Interview with the Booker

Steve from Alter Ego was kind enough to send this my way. It's from the Musician's Cooler newsletter. By Dave Jackson, author of the book "Get Your Band out of the basement (And keep them out of the asylum)"

Interview with the Booker Part II

I interviewed some booking agents for clubs for my Book Get Your Band Out of the Basement (and keep them out of the asylum available at www.musicianlibrary.com ) Recently I was at a club called Wilberts in Cleveland (www.wilbertsmusic.com ) and I got to talking with the owner (who also books the bands). He has been booking local and national acts for more than 23 years (he started when he was in high school). As I have said before, most club owners think alike. Mike Miller was very cool. Here is a summary of the conversation:

Dave: I always tell people to work WITH a club owner not FOR them.
Mike: Its a joint effort. If it doesnt work out for either of us, there is no point. When I book a club I give them a list of press contacts because I expect them to work just as hard as I do. The writers and radio people dont want to hear from me all the time. They like to hear from the artists themselves.

Dave: So what kind of press list?
Mike: College emails, newspapers, stuff like that. We are all in it together. The artist is as much an employee as the waitress or bartender. We all want to make it work, and have fun doing it. Its all rock and roll, but youve got have the business sense to it as well. Youve got to cover the bottom line.

Dave: When a band contacts you and they want to play your club, what are some of the things they do that drive you nuts?
Mike: When I get a press kit in the mail and there is no return phone number.
Dave: People do that!?
Mike. Oh yeah, or they dont put the phone number on their disc. I usually listen to these in the car, and it might get mixed in with 50 other discs. If that number is not on the disc, I wont remember it. I listen to too many. Right now I really like EPKs (electronic Press Kits). If I can go and download something, then if I like what I hear I will do whatever I can to make it work out. The first thing I do in the morning is check my messages, and I check my emails. The LAST thing I do is check the mail. Thats where all the bills come from. Sonicbids.com seems to be a good thing and well organized. If I go there and I like it then I might ask for a press kit. That should include a bio, a CD, and posters. These days I dont need pictures cause I go to their website and download them. I guess you need a website as well. You need those things. It makes it easier to get press.

Dave: How many strikes does a band get before they are not asked back?
Mike: (thinks) one. Twenty if I like them. It depends on if we get along. If I think theyre musically really good, Ill get behind them. I have a band Ive booked for 23 years.
Dave: Thats cool a lot of club owners its all about the bottom line.
Mike: Dont get me wrong IT IS. But I think you have to love music to be in this business. You would get burned out.

Dave: What are some of the stupid things bands do at a gig?
Mike: Trying to run a tab and walking out on it.
Dave: Thats pretty stupid.
Mike: Be rude to my customers, or employees.
Dave: Like a Rock star kind of trip?
Mike: Sometimes. Its just taking advantage of a situation. Some bands come in hear and think they should have access to everything I own. That irritates me. Another one is not following through. What irritates me is when a band books a club and expects the club to do all the work, and they just come in and play.