Never play at The Metal Shaker in Chicago.

Played there last night, and everything about it was awful. Shitty neighborhood, shitty promoter, just plain shitty.

More details.

There was roughly 40 kids there, charging 8 at the door. I asked him if we were getting paid, and he said he's only paying the touring bands, and I said well we just drove 5 hours to get here. And he tried telling me he wasn't going to pay us because we didn't show up at exactly 5:30pm, but the show didn't start until 6:30, which is when we arrived, and we were also playing 3rd. So us showing up the time the show started rather then doors had absolutely nothing to do with it. So he looked me straight in the eye took a drink of his beer and turned his back and walked away.

This guy was a total dick regardless of not paying us. He offered to help me with my equipment and picked it up and literally started pulling me. I told him it wasn't a race and he gave me the dirtiest look and followed with, "I need to get shit moving." He also threw our merch under the pool table, for no reason. I was beyond annoyed.

you gotta show up when doors are when you're in a small band, man.

Yeah right guys that show ruled last night. Best show we've played so far.

Dude was a fucking idiot from the second anyone walked in the place.

jaybird wrote:you gotta show up when doors are when you're in a small band, man.

That's understandable, but when you are stuck in traffic for more then an hour, and left an hour in advance to get to the show, and you are talking to the booker who is telling you everything is fine done worry about it you guys aren't playing til 3rd anyway. Then I don't want it to try to be shoved back in my face.

jaybird wrote:you gotta show up when doors are when you're in a small band, man.

It wasn't only that, man. The kids were a fucking bummer, and the opening bands blew. The second band sounded like a really, really bad version of Shattered Realm.

mike jurysta wrote:

jaybird wrote:you gotta show up when doors are when you're in a small band, man.

It wasn't only that, man. The kids were a fucking bummer, and the opening bands blew. The second band sounded like a really, really bad version of Shattered Realm.

I disagree with this. Just the dude that ran the venue was a total dick.

wasn't that one band iceberg on that show? if so, mannn they're baddddd.

ericlauder wrote:

mike jurysta wrote:

jaybird wrote:you gotta show up when doors are when you're in a small band, man.

It wasn't only that, man. The kids were a fucking bummer, and the opening bands blew. The second band sounded like a really, really bad version of Shattered Realm.

I disagree with this. Just the dude that ran the venue was a total dick.

You disagree with everything. It's getting redundant to say you disagree.

Even though dealing with money and shit sucks, my advice is make sure you're getting at least gas money before booking a show in Chicago, especially these days...It seems like shitty bars/shitty kids who think they run "booking agencies" are one in the same.

mike jurysta wrote:

ericlauder wrote:

mike jurysta wrote:

jaybird wrote:you gotta show up when doors are when you're in a small band, man.

It wasn't only that, man. The kids were a fucking bummer, and the opening bands blew. The second band sounded like a really, really bad version of Shattered Realm.

I disagree with this. Just the dude that ran the venue was a total dick.

You disagree with everything. It's getting redundant to say you disagree.

Well I personally think that the dude form Iceberg giving us 10 dollars out of his own pocket was totally fucking rad, but hey if you want to say his band sucked and the kids suck go ahead. I just don't agree with it.

chrismojan wrote:Even though dealing with money and shit sucks, my advice is make sure you're getting at least gas money before booking a show in Chicago, especially these days...It seems like shitty bars/shitty kids who think they run "booking agencies" are one in the same.

Yeah totally, but I don't want to be that annoying band that has a "guarantee" especially since we aren't big enough to be wanting money before we play. But I do think its common courtesy if you invite a band to come play a show from 2 states away to at least throw them something.

mike j explained this to me at the show last night. shitty.

ericlauder wrote:

chrismojan wrote:Even though dealing with money and shit sucks, my advice is make sure you're getting at least gas money before booking a show in Chicago, especially these days...It seems like shitty bars/shitty kids who think they run "booking agencies" are one in the same.

Yeah totally, but I don't want to be that annoying band that has a "guarantee" especially since we aren't big enough to be wanting money before we play. But I do think its common courtesy if you invite a band to come play a show from 2 states away to at least throw them something.

It's not as much of a guarantee as it is an agreement i'd say, well when dealing with people like that. Any person that has experience booking shows and knows a little about anything at all will know that its absolutely necessary to give a band whatever you can, at least gas. When dealing with bars who don't care where you're from or who you are it's different