone that may be supportive of this cause to come and sign themselves.
This petition will then be brought to the attention of Venues, Promoters, Music Press, The Musicians Union and anyone who may be interested, in an attempt to get something done about this diabolical situation!
For more information on fREAK-1-C, please visit
www.freak-1-c.com
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Linear Mode
