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.

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.

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...

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.