That last sentence certainly rings true, Geoff.
From what I'm reading we're in a similar situation. Won't go near some agents - I don't think they realise how quickly word gets around about unethical practices.

I have to say that I really don't understand the way agents think. I am using one agent at the moment who seems to be losing venues more and more to another agent who is under cutting him. Now I would think that the best way to run your agency is to work on keeping the best acts and dumping the shit. Let the other agents deal with the wanna be's. Eventually, if the clubs want the better acts, they will come to the agent who has them.

I am certainly happy to stick by an agent who sticks by me. But all agents seem content with letting any crap act out the door, most without as much as a demo cd. That is whats killing us. Not to mention that most clubs don't have the balls to ring up and say, they were crap, don't send them back.

It's the weirdest industry in the world. If I bought dodgy computer parts from a supplier, I would send them back in an instant and get a refund. If they did it twice, I would seek a better supplier. It's like management don't know they have choices. And of course, no-one ever listens to bar staff who can report on an act.

Wake up and smell the roses people. If you settle for inferior, you will always get inferior.

GT....

We are at the point where we get most of our gigs ourselves down here.

If we waited for agents we'd have hardly any gigs.

As we have been together for 7 years now we have a regualr stable of venues that we go to and thankfully they are very suppportive of us too. They know that we get people in the door and we have regular bunch of followers that go to gigs where they can.

You are right about the agents not knowing the bands that they put in. We are with two different agents and the only time we get anything from them is during festival when the venues only book through them.

We sang at Muswellbrook on Friday night and back home in Tamworth on Saturday. Hope you had a great weekend.

Hi Wendy,
   
I had a great weekend. Well most of it anyway. Some poor sod got beat up right in front of the stage on Friday night which I find damn ridiculous. It was only a last minute gig at a venue I don't normally play. I'm so over the whole neanderthal pub scene.

I know exactly what you mean about the agents in Tamworth. I have dealt with both Mike Vee and Axiom, and I don't have anything nice to say about Mike Vee, so I won't say anything at all. Axiom on the other hand were fairly nice and helpful until they changed hands a few years back. Not that they suddenly became not nice, but they just seemed to lose focus on the bigger picture. Last time I dealt with them, they didn't even have a website. A little behind the times for my liking.

Then there is the other extreme of agents who are so up to date with everything that all thier time seems to be spent revamping thier website and trying to reinvent the wheel that they too lose focus on the bigger picture.

On a brighter side, I sold 5 CD's at tonight's gig at the Ipswich RSL. People really like my song 'Take me back', which is the title track of my album. It's certainly a good feeling when people want to own a copy of your own music.

GT....

Hi Geoff
Thought I'd drop by to remind you there's still at least a couple of musos out there checking in from time to time.
Do you find there's very few country music gigs around the area? Not much of an opportunity to play original songs to an audience and get a decent pay from what I've found.
Barbed Wire did a couple of Morning Melody type deals at Nerang RSL and Club Banora, but that's a while back now. Two years, actually.
They still have the odd country act at these clubs and a few others about the place. I hear John McSweeney gets a lot of work around SE Qld. Do you get to play many originals at your gigs?

Hi Brent,

I play originals at every show. It is surprising the response you get at times. And it certainly helps me to sell my CD's. I sold five on Sunday. Thats none too shabby if you ask me.

Anyway, I guess the bottom line is, if you don't play them, no-one will hear them and know if they like them or not. You gotta do what you gotta do. I'll keep playing them as long as I have gigs:-)

Cheers
GT....

My first choice here is to thank you for the invitation. This is all new to me..and I am looking forward to getting to meet the elite here at this forum. I feel honored, and blessed to be making my way around Australia one day at a time..meeting and learning the ropes of this fine country..to which I am a resident of via my Australian wife..however...I personally am not a true blue Aussie...but I am a true blue country boy with pride, love, sincerity, respect, and a whole lotta fun...all wrapped up in this 6 foot 2 inch 260 pound whopper from Texas..LOL ..Ive earned every scar on my face..and butt....LOL
hope ta meet ya soon..Keep On Keepin' ON!

about country music and three chords  and truth,,,,sometimes you only need 2...smile...

Hey Monte,

Welcome aboard. It don't matter where your from. If your a country musician in Australia, then your more than welcome here. As you can tell, this forum is quite new too, but the few members we have so far are all genuine people ready and willing to help with advice and share thier own storys of good times and bad.

It is my hope that this forum will grow to become an extremely useful tool for all country musicians across this sunburnt land. I look forward to learning more about you and what you do.

Regards
GT...

Hi Monte.
Texas. My favourite country singer/songwriters hail from your part of the world. Zona Jones is a guy not that many people are aware of but he writes some great songs.
I like Texas style country because they like to play with the lyric a little - stretch the boundaries. Make yourself at home Downunder. There's a lot to see.
And Geoff, good on you for playing the original. Just received my performance royalty payment from APRA today - it ain't that much, about a solo gig's worth, but sure came in handy.
I always play 'Bundy Barramundi' last song of the set, then tell the crowd it's on the CD. Might only sell a couple, or five, but like you say, it spreads the word.

Howdy Brent,

Texans are not always just about geographics...they are about attitudes...fun lovin. easy going ,,,and will do anything for ya so long as you are trying to help yourself..one of my favorite lyric fill ins comes from Bad Monn Rising, where we sing theres the bath room on the right....vice theres a bad moon on the rise.

Recently while busking I ran into three young sturdy lads...drunk or pissed y'all say it...and since I was wearing my black cowboy hat...it was not hard to figure out I do country..they asked for a garth brooks number,,,friends in low places....which I do not know...so.....one of them asked for a naughty tune....to which I know one that amongst special friends or private party situations...is a real winner...it is called OH Sh_t...those blokes were in hysterics laughing as the yplunked their change into my guitar case...and one commented you just got over a cd's worth of change off me on that one....which to me  was grateful....that they left peacefully....bugger the change...LOL...

Keep ON Keepin' On!

Hey Brent, Got my APRA payment today. A little less than last year but it almost covers rego for the year. I am aiming to double it next year with new songs I am currently writing. Every bit helps:-)

GT...

Welcome Monte

Great to see you on here. We don't care where you are from.
Hope you are enjoying your time in Australia.We are pretty easy going folk.

I have a friend in Austin TX, She wrote one of the songs on our album. Her name is Lana Sprague. It's a real texas toetapper. You can hear it on our myspace page www.myspace.com/thosegalsmusic. It's called Cowboy Cuddle

look forward to hearing about your adventures.

Wendy  

--Last edited by Wendy Wood on 2007-11-21 14:35:41 --