i was talking about the ambition and naivety of the people putting this together. all i have to go by is the kickstarter page, which doesn't list any bands.

yeah, these bands representing columbus might suck, BUT, will there be shittier bands in official showcases? i guarantee you that there will be.

After 10 minutes of googling, I finally found the confirmed list of bands playing this thing: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_i ... 0339718243

And as of this morning, they've met their goal. Still haven't built their website, but they got their paid holiday.

No -- is the answer to your question.

I'd speculate that Phantods are on some kind of "official" showcase, cuz they kinda sound like No Doubt.

That is by no means columbus.

oh that's right... do you even know how SXSW submissions even get made? lolol. wow. So, SXSW submissions are made through sonicbids, an organization that has already gotten a lot of flack for essentially being a pay to play site - even worse - taking money from people who enter submissions that never even get heard. They support sonicbids by making them their sole submission format, even when they know that sonicbids rips people off. Even here, most of the selection is done through looking at the band's draw - because they run it as a business. They'd pick Brittany Spears if she entered b/c she'd bring in the numbers. you think they actually care what the band sounds like?

... and you're complaining about the ethics of a situation where everyone seems to be consenting to whats going on, instead of the above. btw, what kind of qualifications do you have that give you the ability to make judgments about how bad these bands are? or are you just another guy with an opinion.

btw, you know who likes to feign moral outrage in the guise of actually more obnoxious motives? This guy:

http://images.politico.com/global/news/ ... um_328.jpg

This isn't about morals. I mean really, it's just rock and roll.

But again, if you're music is any good, you shouldn't have to pay to play.

The dudes that put together the showcase usually take care of the fees (or find ways around them). The idea is that more people find out about the organization that put on the showcase by having bands that fit their aesthetic bring in the people that the organization is gunning for. I'm sure there is a more eloquent way to put that last sentence but I don't give a shit.

so haters, what bands do you think are better representations of columbus?

i checked out a couple of the bands on the list and they have talent. they might not be your style, but to say they suck is just mean.

i'm pretty sure to be in an official sxsw showcase those bands that submitted had to pay an entry fee, so the idea that if you're good enough then you shouldn't have to "pay to play" is moot.

i'm not sure that this has been brought up; i haven't read this thread th whole way thru. but if it has, it could do to be mentioned again, and if it hasn't, no problem.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS NOT PUT THE WORD COLUMBUS IN ANYTHING.

that's all. nothing represents columbus. any wise person outside col's will know this; any straight-thinking person here will as well. but making that mistake will still get you bad vibes on th internets.

Could someone who's been to sxsw and knows how this all works please clarify? My impression is that an official sxsw showcase is sponsored by somebody...like a record label or a radio station or something. And I'd assume that the bands are asked to play, don't have to pay to play, but do have to get down there under their own power.

I'll just repeat what a lot of other folks on this thread have already said. To call yourself "We Are Columbus" is presumptuous at best. To expect other people to pay your way to a gig is ridiculous, but I guess 77 people disagree with me on that point. It's got nothing to do with hating or not hating bands.

but the idea that you would go to some other city that has a huge conference and play an unsanctioned loser showcase under a big col's banner is not gonna make a lot of col's people joyful.

This is correct.

Why, are you out of ideas for documentaries again?

Yes. Also a band can have no affiliation, pay the application fee (which I think isnt much), and still get selected.... Being on a label or buddies with a radio station is a nice boost to getting in but isn't mandatory.

And if a band is selected for official SXSW, they either get paid or are offered badges/wristbands to get into the entire festival, it's their choice.

Jesus, dude. Really? Is this a joke? I hope so. It's still not funny if it is a joke, but I hope it's a joke.

They should call it "We Are From Columbus But We Don't Really Represent The Entire Scene Like We're Implying And We Had To Have Other People Pay For Our Shit".

Also, Portlandia sucks. 'Annoying and 'funny' are two different things. I would happily trade the lives of one million Fred Armisens to allow Phil Hartman to return to Earth for just one more day.

BUT HEY... I'M JUST ANOTHER GUY WITH AN OPINION

This^
Then they might actually get some notice at their "showcase".

Also this^ is the greatest thing ever.
I'll get the Kickstarter campaign going.

yes
yes
yes

also they are still asking for money

yes

There are evidently 13 bands playing together.
At an average of 4 per band that would be 52 people.
They asked for $5 grand already.
$5 grand between 52 people is $96 each.
We are Columbus.
We can't save/earn $100 over the course of a year on our own.
Now give us money.

With regard to last year's showcase:


Three of the bands who did this thing last year are doing it again. How many times do they have to throw this party before they get signed?

You're forgetting about the $250 each band had to pay to get a slot during this "showcase." So that's about $8000 the organizers have in hand -- renting the bar is at least 10 grand. I'm sure there's a itemized list of other expenses the organizers are using this money to fund -- making those awesome posters, calling those "representatives" to convince them this is better than going to a "real" showcase to see some "good" bands, putting on the "benefit" show at Ace of Cups, transportation, keeping all of that Jeni's Ice Cream from melting on the way down. I think the big winner on this night will be Queen City Cayenne.

Smells like Wonderland to me. Where's the transparency? I have a feeling the Other Other Paper is looking into this.

I had faith Chris Deville would do some serious journalism and investigative reporting on this -- instead he pats them on the back.

http://www.columbusalive.com/content/st ... wcase.html