Written by Doug Hurt – Contributor to HXCChristian.com
I miss the “good ole days”. That is really the only statement that I can make. People were going to shows for the pure fact that that is where they truly wanted to be. They wanted to be a part of something. And the bands that were a part of this scene were ready to book a show with friends that they had. The thought of a booking agency was just unheard of. If you saw someone new, you would walk up and introduce yourself.
Let us fast forward to now. I am not a fan of these days of so called “hardcore”. I put hardcore in parenthesis for the fact that the true meaning of why this was all started is no longer alive. It is no longer shows, we have concert events. Bands have these big named booking agencies that will not talk to you unless you go through their agent. And their agents will not talk to you unless you have a cool concert promotion name and are willing to pay a so called “hardcore” band $8000 to come play with a stage plan and a tour rider. I have always said… if you want to become rich, go be in a bar band playing creed covers.
The fact is that most of the people that were all about hardcore pride we’re the ones that turned their backs and said “Forget this!” Now they hang out at the bars listening to talentless indie rock talking about how the “kids” are dumb and need to grow up.
Now is a time that we have to make a choice to just either walk away from all of this and let the ones that have no idea what this was about and should be about, or we step up and say “Enough is enough! We want this scene back!”
Bands should stop writing songs about taking it all back and lead by example and actually take it back. That means book your own shows and stop giving 15% to someone else that has no clue what is going on at your shows. It is time for kids to learn how to book and promote shows and start booking shows and paying the bands what the bands deserve. It is time for kids to start going to shows with the whole principle that we are gathering as a family.
I place a lot of this pressure on the bands. Especially our Christian bands. Jesus did not need a booking agent to tell him when he could go do his work. You guys that call yourselves a Christian band have a responsibility to go out and tell this scene that they are loved and that there is a God of compassion and generosity out there. I can tell you that when kids hear about bands making $12,000 and are Christian and then sell their merch for outrageous prices, these bands put an even more sour taste in their mouths about Christianity being a big business. I am sure some bands will say “We need this money to live.” To that I say, get a job. Ministry is not for those that are worried strictly about money. If the band is what God’s purpose is for you, then you and your families will reap the benefits of heaven now. And some bands have said “We have to pay for this bus.” Then sell it! Buy a van and trailer. It is not that hard. And if you are unsigned, why do you have a booking agent? Really? You are a band doing what you love with your friends, why take away from the true meaning of what this is all about by making it about business?
I place the pressure on the kids booking shows that they do what they can to have a safe place for kids and to do what they can to make sure these bands are blessed. This means putting yourself out there and showing these bands that you are booking shows for the right reasons and that you are not pocketing $1000 off of a show that made $1500 especially charging $15 for a show and not promoting for it at all. We never had contracts back then. But we booked shows and made it, and if people kept
screwing over bands, then we would send our friends in other bands to book elsewhere.
I also place pressure on the old schoolers to show the new kids what the scene is really about. How are these kids supposed to know if we just take the quick exit? There are still a lot of us out there that can show these kids that this is not just a concert experience, this is a life experience.
So we need to start booking shows with bands that are strong enough to book their own shows. If they are on a label that makes them use an agent, then someone should start a label that lets the bands play where they want to play and when they want to play. We need to start showing these bands that if they want to play to a crowd with no heart or soul that they can do those shows without us.
So in closing, hardcore was never about agents, tour riders, managers or making the big bucks. It was about reaching out to kids. Plain and simple, bands are just people in bands. The key word is “people.” That means you are not better than the kid that had to save money all week just so he could pay to come to your show.
So take a step back this week and spend just one day thinking about what I have talked about. If you have any questions or comments you can email me at doug @ hxcchristian. com
Amen.
I’m glad that this is being brought to the light. The hardcore scene seems to be consistently straying further from its roots. I’m not in this for money or fame, I’m not in this to be some tough guy in a crew, I’m in it because it is how I express myself.
I AGREE, THE SCENE IS GETTING QUITE DILUTED AND IT IS TROUBLING. LET’S TAKE IT BACK!
not to throw stones at your glass house, but this really is taking in one side of the story. you have made alot of good points and i 100% respect your oppinion. but unless you have been out there touring relentlessly in the last 3-5 years,you only know what you are seeing. THIS IS NOT THE SAME GAME WE GREW UP WITH 10,15,20 EVEN 25 YEARS AGO!!!!! punk or hardcore. there are too many bands out and not enough scene. its dog eat dog right now in the music “biz” and everyong has to step up their game,even DIY bands, and if you dont step up your game you might as well stop playing.
ill be more than happy to share from a fulltime touring bands side if anyone is interested.
And you assuming that I have not been there is very one sided as well. The fact is that when you say that it is dog eat dog, that is one thing. But you are right when you say it is not the same as it was however many years ago that it was. But the fact is it is the band’s fault. I was in a band that we made ends meet on the road doing stuff ourselves. My current band books stuff and we survive. And yes this is one side of the story, because this is my story. Bands these days are being treated like rock stars. This scene was never supposed to be about that stuff. So if you would peronally like to talk to me about this, then by all means please do so. Because I would like to talk to someone that has been (and I am assuming that you are) doing this stuff since at least the mid 90’s. You can email me at doug AT hxcchristian DOT com
I definitely lean on Doug’s side of the argument, but I’d love to see an open discussion about this posted.
I really think this is the evolution of music and the scene in general.I remember going to shows 10 years ago and people in their 20’s (I was in my teens),saying the same old ‘It isn’t like it use to be…’ And the fact is…it never will be like it use to be.NIV will never be as amazing as they were,and so on and so forth.I remember being at NIV’s last Cstone show and then being around for their comeback show at Cstone.Stuff changes,people change and that is the way of the world.It sucks.I haven’t been to a show in a few years due to the fact…uh,I work full time and provide for a family,and take care of my crib midget.The whole orchestration of my personal life to even go out on a Friday night is pretty epic.That is just my side of all of this.
I think riders and agencies is pretty funny.I remember trying to book OC Supertones in ‘00 or ‘01,and they needed so much that 2 kids in a youth group couldn’t provide.But alas,most hardcore bands could do fine with some pizza and a floor to sleep on.
I am saddened if bands nowadays are pulling the whole ’speak to my agent’ card.Many bands over the years have been approachable to the kids and that was what made shows so awesome,and the friendships I made and others.
yeah i completely agree, even though im 17 my brother was into the old scene while i was starting primary school. So naturally, growing up listening to gorilla biscuits and such, ive been goign to shows. And im generally dissapointed. Theres bands that wont even talk to kids or just brush them off, if a kid introduces himself they call him a ’sweater’. not to mention somewhat succesful local bands not giving up and comers a shot on their lineup, its ridiculous.
Doug, your opinion is fully respected but I disagree with you…
First, what is wrong with using a booking agent? Many bands (myself included) book our shows ourselves as well as going through our manager. This helps us to get more shows, as well as shows with bigger and/or more established bands. The reason we want to continue getting these shows is to grow as a band, and as a ministry. Things are not the same now as they we’re back in the glory days of “hardcore”. When things like this change you have to change with it, its just the way things work. What worked in the 90’s is not longer effective now.
Second, how are you going to compare the Son of God to a typical hardcore band in the scene. “Jesus Christ did not need a booking agent to tell him when he could do his work.” This is a logical fallacy. You cannot compare the work of Christ to the work of a Christian hardcore band.
Thirdly, You cannot fault a band for making money. I will agree with you that it is ridiculous for a “Christian” band to have their main focus on wealth. By this point, anyone in the scene trying to become rich should just quit and get a day job, even for signed bands selling out clubs, money is tight. Also, “get a job?” For a local band, of course, but if one is constantly touring, trying to make music a full-time gig, a flexible job is hard to come by. Your response is much easier said than done . My point being, you cannot fault a band for wanting to support themselves through music. If their hearts are in the right place there is absolutely nothing wrong making money as a band.
I do agree with you, however, that the “scene” has it’s issues. Mainly with “christian”/ministry-minded bands doing very little to actually make an impact while they play. If your band exists as a ministry (which every band that calls themselves christian should be) then your focus should be on pointing people towards Christ. But again, you cannot fault a band for getting help through booking agencies and for trying to make a bit of money on merch.
Agreed. How about a post on some DIY pointers to promoting and booking shows? Some of us have no clue.