After last month I thought that I had turned a corner regarding the monthly gigs but last night's show had a smaller audience which goes to show what a struggle this is going to be to pull off. I don't know what is stopping people coming, it certainly isn't the bookings that are to blame because I had once again pulled in a good quality bill. Maybe it's the location, maybe it is because it's a Sunday night, whatever it is I don't get it but something needs to happen soon otherwise I am going to have to sit and think about the future of this project. Part of the attraction for me was the opportunity to produce a video series but that has been hit with a constant stream of problems resulting in being on the third gig without a single episode being released. Sooner or later the venue will realise that we're not exactly a goldmine and as such might decide to give me up as a bad job. I had wanted to expand The Sunday Alternative Live to another city once a month but financially speaking it might not be worth it especially as at the moment I don't have travel expense and pay people using the door money. Promotion wise I do as much as I can but as the artists are sharing the entry fee between them (I don't earn any money from it and don't want to, bands need paying in real money and not exposure) it hasn't gone unnoticed that some bands are doing more advertising than others.
Anyway, despite the low turn out the night was another high quality one although I couldn't relax because I was taking photographs and filming short snippets to slot into the main recording that was being filmed from a static camera. My dad filmed the whole thing so at least we actually have visual footage to work with. At the weekend I am finally going to get my hands on the videos of the first gig (I already have the audio) so that's four episodes that can see the light of day. Jay Brow opened the show in high spirits, it isn't my place to say on here why he hasn't exactly had a good month or two so to see him on such good form playing mainly from The Breakfast Club's back catalogue. The Herron Brothers were the first out of town band I have booked, coming from Derby. They went down well with the small crowd and it would be great to see them playing Nottingham again soon, in fact they are at the Hockley Hustle next month. PTO were next, a band I was really pleased to have on and Fleets honoured their booking by playing an acoustic set to cover the absence of their holidaying drummer.
To go back to the Hockley Hustle I have next month off from The Maze and with it I have moderately less pressure because it is part of a large festival so people with wristbands can come and go as they please, and with it being a charity gig I don't have to worry about making enough money on the door to pay the artists with. Talking of which, last month everyone got £25 yet last night they all got £6. I hope it doesn't go to their heads.
The Sunday Alternative #55 is available from here.
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September housekeeping
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