So I went as a performer Undercover!

Ok, I had the worst experience in my professional life last night!

I decided to perform and support a local event.

Singers Lounge happens once a month at River City Blues located at 819 South Cameron Street in Harrisburg. ( River City Blues Is A Great Venue By the Way!) The promoters say they're event is an "Artist Showcase". But they are also an Open Mic. But we have to sign up, so they can make there roster in advance, which they hold rehearsals for and create a set list for?? A set list that is also rigid and inflexible at this "Open Mic". Wait it gets better.......

This is not an open mic! 

So they send an email that says to be there by 6:45, BUT ALL ARTISTS WILL NOT BE AFFORDED A SOUND CHECK  because it's an open mic. So I am like ok, I'll just go and get there before the show starts. I am really not down with sitting around for an hour for no reason at all. If there was a sound check ok. But if not.....
So, I check in by phone and let them know I am coming. They said ok. I showed up a half hour after I called. 

Mind you, my email also said the only person that gets to come in for free is the artist! NO PLUS ONE! I brought my man anyway! I always bring him he is my support when I have to get on stage. Thank God the door guy let us in, I was not about to pay them to sing.

I get in there. They had me on the "SET LIST" for there show, I mean open mic. However they didn't even KNOW WHO I AM! They didn't know me at all they claimed. But I know who they are. Funny. They are all face-book friends most of them following me and not the other way around. But so what? 

"Who are you now?" Oh yeah your on the list. Of this show, we produced and rehearsed for....

 HUH?

Ok. Where do we sit? THEY DO NOT HAVE SEATS RESERVED FOR ARTISTS!

I CANT EVEN SEE THE SHOW,

I'M HERE TO PERFORM FOR FREE AT!

They didn't even feel that necessary!? The reason. "You did not come at 6:45!" Oh so I would have to come an hour early to see the show and have a seat. Got it. Not happy but I take the L. 

OK? So my guy finds me a seat. We open a tab, and we end up spending $112, between me, him and my friend! I have paid to be here. Ok. So some lady is drunk and starts hating on me, why? Upon entering I meet a woman  who is in charge and we are standing by the lady's table. I have asked the woman in charge if I can go on early. I should not be the feature right? This is an open mic right?  So going on early should be cool. My driver has to be at work by 8:30, but we still want to support. They start tripping about the set list. At the open mic?

 It takes me a minute to calm down while I am TAKING ALL THIS IN. I say OK.... AGAIN!

Why? I am obviously one of the features last 3 of 13 artists!  They are still arguing with me. I had to say, "Ok Ladies, I have already agreed" They say "Well You know You Don't have to sing. You can come back next month" I can cancel but I cont go on stage in a different order then what they have on the set list. I am here just to check things out and I had almost canceled, but I had already said something to a few people so, I say " I have fans here so I am going to sing for them." Mind you I am not an artist but a Music Career consultant. I don't need to grow my fan base I am well known. This is not helping me in any way and I am very confused at all the contradictions. Still even if there is just a few people there for me, it is my job to sing.  They say ok.

Oh So the Lady at the table! ALMOST FORGOT!

When does the lady at my table start tripping? An hour later! Why because I am having a conversation with her aunt, who happens to be sitting in front of me. What am I saying! "Sorry girl" Why? I was so exited with the performance of Erykah Badu's "On and on". I was loud. She didn't say anything to me, but I felt I should say sorry! So I did. She said "Oh no problem, ok. The lady at my table? " She better stop f@c%ing with my auntie" Me, "Oh No! It's not like that. I gotta big heart I was just apologizing no issue." The auntie and I? We are laughing every things cool.  The Lady say to me "CUT IT" My response, LOL... "OK. I see that I am offending you I am sorry." I remove MYSELF from the table. WHERE TO? The middle of the room. Mind you I started in the back of some tall chairs on the side of the room; here people where passing by me often those people being the creators of the show. When they were not passing by my face was in the behinds of other people sitting in bar stool. Yes I am face to people butts.

 Yes! I was sitting in a small chair behind bar stools, face in peoples behinds! 

At this point I feel like I have dropped into a high school click about to swoop me! I have never seen this kind of smirking and happiness about something terrible since high-school! It is cute and funny that I am in this position.

Long story shorter.  This is not a place to come for support or to support, this is a click that has come up with a way to recruit the best voices in the city, and use them to make money. It looks great from the standpoint of the audience! But I bet they don't know how the artists are being treated that they are coming to see? I bet most artist don't even know that they deserve to be treated better. Because they have been sold the "Open Mic Thing"  

I am so upset I'm in tears. 

I am a pretty strong women, people know this about me. It take a LOT to put me to tears. But this was very reminiscent to me of a childhood nightmare! 

I am crying the kind of tears you cry when you have to be professional but you really want to punch someone in the face! But you know you are being treated unfairly and really your hands are tied. YOU ARE JUST SO MAD AND HURT YOU WANT TO FIGHT BUT YOU KNOW IT WOULD GIVE THESE PEOPLE AMMO! 

So what happens. The person in charge comes to the bathroom, but not to make sure I'm cool. To make sure I am still singing!!!! Then while I'm in there MINDING MY BUSINESS IN THE WOMANS BATHROOM!!! The other chick who was having a little attitude because I wanted to leave with my driver. COMES IN THE BATHROOM TOO. To get me straight! ABOUT WHAT? ( SWOOP? ) I ignore this since I am in the bathroom and I really just want to gather myself. I make peace! The two women are about to exit the bathroom. THEN?.........

A MAN! Yes A MAN COMES INTO THE WOMENS BATHROOM!

WHY? The woman at the table, remember her? She has gone to another part of her click and told him that... I AM "F@u!ing WITH HER!" NO....... Really. This is how it really happened. I have many witnesses. Who is the guy? The manager? NO! The security? NO! A man baring a chair and an apology? Of course not! He is some guy who got off stage to come into the WOMANS BATHROOM TO BULLY ME! ( SWOOP!)

Don't believe a group of people can treat someone who came to support this way? ASK Josh Ari Selvey which was embarrassed that he brought me there to be treated like that and went to the venues manager. I still do not have a simple seat. But I now know I am 3rd to last in a 13 artist roster. So I make a way to be there that long. The man that came in the bathroom was alerted after Josh asked the woman at the table what happened? But according to these people they are not a click. However one of the people who came to bully my face-book page says He is the brother of the one who is putting on the SHOW! 

WHEN I TELL YOU THIS! TAKE IT THE WAY IT IS! UNLESS YOU GET NOTICE THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED THE WAY THEY GREET VISITING ARTISTS; IF YOU ARE NOT IN THIS CLICK DO NOT GO SING AT THIS EVENT! You will be treated like a no-body, because to them

if you are not in their circle or if you do not have the kind of fan base they respect, they don't care who you are, how talented you are, or why you came.

They will conduct themselves as though THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR! If you are a FAN of a person SINGING! NOTE: YOUR MONEY IS NOT EVEN BUYING THE ARTIST YOU ARE COMING TO SEE  anything, NOT EVEN A SEAT! Want proof of this groups attitude and leadership https://www.facebook.com/TheNewMovementMusic/posts/704114796394850 You will note no #TNM artists or employees said much publicly. Especially noting unprofessional. But look at the comments. Amazing. 

If you are an artist and you are on a persons roster, they have added you to a set list and used your name even once to promote the event.... If you are to be there at a specific time and people are paying to come to see you, even if its no one but your friends and family!

You should be greeted warmly and you should at the very lest have a place to be seated. ANYONE who tells you differently IS CHEATING YOU OUT OF SOMETHING YOU DESERVE!

Even if you are just an up and coming. An open mic is an open mic. If it's not an open mic, pay attention to how many people are being packed in and what the intention is and what the promoter is willing to do just to get more people in. Make sure you are working with ethical people who really want you to at the lest have a good time, feel comfortable and be happy. People who are about you as well as their show. Have fun doing things for free! Don't get bullied.   www.LadyRayne.com  Join #TNM artist support and protection let us em out before you do business with them! #love2U  REQUEST TO APPLY NOW!