Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Leads to Nowhere/The Pay-to-Play Dilemma at a Glance


I didn't do too well with OnPoint Media leads today.  First I had to finish up "Other Business Services" in, the even stingier cousin of "Non-Classfiable Establishments", then move on to the relentless move on to the relentless mess that is "Health Care" in Chelmsford.  So I won't be too hard on myself today but I gotta find a way to refocus myself and get my numbers back up.  

For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been trying to think of ways to defend inevitable allegations that the One Night Stand anti-bullying concerts are “Pay-to-Play”, meaning artists have to pay money up front in order to perform at a particular venue.  This was a practice started by club owner/actor Ben Gazarra in the 70s when he noticed that some acts at his club failed to bring in any business, so he started charging performers for the privilege of gracing his stage.  The difference between Play-to-Play establishments and us, is that we actually offer temporary marketing and management services.  Also, we’re not an “establishment”.  We, Esente Music Group, are a mini-conglomerate made up of mostly (voluntarily) unpaid labor.  Honestly though, it doesn’t make too much sense that so many artists would be complaining about the deal we offer since no one is being forced into anything.  If they don't do the leg work to make their money back, it's not our responsibility to compensate them.  Also, if they were any good, they wouldn't need this opportunity in the first place. It's like if you took a job, immediately used your vacation and sick time, and still expected a paycheck.  

Travis Long
Esente Music Group
PR Intern

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