Pay to play has been an LA staple for decades. Back in '72 I accompanied an acquaintance (who managed a friend's band) to Gazzarri's once to drop off the “Pay” to the booker at Gazzarri's . It wasn't cash for tickets though. It was a more nefarious substance than that. Bands would kill to get onstage at Gazzarri's or the Whiskey back then. That was when the A & R people would actually go to hear shows. They were signing everybody with a pulse.

It was different at the Troub, though. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Troubadour_(Los_Angeles).

It was more open to new talent and musician-friendly.



As for Mr. Looper, my favorite comment was this:


“music, for those that dont know, is hard. very hard. this, this is a born gift gift of music! “