Bring it on!!!!

I’d like to start out by mentioning next week, June 14th to be exact, HBGOnline.com will mark it’s 7th year on the web. I never would have imagined being able to do what I do for 7 years. What started out as a “good idea” between friends drinking beer at Wanda’s one night, is now this monster we have here today. In the beginning I was the pervert with the camera. It was new to the area to have a picture taken while in a club. I didn’t fuck around with the sausage pics either. Standing in the back of the club, I picked out the best looking girls and made my move. Over 50% of the time I was turned down back then. Now when I’m taking pics, I get people coming up to me asking for a photo.

In the early days I had a big mouth and wasn’t afraid to say what I wanted to say on the web. In fact to this day I think most people that come here enjoy an honest opinion by us. We don’t care about advertisers, hurting feelings or any of the other reasons like mainstream media does. There’s enough “fluff” out there to choke on. Of course when you do speak your opinions, especially when they go against the grain, lawsuits, threats and other childish behavior usually follows. I’m just glad that all the people that huffed and puffed over the years to shut us down, have themselves gone away.

I guess the best thing to happen over the years, is all the people that I have met and come to know. Musicians and people in the entertainment business are some of the nicest people on earth. Let me rephrase that, MOST musicians and people in the entertainment business are some of the nicest people on earth. Today it’s hard to go out without running into someone I know. What really gets me is when people I don’t know come up to me and start talking about the website.

Yes it’s hard to believe what this website has become over the years. Many have tried to copy us over those years with new websites and failed. I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve gotten over the years telling me about a new website that was going to give me a run for the money. Of course most folded within a year. I’m not sure myself how long HBGOnline will be around. Hopefully I’ll be able to celebrate 10 years and more with you guys.

I’m planning on doing something special next Tuesday Night, June 13th, to show my appreciation. I’m not going to say here. All I will say is watch for our newsletter and a My Space bulletin post on Monday. So sign up for our newsletter from the Home Page (lower right corner) or become our My Space ‘friend” www.myspace.com/hbgonline if you have not done so.

Yes June 13th will be our Birthday Bash Party, so I hope to see lot’s of people out enjoying a night of great music and chugging a few drinks!!! Wooly Mammoth, Lotus Blue and Year Long Disaster are sure to rattle the windows of the burg!!! Also don't forget to check your email or My Space Bulletin for our special gift to you.

My last article received a lot of emails about bands needed to stay in front of fresh faces to keep ahead of the nightlife “cycle”. Thanks to everyone that took the time to write about your situation and comments.

This time I’d like to hit the keypad and talk about promotions. One band that is a master of promotion is Lotus Blue. When they are set to play a Twisted Tuesday, they come in weeks beforehand and hand out CD’s to the people at the bar. They also have special flyers made up for the show. Usually they hit the My Space Bulletins as individuals and as a band promoting the show like crazy one week beforehand. They also go out to their My Space “friends” and drop a show mention in their comments section.

So to recap they hand out CD’s/ flyers and plaster My Space. What the big deal you ask? My band does that? Here’s the kicker. They had a Twisted Tuesday show the day after Memorial Day, which is one of the worst days to play a gig. The crowds were thin at 10pm. When I went outside to see what the rest of 2nd Street looked like, I saw members from the band, calling people on their cell phones asking if they were coming to the show. By 11pm there was a nice size crowd in the bar. In fact it was the biggest after holiday show in the last 4 years of Twisted Tuesdays.

Promotions is one thing that most bands in this area lack. They assume everyone except themselves are responsible for promoting THEIR show. Of course you hear the excuse like “between practice, my job and family I just don’t have time to promote.” BULLSHIT!!! If your band does not have the time to properly promote EVERY gig you book, you better quit playing out NOW. Myself and Ebastard have been called promoters. We are not. We are people that book shows. We do hand out flyers, hang up posters and post show info on the internet. However our main job is to book the bands for the shows we put on. Anything done in addition to that task is to help out with the shows. I’m sure Eric would agree when I say some of the best shows are when the BANDS playing the shows do their part with promoting the shows too.

So the next time you blame the weather, the club, the downtown bars and everything else under the sun because no one showed up for your gig. Look at what YOU did to promote the show. Better yet, keep a record of your promotion efforts. See what works for you. Keep your eyes open and see what other bands are doing too. If you see something new, give it a try. Every band is different and what works for one band might not work for another.

I’ll end this subject with the following. YOU CAN NEVER OVER PROMOTE A GIG!!!!

I’d also like to mention about bands supporting their genres. If you’re a metal band and not playing on a night that there is a metal show taking place. Go to the show. Same thing with rock bands, pop bands, jam bands, etc. Show your support of the venue and genre by attending a show. While you’re there, talk to the bands playing. Let them know who you are, give them a demo, ask about sharing a show or two. On the other side, if you are playing a gig and notice other band members in the crowd, be sure to return the favor by going to one of their shows.

If you are someone that is not in a band but enjoy original music the choice is yours on what shows to support. If you’re at a lost on where to go, might I suggest a Twisted Tuesday at the Hardware Bar or Cranked Up Thursday at the Dragonfly. Both these concert series give a lot of bands the opportunity to play at a quality venue.

Not sure if I’ll get another article out before MMC so I will make a quick mention that HBGOnline will have a booth this year in the trade show area. I always get emails and calls from bands asking what we can do to help them with promotions, marketing, selling CD’s, etc. So I thought now is a good time to get out to show and tell people what we can do for them. If you’re walking around during the day, be sure to stop by our booth and say Hi.

Well that’s all for now. I’d like to take this time to thank our site visitors, staffers, My Space friends and everyone else that has support our little spot here on the world wide web. I’d also like to thank my girlfriend for putting up with me over the years and allowing me to do what I really love to do. I don’t think many relationships could withstand some of the stuff we have gone thru over the years.

Be sure to watch your email or My Space Bulletin on Monday for a special announcement.

Lator Gators - BigJim

Agree or disagree I have thick skin, send me an email.