Rocking The Daisies [Part 1]

So we've been at Rocking the Daisies for one night now and already I'm feeling the familiar festival fatigue. I'm sitting in the media center listening to aKing's set on the Main Stage, writing this post purely because I promised myself I'd do something productive today. 

In the next installment I'll be doing more of a review of the festival as a whole. Also, I'll be doing a write up for Urban Edge Magazine. Check them out; very cool stuff.

FESTIVAL GROUNDS

Rocking The Daisies Festival Map

After looking at this, I'm even more amped for Rocking the Daisesthis weekend. (Lol at blogger's tent).

Who's joining?

RAMfest 2011 Press Release

RAMFEST V 

Nekkies Holiday Resort, Worcester 

4 - 6 March 2011

With Alkaline Trio (USA), Funeral for a Friend (UK), Die Antwoord, Gazelle, Zebra and Giraffe, Van Coke Kartel, Wrestlerish, Ashtray Electric, Not my Dog  and many more.

Can you hear it? Can you feel it? RAM is coming!


Do you hear that office clock ticking… it’s ticking just for you… ticking the minutes, hours, and days away till you can unleash your beast… yes friends, The RAM is finally here! So come on people, pack away your suits and books and take out your crazy party clothes (hat tricks included) and get ready to have the time of your life!

Assembly Time

Just a friendly reminder that on this coming Saturday, the 29th of January 2011 - this is happening:

50 bucks gets you in. No one gets out alive. The City Bowl Mizers are coming all the way down to the Mother City from Durban, so the least you could do is show face. Be sure to take advantage of whatever [inevitable] specials The Assembly has going on the night. Get #crunk!

To RAMfest Or Not To RAMfest...

When I first heard the line-up (both local and international acts) for this year's RAMfest V, I was surprised at their unconventional choice. Last year we had Pendulum's DJ set blast our ears (and eyes) off, and I think many people were expecting a similar international act to follow last year's. When it was announced that Alkaline Trio and Funeral For a Friend would be manning the main stage as headlining acts in 2011, many people were disappointed and - there's no other way to say this - turned off. The question is, why?

RAMfest - traditionally - has always been about showcasing alternative talent. Alternative rock and metal - to be specific. The fact that they had Pendulum headline last year doesn't necessarily mean anything has changed. I, for one, am glad they have opted for international rock acts instead of another d&b, electro, dance act. There's the Electrodome for that in any case.

Alkaline Trio

As for the local line-up, there is a noticeable absence of Lark, Fokofpolisiekar and Die Heuwels Fantasties, all of whom were previously assumed to be RAMfest trademark acts. Personally, I like the fact that they're mixing things up a little bit; way-to usher in a new generation of RAMfest trademark bands. Taking all of the above into account, I'm perhaps more excited to see some of our local acts over the international headliners. Bands like Not My Dog, The Revelators, Isochronous, Wrestlerish, Blk Jks (especially after their dismal performance opening for 30 Seconds to Mars) Stepdog and The Sleepers are sure to draw a crowd. So, below is a little poll for you to vote on. Will you be attending RAMfest V this year? Click click!

Heads Up, Venue Owners in South Africa

Hi there, I play in a band, and I have a large, ugly bone to pick with venue owners in South Africa. Before I get started, let me clarify: this isn't directed at any one venue owner in particular, but rather as a general warning to the state of the industry in SA - sparked by a number of incidents that I have heard of in the past. Okay, so lets get started.

• First things first: if you want a DJ, hire a DJ. If you want a band, hire a band. If you want both, hire both; but don't - for the love of God - hire a band and expect them to supply in-between set  ambience. That's the venue's issue. Do you hire a DJ and ask them to play in a band as well?  No. If you're confused as to the difference between a band and a DJ, then you shouldn't be running a venue in the first place. Go back to fishing.
• Don't try underpay us. We don't care if the bar didn't make enough money; that isn't our problem. The bar is yours, the band is ours. If you hire a band at a fixed rate, be prepared to pay it. If you're going to tell us afterwards that we are only getting half-pay, you are being completely unreasonable. If you tell us during our set, know that we will only play half a set.
• Following from the previous point, if you are going to undercut us at the end of the night, we'd rather have a door deal, where we get paid according to money made from entrance charges. That way, if we don't attract enough people to your venue, we don't get paid. But don't negotiate a set fee, and then tell us that there weren't enough people attending. That's not our problem.
• Yes, playing music is a passion and a hobby, but for some/most of us it's a job too. Don't act like you're doing us a favour by "letting" us play at your venue. We are like any other working professional; maybe we don't have degrees or qualifications (some of us do) to prove it, but what we do requires dedication, hard work and, possibly the most tedious job in the world: dealing with you.
• Don't hire two acoustic guitarists if you're expecting a trance party. It's Tuesday night for God's sake.
• No matter how many times you tell us I don't want to be unfair / I'm not using you guys / I'm not trying to be a bad guy, the bottom line is, if you are not upholding the initial agreement - YOU ARE BEING A BASTARD.
• Contrary to popular belief, we are not stupid. We may not be rocket scientists but we can perform basic addition, multiplication, subtraction and division. Translation: we know if you're undercutting us.
• Don't be skimp; we have expenses. We don't just evaporate out of your venue when we've finished, only to apparate back a week later, all smiles and pansies. We carry large, heavy equipment, deal with advanced electronics and are kept awake until all hours of the night in an effort to entertain YOU and YOUR guests.

To the bands out there. Don't be fools. Use a contract. A simple booking agreement contract will prevent these things from ever happening to you. Without one, you will be left enraged, powerless... and broke. If you want a booking agreement template and don't know where to find one, you can download the template I use here. Go well, and thanks for listening.