Head-Roc’s Mouth
A regular feature in which esteemed D.C. rapper Head-Roc shares what's on his mind.
Have you ever been Robert Foore? I know what you're saying: "Who the hairy peach is Robert Foore?"
Well, "Robert Foore" is the hypothetical construct that my band GODISHEUS has assigned to the experience of actually having been 'robbed before' as professional indie musicians struggling to earn a living here in our beloved Chocolate City. And that’s right–we wrote a song about it!
I invite you to take a listen to the in-process creation of the track “Robert Foore.” When we take it into the studio there are bound to be changes–some drastic, some subtle, but changes nonetheless. This is your chance to listen, download, rock, and feel the passion of the first version. Yeah y'all, Im-a take the sting off the lyrics in a few places because I am determined to see GODISHEUS be as hugely successful a rock star band as possible.
As soon as someone who can help make that happen hears the line, "Black rock stars on the grind for years/Trying to make a lil' Paper that’s what they fear, Yeah!/Don’t be afraid call out their name/So we can boycott the motherfuckers outta the game," … nuff said!
With some tweaking, I'm predicting this one could be a nationwide indie music anthem that all professional starving artists will identify with–especially people of culture rocking in culture-less environments! So, let’s have some fun with it, eh?
Okay, I realize at this point, some of you may be asking, "What is the reason behind producing a song about being Robert Foore–Heady, what are you talking about?" Well, funk it, I'm gonna say it: I don't know how it is in your hometown, but venues that fancy themselves as playing host to local live performances in D.C. really aren’t doing much to support those nights. Putting our local musicians' names in their City Paper ads isn’t enough. And no, posting on the various online social networks isn’t either.
Who designs fliers and prints them while at the plantation and on the Man's time and dime? Who beats the streets to place them ever so strategically in the appropriate areas at the indie music shops, coffee houses, bars, clubs, schools, community centers, and on streets signs and cars?
We do. And hey y'all, you know what? That's work!
Who shows up to play their hearts out, on a sunny or rainy day, to a crowd of 20 people who paid $10 to come hear great music? And more often than we like, we do all that funking promoting and only 20 people show up . And even if only half of the 20 in the house are fans and the other are half walk-ins, so what?
They all come out for entertainment purposes, right? Eats, drinks, and beats, right? Venues got the eats and drink, and we have the beats! Now, the question is: How much is it worth to a venue to have the local professional musicians come in and supply the beats on an advertised night?
At the end of the day, all I’m saying is, I believe there should be a more equitable, symbiotic relationship between local live performance venues and the local musicians working to earn a living. I also think that it's time to address this issue here in Chocolate City particularly, because there are some great artists here who deserve more support from within the D.C. metro area entertainment establishment.
This is a conversation starter, so please go ahead and express your opinions. Let’s have some fun, shall we?
Head-Roc is a founding member of legendary D.C. hip-hop crew 3LG, WAMMIE award-winning solo MC, and frontman of the hip-hop/funk/rock group Godisheus. Godisheus performs tonight as part of the Tip the Band concert series at Asylum, 2471 18th Street, NW; and on Thursday, June 25 for Art Unplugged at Helix Lounge, 1430 Rhode Island Ave., NW.
3:44 pm
It seems like every independant artist , muscian, cab driver, vendor, etc is having a hard time making a living in what will soon be known as less chocolate, more cream in the coffee DC.
3:59 pm
Hey Roc, John from Lucky Dub here, couldn't feel you more on this issue. After playing in the DC area for years and promoting for various bands, I've found that venues expect to do just about jack squat while holding overly high expectations for bands to bring bodies. Even more often, the more established venues feel entitled to take money from the door even though they're making exponentially more at the bar, making it even harder for bands to earn a respectable keep for the night. They have gotten away with it for too long, however, I feel with this current economy, times are a changin'.
Many bars and clubs in the area are hurtin' and they're typical events are not bringing in enough customers. Many places that traditionally only catered to one crowd or have never had live music before are opening up to new ideas. It's time for artists to take the power back! We have the power now to create the parameters for entertainment, the venues need us to attract bodies. We can set cover charges, how much we get vs. what the bar gets, drink specials, how/when merchandise is sold, etc as long as we can guarantee a turnout. Also, this situation puts much more pressure on clubs to do their own promotion which is ,as you discussed, the real back breaking work in the entertainment biz.
Glad to hear about this blog, if I don't see you before then, catch you at the Capital Hip Hop and Soul Fest! PS-Nice performance at the Summer Solstice Fest.
4:48 pm
I am new to the DC area music scene, but since I have been to a few local shows- I know that there are some amazing indie artists in DC! I know that things are hard everywhere, but we must do something to support artist in this area. These folks are performing and leaving their hearts on stage! I just wish more venues would step up and support them. It would be a disgrace to see talented musicians and artist give up their crafts or take them to a more welcoming spot outside of DC. Let's give DC's indie artists the love, support, and financial compensation that they truly deserve!
9:56 am
I quote:"Who shows up to play their hearts out, on a sunny o r rainy day, to a crowd of 20 people who paid $10 to come hear great music? And more often than we like, we do all that funking promoting and only 20 people show up "
That sums up the real problem: after all the promoting, you only managed to bring 20 people to the shows??
What is the music establishment supposed to do about that? Seems like the problem is really with the ability to attract and hold a crowd...it is a simple business model: if you were to bring let's say even 100 people to a show, the music establishment would have to start dealing with you on a $ level, which is what really seems to be your issue.
What happened to the good old days (circa 1989) when bands like Fugazi and Lucy Brown would "rent" out then All Saints church and play to sold out crowds? Them were the days...
It's crazy how dependant on the establishment we, as independant artist,have become . We want to be indenpendant, yet we feel we are owed something from the establishment. Why not rent out a place, a system, throw your own event? You reap all the profit and control the event.
It has proved to a succesfull model in the past, but it does require a following and some hustle...
7:06 pm
realist, your post is obnoxious.
it says "more often than we'd like", not "most of the time" 20 people show up. again, your taking it out of context to put forth and ANONYMOUS response is obnoxious. you know that though... you meant to be.
slow days are a part of any business operation. but let me answer your question..
when 20 people show up and pay $10 to see me, and the venue didnt do shit to get folks in the door... give me my fucking $200 dollars. ill let you keep the bar.
you, the venue, should have done more to get folks out to YOUR club that i entertain in. i did my part, played a great fucking show PLUS brought 20 heads through to enjoy it. they drank your liquore and ate your food too, didnt they? what did you do? nothing.
and thats my point. dont penalize me cause you are a predator in thinking just cause you built it, im supposed to worship it and break my neck to pack it. you gotta pay me upfront to do that kind of WORK outside of my expertise, which is rocking the socks off of anyone in front of me.
venues need to hire street teams that convince peole to come to their spot for the best "whatever".
pompous ass. i know who you are, too. anonymous.
10:35 am
Plantation? The town is 65%+ Black. The mayor and majority of council are black. There is a strong black working and middle and upper class. There are two quite Black universities in town, not counting Trinity. There is a lot of Black culture in town. And there are another 500,000+ Blacks in the metro area. So why the whine? Tain't perfect. but is better,
Maybe we Black people are ready to identify as being more than just Black? Maybe some of us want more rainbow city than chocolate city. Maybe we're tired of brothers unable to come up with a noun other than mothafucker.
Are there white bands playing their hearts out for peanuts? Sure. Are they entitle to prompt success? No. Do they receive prompt success? No.