The drummer from a band I did some design work for recently told me about a predicament he is in with a booking agency. They signed a contract (mistake) saying they had to sell 50 tickets at $10 a pop, or cover what tickets they didn't sell. After not selling any tickets they decided they didn't want to play. They are now being told that they better pay the $500 or face small claims court with "one of the top lawyers in the country".
While I understand that legally the band is responsible for coming up with that money and they shouldn't have signed the contract if they didn't agree to the terms, or didn't understand what it meant. But setting that aside, I think this scheme is extremely parasitic and predatory. The bands are usually footed with a large bill, and get very little out of it, while the promoter laughs all the way to the bank.
Anyone have any pay-to-play horror stories? Anyone disagree and think this system is a god send?
While I understand that legally the band is responsible for coming up with that money and they shouldn't have signed the contract if they didn't agree to the terms, or didn't understand what it meant. But setting that aside, I think this scheme is extremely parasitic and predatory. The bands are usually footed with a large bill, and get very little out of it, while the promoter laughs all the way to the bank.
Anyone have any pay-to-play horror stories? Anyone disagree and think this system is a god send?