Re: Rap rock artists at blues festivals/Toronto show collapses

[Ann Rabson]

I apologize for being so late with this but I'm a touring musician and don't
get home to my computer very often.

I'm terribly distressed by the news that the Toronto festival had to be
canceled but I'm horrified to see the Ottawa folks including Mark Monahan
being villafied about it. In adddition to festivals, those people in Ottawa
have been putting on an incredible blues in the schools program up there
which I'm proud to have participated in a few times. Programs like that
don't bring in money but they sure do insure the future of the music we all
love. Low ticket sales and concert and club attendance have many causes.
Educating a whole new generation (currupting the youth I like to call it) is
one key to "keeping the blues alive".

I truly feel for the artists who have lost income and time to the failure of
this and other festivals, clubs and tours around the world, but let's not
turn on people who are really trying to do the right thing. This is not a
new thing. I remember a few years back, a HUGE festival in New Zealand
where people traveled all that way, actually PLAYED and then didn't get
paid. I hate it but this is as much a hazard of the business as bad food,
late nights and early flights. I'm not saying promoters shouldn't be held
responsible. This is a good reason for an artist to insist on a deposit
long before a gig.

Sorry to be so long and so late and to take an unpopular stand but this
really hurts.

Ann Rabson
www.annrabson.com

SNIP

>None of the Toronto performers will be paid, apparently
>(despite contracts), and Monahan's response, apparently, is "tough
>shit, fuck you, sue me". You can bet that the Toronto festival, with
>no money, will be basically sue-proof. Result, many of the performers
>who were also booked in Toronto are unlikely to show up in Ottawa.
>
>Welcome to the tough world of organizing festivals!

SNIP

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[Chip Eagle]

Ann, I am glad that you did finally chime in; your post was right on point.
Thanks for standing up for the Ottawa folks and others in that region, they
do indeed to a great job. It is always going to be difficult to pinpoint the
failure for a festival and I certainly admire those who can do it profitably
year after year. Let's hope that Toronto can regroup and make it happen
again.

As for your "corrupting the youth" analogy...simply beautiful! Thanks for
reminding me of that important part of my job!

Chip Eagle
Blues Revue/BluesWax