As a longstanding, and successful musician of the last 25 years, i still like to go and see local bands/acts when i'm back home in Sheffield. On Saturday (26th Sept) i went to Colley Club to see an act called 'Electro 80's'. Now being a fan of 80's music i was quite looking forward to it.......How disappointed was i at what i saw/heard!

I am left wondering if this is what 'clubland' is all about these days?
The lights went down (after the dreaded bingo :roll:) then we waited.....and waited.....then they came on stage and 'faffed' around with some stuff, then went back off, then 5 minutes later they started!
The singer (and i use that term VERY loosely!) had electronic aids and vocal synthesizers going through his mic to aid him, they had 6 keyboards/synths on stage, but the music was so obviously a backing track, and the lights were total overkill!

Is this what 'clubland is all about now? All show and no substance?
The stage presense was zero, they were just walking about like they were strolling to the shop! These acts are being paid for what i would call 'Karaoke with lights'

The final straw came when they covered an Ultravox song (it may have been Hymn?) The vocal came out and i thought Midge Ure had walked in! It was a totally different sound to what they'd sounded like all night.....Now i'm not saying they were miming to Ultravox, But.........:suspect:

All in all the club may have well just put on a CD for the night!
Bring back the 'proper' bands!!!
Unfortunately though at this present time, clubs can't afford to pay bands so it looks like we're stuck with the Karaoke Kings! :gag:

Sounds like a poor episode of Phoenix Nights

Unfortunately though at this present time, clubs can't afford to pay bands so it looks like we're stuck with the Karaoke Kings! :gag:
Clubs can afford to pay bands it's just that the agents have ruined it through sheer greed. When I last worked for an agent there was talk of putting commission up to 20%+vat, that's £70.50 on a £300 gig.

I stopped playing clubs because I was fed up with spending my weekends up and down the motorway whilst out of town acts were brought in to play local clubs, it was a scam by the agents to bump up the price.

Concert secs used to book acts that they'd been and seen now most of them have never seem many of the acts that come to their own club.

Clubs can afford to pay bands it's just that the agents have ruined it through sheer greed. When I last worked for an agent there was talk of putting commission up to 20%+vat, that's £70.50 on a £300 gig.

I stopped playing clubs because I was fed up with spending my weekends up and down the motorway whilst out of town acts were brought in to play local clubs, it was a scam by the agents to bump up the price.

Concert secs used to book acts that they'd been and seen now most of them have never seem many of the acts that come to their own club.

I know a local 6 piece band who are fantastic, great frontman, great musicians and all fully live! The agent they are with (or should i say was with!) was sending them out at 15% on anything upto £599, and then a staggering 20% anything over £600!
They have now dumped this local agent and are going freelance unless another agent comes along with a better offer! To be honest, the band i'm talking about was probably too big for the said agent to handle as most club agents are just smalltime with huge ego's! sad but true!

I know a local 6 piece band who are fantastic, great frontman, great musicians and all fully live! The agent they are with (or should i say was with!) was sending them out at 15% on anything upto £599, and then a staggering 20% anything over £600!
They have now dumped this local agent and are going freelance unless another agent comes along with a better offer! To be honest, the band i'm talking about was probably too big for the said agent to handle as most club agents are just smalltime with huge ego's! sad but true!But in reality that 15% is actualy 17.624% when vat is added.
Also if the club booked direct they'd get the act for around £500 with a saving of £99.
How many club members of failing clubs realise that the agent is making £90 out of a £599 gig.
The late Geoff Clayton at Walkely WMC was one of the few concert secs who would book direct despite the backhanders being offered by the agents.

Dear oh dear....this reminds me of a quote from Billy Bragg. I think he was comparing an awards ceremony, or might have been appearing on it. I can't remember his exact words but he appologised to the audience by saying sorry folks, you got me tonight. Milli Vanilli were going to play, but they couldn't make it,.....seems like they've lost their voices!!!