While living in tennesee – I spent a good portion of my teenage years working on a computer into the wee hours of the morning, and during my breaks to either rest my brain or think more I had the privledge of listening to my next door neighbor wail on the drums. He was and still is one of the most amazing drummers I have ever heard. Richard and I would often not talk for weeks even though he was next door – but when we did, I would hear stories about ‘getting gigs’ and shows they had played.

One thing he talked with me about was similar bands in differing areas helping one another get a show at a venue that was ***understanding*** of their music. There were lots of venues to be played everywhere for an up and coming band, but getting on the roster was difficult, and it was hard to know whether all your time was going to pay off. Would the right crowd be there for your style, was there a good turnout on the night you got booked for, how are proceeds from the door split, and what was the sound system like (should you bring your own?).

In one method of finding a place to play – bands or their reps would search for ‘tba’ and a location, producing results for venues that had booked the headliner but had not yet found the opening act or the sideshow.

If there were a central location for band members to rate and review gig spaces they had played as well as a method of swapping these locations out for one another, there would be a app opportunity here.

Imagine a site that allowed band members to essesntially become remote managers for one another. Where bands from one area could help bands from another area get gigs at cool places with responsive crowds and on good nights.
Now I am thinking about the systrm here and I am not sure that enforcing a trade system would be best, mainly because I just read an article about craig from craigslist and how he sees things. His philosophy: provide the means of communication and the people who meet there will work out the details amongst themselves.

I am not even sure of the medium of exchange – some may help others for the clout (or the dap as I referred to it in school), others may do it for the return favor and yet others may do it for money. Whatever the chosen medium of exchange I sure as hell don’t want the site to be a hindrance to the ends of helping local bands go on national tours. This brings new talent to a new area and exposes local bands to new fans. This removes the need for high priced managers and representatives – which in my mind is the only reason left for the huge record labels.

In this ecosystem, bands would need profiles and pics and samples (import or link to myspace?), a rating system to rate the remote reps (linked in style of network with recommendations written – had to asked for by the user, should be suggested after a gig date by the system to the band that was booked), and the service/introduction, and a rating system of the venue that also takes genre into account (47 punk bands said boo, 35 pop rock bands gave a standing ovation)

All thoughts appreciated – especially if you rock. Currie, I am lookin at you.