Top 6 Whiniest Responses to Concert Announcements
Yes, it's a whine list. It seems you can't do anything these days without someone taking exception.
It's easy to let it roll off our backs because we see the hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of fans enjoying themselves at the rock shows. The bummer thing is knowing that these whiners get their kicks with the possibility of ruining someone else's good time.
While we do what we can to please everyone we can, we know we can't please everyone. The fact that a concert doesn't suit you means about as much to us as whether your breakfast suited you or not. As long as a show sells enough tickets to pay the bills, it's a worthwhile event for our listeners.
And while we try to please everyone we can, it's apparent that whiners are going to whine about something no matter who comes to town.
With all this in mind, I have for you the top six concert whines we hear after announcing a local show. I present this so that you'll know the reasons why some of these concerns aren't addressed when stated on social media.
- 1
"Oh, I Was Hoping It Was Going to Be [Insert Another Band's Name]"
Well, sorry you anticipated something different, but we really can't be held responsible for who you hoped it would be.
We do always keep our listeners' hopes and requests in mind, but the promoter is at the mercy of so much -- from routing, to fees and more -- that we can't always get your favorite band into town. Every once in a while, you're going to have to travel. Even if you lived in DFW, sometimes bands choose not to play there. Traveling to see your favorite band should just be a given.
- 2
"They've Already Been Here"
Yep, that's how touring works. Bands establish a touring route and tour that area over and over building a fan base. Some people don't like the repetition, but the true fans love it. Bands from Iron Maiden to Nickelback have included Lubbock in their southwest route, and we're pretty proud to have been a part of it. We only wish that we were STILL on their routes.
- 3
"Why Can't This Show Be on a [Insert Whatever Day the Complainer Is Off Work]?"
Bands have to tour all week long. Sometimes you get a weekend and sometimes you don't. Sometimes you get a show on a Tuesday because that's the only was the show would have made sense economically and other times it was because that's the day the band was passing through on their way to somewhere else.
- 4
"Why Don't You Bring _______ Instead?"
Most times this particular whine is put out there, it's for a band that can't draw flies. The other part of that equation is: Why not ask the band that? Ask them why they didn't route through Lubbock or commit to more U.S. tour dates.
I don't want to name names, but we lost a couple of up-and-comers recently simply because the band didn't want to play over x amount of tour dates.
- 5
"I Don't Like the Place Where They Are Having That Show"
We do not have the best facilities in town. Some of have seen better days, others are too smoky and some have committed some kind of atrocious behavior in the mind of the concertgoer.
When we do get a show in a really nice venue (like the United Supermarkets Arena), the restrictions put on the concertgoer seem to be too much. (Plus, it sounds like a place for basketball and not concerts.)
It's just proof that no matter how dirty, how clean, how inexpensive or how expensive, people are going to complain no matter what.
- 6
"The Cost of Beer Is Too Damn High"
First, the cost of beverages for most Lubbock venues is less than half of what you'd pay in a larger city. Grow up and act like you've been somewhere and understand simple economics. Beer (and food) is high priced at concerts for the same reason snacks are high priced at the movie theater.
No one is looking to blackmail you because they have you 'trapped;' those high costs go to pay the bills. Simple enough.
- BONUS
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