Yes, it has become prohibitive for bands to make the trip physically
these days. I was seriously going to try for Philadelphia or DC, made
several direct inquiries, but venues in both cities put tickets on
sale extremely close to the event dates, and with my work, I had to
know some absolutes, like concert dates and ticket availability, to
be able to free up the time. Websites for both of those venues
finally only listed the concerts a matter of a few weeks or so before
the shows. Lodging in those cases would not have been a problem at
all, as I have close family in that region. A smaller-scale analogy
can be applied with the talented local musicians I know, many of whom
play in a cycle of venues in front of generally identical small
groups of fans. I do go to see them each on occasion (or when
grouped, as is most often, in package shows) but they're also
personal friends of mine, so I see them anyway and get their CDs
free, etc. They often see the same faces when they play because it's
so difficult for these musicians to get to play additional venues
with owners who aren't corrupt or disinterested. Because of this (in
part), their live audience does not really expand unless they can
expand their territory of coverage. A group like Boredoms has an
exceptional live performance approach that I believe would really
expand their audience to very rewarding proportions IF others could
be exposed to that art. That's where that investment toward
touring/A&R/etc. can pay off quickly. I would've seen them this year
if those venues had simply advertised tickets a reasonable length of
time before the concerts, but that has nothing to do with Boredoms,
just poor advertising. Even if they'd played Toronto, I would've been
there; maybe that could be considered next time around?--- In
theboredoms@yahoogroups.com, Joe Janecek <joejanecek@...> wrote:
>
> >but now they each limit their total USA appearances to just a few
very
> large (and sometimes regionally-clustered) cities, so neither are
> really expanding their audiences by number anymore, just playing to
the
> existing fans. This is truly a shame.<
>
> Yes, the bigger problem is that ticket sales do not pay for the
tours
> here in the US for the international acts. Even WB, back in the day,
> had trouble bringing a band over for a long run, as it was very
> expensive. Now those days are certainly past, as labels won't spend
the
> cash unless they get a specific ROI- return on investment.
>
> When Boredoms were on the first part of Lollapalooza 94, the only
way
> the deal could be done was if Boredoms gave up their portion of the
> Lolla t-shirt for which every band received money. That money helped
> alongside the funds the label also chipped in. It was a once in a
> lifetime opportunity for Boredoms to get that slot, so it was worth
it.
> Having Kurt Cobain and similar musicians as fans certainly helped
too.
> (BTW, part 2 of that Lolla tour featured Green Day in that opening
> slot, just as the band was getting huge - but I digress.)
>
> Now, Boredoms are on Vice or Thrill Jockey (SR 9), labels that tend
to
> give little monetary tour support. Tour support just isn't in the
> vocabulary of the indie labels, as it's rarely recouped against
album
> sales. Sadly, passion alone cannot move a band and tour bus from
city
> to city.
>
> Also, their booking agent, Windish Agency, has to be very selective
> give the available tour window the band has available. They need
> guaranteed money that makes sense for the tour at hand. Do I wish
Bore
> could do 30 dates? Sure. But the band probably has just a few weeks
in
> reality, and yes, regionally-clustered shows make travel more
> affordable.
>
> When you mention "playing to the existing fans" - well, I disagree
> there. It's your duty as a music fan, as a BORE fan, to pack up the
> station wagon with your friends and make them experience Boredoms.
Hey,
> Bore made it to America for you, can't you drag some friends across
> state lines to see them?
>
> The current music business environment has changed the game for
> marginal bands and labels, and the future remains uncertain. At
least
> America is inexpensive for most bands compared to years past with
the
> current exchange rates. Maybe more will take up the offer to come
the
> the USA.
>
> cheers,
> joe
>