Just another sunset in Orange County

P1000382, originally uploaded by alan oakes.

This is why I love living here. I head out to Disneyland about once a week and just walk around. I get to take pictures like this and enjoy the day.

Some Lost Words

Like static from a makeshift radio, we cover it up with noise.
These cold ideas are breaking me up.
It took this long with my wrists held out to hear the sounds
Of bottles breaking, Hearts faking, making the rounds to keep me from shattering
Into a million pieces.
In the winter air I find myself walking the streets
And scripting reasons in the snow, why I came.
My spirit heated to the point of intoxication
Of the coming day while watching the Landscape shift as is moves in waves.

Lets be the first ones to the top and I'll race you down.
Show me where to hide my dreams amongst the trees and repeated themes
Of white and green.
I'll make it home again soon enough so there's no rush.
Let me stay here for now.
Shall I be consumed with ideals like thoughts
Of winter flings and Hearts of Gold
Among the nameless faces.
Close my eyes and look up to kiss the frozen skies.
I've waited too long for this...

The Horseshoe

P1000055, originally uploaded by alan oakes.

When I'm in Vegas, most of my friends want to hit up The Hard Rock, The Palms or one of the many other hot spots. For me, my favorite place to go is this place, Binion's. Maybe because it's been around for over 55 years or maybe because it's the original home of the WSOP (World Series of Poker). No nightclubs, fancy restaurants, expensive artwork, or concerts. Just a good ol' fashion gambling hall. i love any place that holds a great amount of history and walking in is like stepping back in time.

The history that lingers within these walls is staggering and the number of poker legends to have graced the tables here is just as amazing. A few years back I even caught a glimpse of one of the greatest, Doyle Brunson and that was one time I really wished I had my camera on me.

You know what's really disappointing? Of all the times I've been there and the many hours I've spent playing black jack and craps at this casino, I've never actually sat down at a poker table. I've played cards at other casino's but not this one (the one with the most history and prestige) I couldn't tell you why either. Can't really call yourself a card player until you've sat down at a table at the Horseshoe. Not to worry though, it's on my "Bucket List"

No Such Thing As Bad Publicity

Not everyone is going to like the record, that's obvious. I don't let things like bad reviews or drunk hecklers get me down. I find them all amusing and entertaining. I try also not to pay attention to any stats of any kind (website hits, subscriptions, show attendance, records sales) for the main reason that it can deter from the creative process. Yet, I sometimes find myself checking from time to time. Album reviews are the worst. No matter how much it shouldn't or doesn't matter, I can't help but look. The review posted here isn't horrifying by any means. It's a review printed almost a year ago in AP Magazine which is a good sized publication. The author was most likely an intern with a stack of cd's to the ceiling and only a week to go through them all. For me, it doesn't change what I do or how I do it. Even if it was printed on the cover of Rolling Stone I couldn't care less. Getting ink, good or bad, is an accomplishment. Hell, only in pop culture can you be a total fucking disaster and still be popular. The number of people that hate you is just as important as the number of people that love you. Anyways, I was going through my scrapbook and came across this. Thought I'd share it with you. It's good times all around.

What do you mean I have to pay you to play?

I have been playing music for over 10 years in numerous bands all over the States and even in Europe. When I first form a band, the agenda is quite simple: write some songs, get some gigs and get some fans. It's not easy creating something from nothing and when every band first starts out, they don't have a lot money (if any) to pump into the venture. Every band needs a little support getting things off the ground and until recently, the biggest supporters of up-and-coming music where the local all ages venues. If you know or have ever known someone in a band, I'm sure you've been hit up by that person asking you to buy a ticket to his/her shows. The first couple times this happens you oblige, purchase a ticket and maybe even attend the show. After a few months of buying tickets and going to the shows you find yourself coming up with excuses why you can't go. I'm not sure to what extent this mentality of charging young bands to play their venues reaches in other states but it has become very prominent in Orange and LA County.

Now, the clubs don't just come out and charge every band for a slot on their stage. There has to be somewhat of an incentive for the bands to even participate in this scam or they would quickly find their clubs empty six nights a week with the exception of the occasional touring act with a decent fan base.  What happens is the band is given a pre-determined amount of tickets to sell to their friends/fans. It can be anywhere from 50 to 200 tickets given to one band. The incentive for the band is they can charge any amount for the tickets as long as the venue gets their share (which is usually $10), but who actually charges their friends $15 for a $10? The venues use this to sucker every band pointing out the "great potential to make money" It's possible, i will admit, but the cons out-way this ONE AND ONLY pro.

Here's how the band gets fucked: Each band is responsible for every ticket given to them. Sold or unsold, they must pay for the ticket and this is where the term "pay to play" is coined. If you where given 100 tickets at $10 a pop, the band owes the venue $1,000. Doesn't matter if you lost the ticket either which happens a lot when band members split up the tickets amongst themselves to cover more ground. I've spent many times running to the ATM last minute cause someone lost a ticket or two. I've seen bands actually pay the venue out-of-pocket for every ticket and give them away which is the biggest waste of money. And now you can see how a venue can make $5000 on a Tues. night guaranteed. 

So what happens if a band can't pay up before the show? There are a couple forms of punishment: Worst of all, the band can be kicked off the show and they spend the entire evening standing outside the venue refunding every ticket. Venues rarely do this cause some money is better than no money. What normally happens is the band's set time gets shortened or their set time is moved. If they told all their friends to be there at 9:45 cause they perform at 10:00, you can imagine the headache if they get moved to perform at 8:00. On top can be denied the chance to ever be invited back and now there's one less place for them to play in their hometown.

Here's another con that is widely overlooked by bands when they do this: The whole purpose of playing gigs is to be seen, gain fans and build a following. When you have 5 bands on a bill, their friends are going just to see that one particular band. They show up 15 mins before they play and walk out the door as soon as they're done to congratulate them on a job well done. No ones interested in staying any longer than they have to. No matter how often or which venue a band plays, they are only being seen by the same group of people over and over. I've asked myself so many times, "We've played so many shows and still our following consists of our friends and family. Playing LA is worse for me cause my friends don't want to deal with the hour and a half traffic from Orange County just to watch my band for the eleventeenth time. They can just wait for the next show in Orange County. 

I've realized after years of this bullshit, a band just starting out is better off booking themselves at a coffee shop, youth center or even their own garage. Here they can play for free, offer free admission and instead of spending weeks trying to get rid of tickets, print flyers and actually promote the show. The venues have found a way to make a quick guaranteed buck. Can we honestly blame them? As long as there are bands willing to give money away to the venues there is no reason for the venues to stop. So, if you're in a band or thinking of starting one up, do something more productive with your time. Rebuild your local music scene no matter how underground. I mean, isn't that one of the things that made you love music in the first place? I remember at 15, watching Reel Big Fish play a free show at my library in a room far off in the corner. 50 kids in a cramped room with a cheap P.A. just having a blast and singing our hearts out. It doesn't get any better than that.