SORRY
So I received a nightmare e-mail last night. The girl who mailed went to The Basement Club in Middlesbrough on Saturday night after seeing posters advertising myself as DJing at the all new Filthy Gorgeous club night there. Her friends came down from Newcastle and paid 8 pounds a ticket to come and see me. When they got there this is what happened to the girl in question..
'I thought that it was a bit dodgy when on the night in question we all piled in the club at 11.15pm and noticed that those without tickets were only being charged a fiver to get in (the usual door price). Over the next three hours my friends and i were given different stories as to why you weren't there yet and what time you would be coming on. Eventually, at 2am we collared the manager and were told that you had just phoned from Manchester airport and that he told you 'not to bother showing up'. He made out that you had messed them all around and refused to give us any money back there and then saying that if we called into a certain bar at a specific time the following week with our stubs we could get the £3 difference back.'
I was appalled when I read this and after some investigation, the promoter in question was sent an e-mail saying that I would not be able to play his club night on March 14th as I would be at Coachella festival. Before this, there was nothing confirmed. I had never said yes to doing it in the first place, he had simply asked my agent whether I was available and was told no. He then consciously printed up flyers and posters which lead the above girl and hundreds of others into thinking I was playing. When pressures as to where I was he lied through his teeth saying that I was at manchester airport?!?!?! and I was late.
It really scares me that this kind of stuff happens. I've never not showed up and never been even 5 minutes late for a gig. We've written to the promoter and asked him to find a way to let everyone that went to the club know the truth. I'm so sorry to anyone who went to The Basement Club on Saturday night.....
That kind of thing happens far too much in clubland. It gives GOOD promoters a bad name and is not what the scene is supposed to be about.
I'm glad this blog has allowed the right to reply. It should be the promoter apologising, not Annie!
Complain about this postI'll second David's comment here - absolutely no need for you to apologise Annie, fight back! Promoters get away with this type of thing far too often, artists should have more power to stop it - but naming and shaming on the blog is good enough!
Complain about this postMan that sucks, I can't believe promoters are still doing this. Props to you tracking do the guy and trying to set the record straight but I'm with the rest of the people commenting here you really should not have to apologise, it's not your fault someone was using your name to make a fast buck.
It reminds me of a time I paid to see Andy Smith of Portishead and was presented with some dude in a portishead tee-shirt playing the album. I think the promoter was possibly hoping we were all blind, deaf and daft.
Anyway keep up the good fight, you are a legend Annie Mac.
Complain about this postWe were at the club this night, and the exact same thing happened to us. There was rumours flying all over the place that this was going to happen.
Middlesbrough's got a wicked name for itself clubbing wise, at the right venues (Empire, Cornerhouse, Tall Trees) but this was just a downright lie to get a few quid off people.
And it's not your fault Annie!
Complain about this postThanks Pete..have just read all the chat on the empire chatroom... am so glad you all know the truth!
i'm going to write a letter to Mixmag this week about it.
I think it's really important that I shout about this as much as possible.
In the meantime can anyone reccomend a good place for me to play in Middlesborough that's not The Basement club?
Complain about this postHi Anne
Complain about this postheard about what happened and would love for you to come and play at our club, THe Middlesbrough Empire.
Pete, Jules, Fergie and just about everyone else has played here. Will drop your management a line to see if we can make it happen