That said -- *MANY* artists have asked me (the sound guy & booking agent) to apologize for them to the other act[s] because they had to leave early or come late because of XYZ.
Where XYZ can range from a day job to travel/lodging arrangements to, well, all sorts of crazy things.
And, of course, I probably forget a lot of times to tell the other band, by the time they're off the stage or arrive on the day of the gig, or...
The thing is, if another act isn't watching you, you can do one of two things: Assume they are jerks, and don't watch them either. Assume they have a valid logical reason, and watch them, at least for a little while.
If nothing else, watching another act, even if they're not what you like, should teach you *SOMETHING* useful. If it doesn't, you weren't listening/watching closely enough. :-)
Ya gotta figure that what goes around, comes around, and if a band consistently doesn't bother to stick around or come early for other acts, well, they'll get what they deserve in the long run.
Oh yeah: If I have to choose between your "support" of sitting in the same room, talking loudly with your friends/bandmates/fans/family/whatever, and you just *leaving*, I'll take the empty room, please! It is *NOT* "support" to "be there" but ignore the other artist. Just plain rude.
Sure, booking agents take note of who's professional enough to give reasonable consideration to other artists. But I've also heard bands/managers say things like "Oh, they didn't stick around, that's how you don't get booked by other bands on their bills."
While this is true to some extent, there is also the fact that sometimes the bands bitchin' the most are, well, not that good, and/or have no draw, and the ones not sticking around or coming early are in no danger of not getting booked repeatedly.
Not saying it's fair, but that's how it is. Booking agents have to balance quality+draw to fill the venue and provide entertainment that will get people there and bring them back.
Some Tips: If you're playing a show in a NEW (to you) venue or with artists you don't know already, invest a half-hour a few weeks before the gig to listen to their material on-line, drop them an email and praise whatever you found worthy in it (or tell them how cool their head-shot is, if all else fails). Send them *your* URL and tell them where they can hear *YOU* for free fast & easy.
Talk them up to your fans, if they don't suck, or even if they do "suck" talk them up to anybody you know who you think will like them -- Somebody out there probably will appreciate they're "art" no matter how bad *you* think it is. Look at Britney. :-) Focus on what's good about them, and tout that to your fans.
Do as much as you can to build audience for their set, and let them know you're workin' it for them as well as for yourself.
Maybe even suggest splitting the cost/work of getting bigger/better/more posters and postcards.
If you are already giving away CDs in the first place, ask them if they'd like a handful to give to their BEST fans.
If they're touring and you're local, email them and ask them if they've got a place to stay, if they want to get together the day before/after for drinks/dinner at your fave place, or for a home-cooked meal at your place -- anybody who's lived on road-food for more than a week knows how *NICE* that can be!
Ask if they wanna hit the tourist traps, if they wanna go shopping/thrifting/bowling (or whatever) with you. Obviously tailor it to what you think they might like, and what you'll like too.
The point is to get some strong cross-pollination going *BEFORE* the show, and the sooner the better -- This will set the tone for what YOU want from them.
Somebody's got to make the first move. Or do you wanna be like grade-school kids at a dance, all lined up on opposite walls just staring at each other for the first hour?
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