Memoirs of a Door Girl
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Music
Have you met me? I am the ever positive, smiling face that greets you the minute you show up to a venue to see a music show. I speak to every person who enters the bar that night, touch every hand that passes through the doorway and am the beginning of your adventure for the night...
For almost 2 years now I have been working with some local music promoters trying our HARDEST to make something of the fledgling music scene here in Vegas. If you have been to The Bunkhouse, The Beauty Bar, The Aruba, The Paradise Lounge, or The Brass Lounge you have met me and spoken to me, but probably have no memory of me whatsoever.
Throughout this journey as the "Door Girl" I have come across several behaviors that MUST be stopped by you, my darling live music patrons. It boggles my mind how ridiculously hard some of you will work to not pay a mediocre cover charge.
I've met people who will say they are in band that is in the lineup playing so they can get in for free. Like I will somehow not notice that you never end up on stage? I've met people who will sit at the door for up to an hour calling everyone in their cell phone to see if they know someone on the inside you can get them past me and into the show. I've met people who are "just running in really quick to talk to a friend" and are never seen again. I've met people who "know the bartender", "used to work here", "the manager asked them to come down", "have booked a show at this bar before", or my personal favorite: "You're really gonna charge me, ME! Don't you know who I am?"
A few words to all of you before you put on your best pair of Converse and head out for the night.... Don't be a douche! You are going to all the trouble of making yourself as attractive as possible, buying gum on the way so your breath doesn't smell, making sure you have enough money for at least a 4 cocktail buzz all because there is a band you want to see play and friends you want to hang out with and you think the experience isn't worth 5 to 10 bucks?
You'll drop 23 bucks without even blinking for a show at HOB that is over crowded and has terrible sound but won't pay to go to a real show where you can be three feet from the band and hang out with them and drink and get to know them afterwards?
Being a traveling unsigned musician is a thankless job. They drive hundreds of miles just to come to a place where they are strangers to stand in front of you and drop their guts on the stage for 45 minutes and you think its fair to stiff these talented people who bust their ass for you?
Please, I am begging you as someone who has heard and seen it all. I know that you are all good people and we are all leaving our homes to head out for the same reason - we love music! We love running into a friend we haven't seen in months! We believe in the power that an amazing live show has over us! We love the buzz of energy that leaves the venue with us at the end of the night and makes us tell everyone the next day "Man, you really should have been at that show!"
And a special note to my local band members, I love you guys most of all! You know how hard it is to do this, why do you think you shouldn't pay for a show? People pay to see you play, you should never bitch about paying!
Next time you get to my door, put on a smile to match mine, trade witty and oh so clever remarks with me and put the money on the table. Just think, you may be buying Dusty Rhodes cheeseburgers when they stop in Barstow on the way home with that money. You may be pumping gas with 400 Blows on the outskirts of town with that money. You may be snuggling in a cheap motel bed with Leopold and his Fiction with that money.
Be good to your musicians, they do this for hardly any money as it is for YOU! To give you the time of your life. To make you feel something.
I have seen you on your way out of the bars, happy, laughing, maybe swaying a bit. Most of you are arm in arm carrying a CD or a T-Shirt you just bought. Asking me when they are coming back again. Don't tell me that isn't worth 10 bucks...
Peace, Love and a stamp on the back of the hand,
Jessica