Rock Musicians Picket Over ‘Pay for Play’
Several dozen rock and roll musicians protesting a so-called “pay to play” policy marched outside Sunset Strip clubs Friday night, trying to end a practice they say forces rock and roll bands to pay to perform, and to sell tickets to their own shows.
Showing up first at the Whiskey a Go Go, and then moving on to the Roxy and Gazzari’s on the Strip, about 30 musicians--their personal styles ranging from Mohawk cuts to long hair and button-down types--indicated they were not out to close the clubs, but to end a trend they say gives work to bands not according to talent, but their ability to sell tickets.
According to Mark Mason of Rockers Against Pay to Play (RAPP), promoters charge some bands from $500 to $1,800 a night to perform, and require them to pre-sell tickets, claiming the bands can make their money from the tickets they sell.
Mason also accused some promoters of confiscating band equipment when musicians fail to sell their assigned numbers of tickets.
A manager at the Whiskey said he was told the club would have no comment. No one at Gazzari’s returned a reporter’s telephone call.
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