I SUGGEST you don't....
Last night, the OCMA crew and I had an interesting experience at The Light Gallery in Costa Mesa. While the lineup, consisting of Parker Macy Blues, Sweet Sweet Things, Dolphin City, The Jakes, Lemon Sun and The New Limb were all great of course, there were a few issues though that "suggest" I don't go back. First off, six bands in one night....is way too chaotic and way too much. Starting a show at 8 p.m. on a Friday that is 18 and over makes it hard to round up people that early. The flyers and promotion for the show had said "suggested" donation, when in fact that $8 suggested donation that they said goes to bands, actually became a mandatory cover charge. When did the word "suggested" and "donation" become the equal of "cover charge?" If I had told everyone that it was a free show, which is what "suggested donation" means, then I actually would have lied to my listeners, as what the venue had did to us. After you paid this cover, which I'm all for donating to the bands but some warning would have been nice so I could have stopped by an ATM, you couldn't even go in and out.
There was no alci for the 21 and over crowd, yet it was an 18 and over night...don't understand why. It should have been all ages. And on top of all that bands played longer than they should have probably because people in charge at the venue weren't keeping track of time, so the show ran 1.5 hours late. The New Limb who had fun with it and dazzled the remaining devoted fans with a couple covers like "Twist and Shout" started to play at midnight. And on top of all of that, the bands pushed through despite the sound at the venue not being so great.
The best part was the great musicians who stuck it out and who entertained the crowd...oh and the bar The Little Night that was next door. Honestly, The Light Gallery was a wannabe of eVocal yet with less class, overly dramatic art on the walls and an awkward vibe. It's sad to see a venue with potential be run carelessly. I'm all about growing the Orange County music scene but how can we do it if you don't provide a good enough outlet for your local musicians?
<3
Ash
There was no alci for the 21 and over crowd, yet it was an 18 and over night...don't understand why. It should have been all ages. And on top of all that bands played longer than they should have probably because people in charge at the venue weren't keeping track of time, so the show ran 1.5 hours late. The New Limb who had fun with it and dazzled the remaining devoted fans with a couple covers like "Twist and Shout" started to play at midnight. And on top of all of that, the bands pushed through despite the sound at the venue not being so great.
The best part was the great musicians who stuck it out and who entertained the crowd...oh and the bar The Little Night that was next door. Honestly, The Light Gallery was a wannabe of eVocal yet with less class, overly dramatic art on the walls and an awkward vibe. It's sad to see a venue with potential be run carelessly. I'm all about growing the Orange County music scene but how can we do it if you don't provide a good enough outlet for your local musicians?
<3
Ash
Labels: costa mesa, KUCI, Orange County music, Press pass music, the light gallery
posted by Ash at
11:53 AM
7 Comments:
this just solidifies the gut feeling i had about these dudes and i'm glad that we politely declined playing the show...not without some trash talk from pat and overall unprofessionalism.
- joshua
Ash,
I agree with you on the cover charge/suggested donation and it is an issue, but how can we grow the scene if we do not give our venues and promoters a chance.
People make mistakes, learn and improve. eVocal did not just come out of the box as one of the best local venues it took time.
These guys tried and it's always right to call the faults, but we can also offer suggestions on how to create a better outlet!
Luke Allen
Luke,
Thanks for your input.In order to improve a venue, they need to be aware of their weaknesses. I care about the artists and the audience a great deal and that show was not put on properly. It was not managed and if I felt that, then I'm sure the artists and audience felt it too. I'm saying this because the venue has the opportunity to be a voice in our local music scene but if they don't do it with respect and care for the musicians and audience, then why have a venue to begin with?
The venue knew what they were doing to begin with and could have done things differently.
I care about our music community and think they should be aware of this.
Ash
Nice one, rather than reaching out to contact The Light Gallery or the promoters of the show to offer feedback or clarify things, it appears you'd rather criticize others efforts online.It's cool nowadays anybody with a internet connection and a "blog"space or a college radio show has the "credentials" too try to make others look bad. This helps everyone out? Your review seems awfully harsh, and it seems evident that your motives are to discredit peoples hardwork. You've clearly established your credibility as a so called music promoter/critic!
1. Your complaint of having too many bands on the bill? Ok I guess it's a bad thing to try to give people a full evenings worth of music? less bang for your 8 bucks has been requested? We'll take note. Oh and Bands, after taking the time to commute and setup, please don't plan on playing any more music than the minimum set time. It apparently might upset some people to hear more music than planned.
2. Nowhere were the words free used, so you shouldn't make an issue over a cheap cover charge.
$6 talented bands for $8 an issue?
It's really just a technicality since the venue isn't allowed to advertise as a "cover charge". This show was outside of the normal events we put on, it was a favor for our friends & community. We did not do this show to get rich. In actuality we'd hope people would donate more than the minimum asked, but I'm not sure if there was a single attendee that contributed that? So much for supporting your "Scene". It's unfortunate that this can get twisted by certain individuals that feel their "too cool" to contribute anything, or in turn directly support the artists performing. I guess it's understandable if you are broke and cant afford $8 dollars to see a solid lineup of 6 bands, our doorman was instructed to not turn anyone away. Too bad there's so many cheap people tryin and take advantage. Just curious if you did in fact actually donate any $ to support? The no ins-n-outs is unfortunate but necessary because of too many kids partying in the parking lot, and also leaving huge messes. A big reason venues run into problems
2.Apparently the bands amplifiers were not up to your "standards", because that is what was used as the soundsystem. Maybe you should take this up individually with the bands to point that out you have an issue with their equipment! Or just point fingers if its easier?
there were two professional sound engineers on hand, and to us it sounded fine. JBL EONS are more than enough to handle vocals and sound much better than all in one PA systems with a built in mixer. The Light Gallery has a world class Turbosound rig that wasn't used. Why? because it really wasn't needed.
3. Criticizing the artwork of 65 of the world's best Tattoo artists? Your entitled to your opinion,
But come on overdramatic? Oh yeah you are are wanting to help!
Ok i guess it's easier to stir drama than offer positive feedback.
Just what the local artist community needs, another hipster girl with a blog hating on others efforts. I'm wodering how much of the show did you catch,or were you busy outside waiting for your turn to have a picture taken? Pat had best intentions for the musicians and attendees, and the guys from the Light Gallery have been putting on shows for underground heads since you had N'sync posters all over your walls. Next time before being so eager to crtiicize, I'd suggest you try creating something on your own. It's much different than riding other's coattails while latching your name onto others efforts. It's ok haters will always be part of the equation, but understand what were about is all LOVE and we are all a part of it.I think your review is actually funny, since everyone I talked to enjoyed the show and had nice things to say. I wont take it personal, just felt it you had wack intentions by stirring unnecessary drama and your more than welcome to continue this discussion offline with us so we can actually make improvements on valid feedback. Respects to Evocal, and Much LOVE and grattitude to the people who actually support the Artist Community
"In order to improve a venue, they need to be aware of their weaknesses"
You wouldn't have the audacity to put the Yost on blast would you?
Ashley, I had respect for you, for real I would go out and say you were down. Now some are questioning you. Even your own people are asserting your going overboard and negative.
for most cats that know me. they know im down- music is my life. I am a musician myself. it is hard for me to talk to people if they dont know alot about music.
And Joshua since you dropped my name I have to say something... I wasn't impressed with your bands business acumen either. Tell Daran to look me in the eyes when your talking to me. If it was trash talk, it was a misinterpretation of body language i got from darren and a little vexation from darren blowing me off- you had to go get him after he told me 5 minutes. I had an intention for using you for another gig because your music fit in and your rep was ok. Very hasty conclusion my friend. You dont even know me- how can you judge my character accurately. I even remember driving out to darren's work to drop flyers off to you to help you promote your own show. Going out of my way to help you.
Luke- that was justice- the event had flaws but why try to bring me down over one event.
Steve- harsh but do your thing some of it is justified and tells a different side of the story.
I can learn from my mistakes and what not to do. Haters are always part of the equation- you'll be in trouble when I prevail. I can make this a thing of the past if i just throw another event and make it rad. I even had a couple people ask me when I am going to throw my next show and if they could help out- which I need since i did this 95% solo. gimme a break and transcend the bs politics that already plague our music scene. There is a politician under ever stone in this scene equipped with interesting agendas.
for real
-pat
I like how both Pat's and Steven's comments were twice as long as my blog. Always great to see people's true colors. Seriously, I care about the music community and all it has to offer. Putting on a show is wonderful. Props for doing it. But when it is not managed properly, you are putting the musicians and community at risk -the risk of losing the fans' trust and risk of losing the community's trust.
Steven had said The Light Gallery couldn't charge a cover and yet the only way to avoid saying they were charging a cover was by using false advertising and promoting it as a "$8 suggested donation." Then once you showed up and thought it was optional to donate, the show-goers had to pay a mandatory $8 and of course were guilted into paying it. You know false advertising is illegal, right? It seems like the show wasn't properly planned out. I'm looking out for the community. This was not personally directed at anyone. These are issues that should be addressed.
I want to grow the awareness of our great music scene. But the show that took place Friday is not the best representation of our music community.
To Pat:
I'm allowed to share my thoughts on the show. I did not personally attack you or Steven. If you do care greatly about our music community then you didn't show it with the false advertisement and the disregard towards the musicians and patrons. I was not "hating" on you and now you have made it way bigger than it had to be. When you wrote "you'll be in trouble when I prevail," I just thought, what the heck are you thinking? Now, you're threatening me? Obviously your response was just as planned out as your show was on Friday. Hopefully you will take the criticism and have a well-managed show next time. That's the point of me writing the blog.
Arguing online is pointless..
But anyways thanks for taking the time to try to defend your statements. I wasn't even going to initially respond the first time I read your blog, as I really don't want to be pulled in. As I re-read over your post it became clearer that you seemed to be attacking us rather than trying to help anyone. I see it both ways, and understand where the word donation could be misleading. Usually when I see the word "FREE" show, that means free, and suggested donation means SUPPORT is expected. It is open to interpretation, I just don't see the need to make an issue out of it. Like I said, It was not our intention of misleading people, hence the door person wasn't to turn people away if they didnt have $. Unfortunately we are forced into doing this, since we've had people try to cause problems for us for using the word "cover". It basically comes down to having to pay way too much $$ just to be able to use that word. Much like the record industry, the big corporations would to keep the independents from competing and will try to keep everything under their control and channels. We are trying to offer an alternative avenue for artists who are unafraid of doing things differently. If this is too risky, then play it safe and only support big business and have fewer choices in life. You may not have realized, but you are actually in favor of limiting Artists options..I've been around for a long time, scenes come and go, but never without politics from kids who fail to see the bigger picture. Its not just my viewpoint, I'm hearing it across OC that your scene is very close to collapsing because of kids who act like they are "entitled" to everything and are too quick to point out the negative in everything. I agree things could have ran smoother, but was content everything went well. It was something outside of the norm, and a full evening of entertainment & culture. We are only trying to continue to make this available. I suggest try offering positive feedback if you care about helping something next time, instead of telling people not to go somewhere.. I hope you are all able to see my viewpoint, and understand where Im coming from..And Please don't play into FEAR,Life is all about RISK, don't be afraid to take them
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