We found a MUCH better service that doesn’t have the BS, doesn’t look like a cartoon, understands the struggling musician and works FOR us, and has customer service reps online up to 20 hours a day, seven days a week. Even on holidays!

http://www.powerpresskits.com

myPPK Power Press Kits. NO per-use fees, no pay-to-play. Graphic themes are great and you can make your own theme for cheap. We STRONGLY recommend everyone who has been scammed by soncibids check out Power Press Kits.

The chances of actually getting an “opportunity” are slim, but the disturbing thing to me is that some of these promoters never even respond after taking your money. You click on the “Apply For Opportunity” button, and your money goes away, and Sonicbids is the middleman for this scheme. Think of it as a big swap meet we’ll call Sonicbids, and it’s full of booths of thieves and shady characters.

In trying to follow up with some of these absentee “promoters” and their “opportunities”, I was surprised to find websites with no contact info.

When I got in touch with Sonicbids about that, I got this kind of “Oh we don’t like that response”, but their in the business of bringing the wolves to the sheep.

If you just want to post an EPK then fine, but what’s wrong with your website and Myspace page? If you’re looking for gigs or opportunities, RUN THE OTHER WAY!! THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THE “TAKING YOUR MONEY BUSINESS”!

And dig this, cancel your subscription (and you get no warning of their auto-renewal) and they don’t prorate or refund the balance, and you forfeit your submission fund balance,

I can’t believe the FTC hasn’t busted this scheme!!

So today I got an email from a festival, asking me to apply to the festival, through SONICPIGS!

So now I guess Sonicpigs is probably selling all their past and present email list to any promoters who sucker for that, though I guess since they will both profit it works out for both.

Here’s what I wrote back (to his credit he had wrote back to my initial email….his response first…

Them - “Hey there WB,
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience with them - We book a great deal of bands for all our festivals through them, and have had nothing but good experiences with them and the artists we’ve booked so far.”

Mine - “Thanx for the response, I appreciate that…..but…..

I’m sure you do book a lot of bands through them, and my experience was no different or worse than any other act’s is I assume. What I’m really referring to is the revenue sharing that events/promoters and Sonicbids do as a result of posting an opportunity and having bands apply for them.

Promoters and events look at the application fees generated by Sonicbids listings as another revenue stream, so not only do you find your bands, but you also get paid by each one that applies (I’m sure you know all this), even the ones who are not chosen (surely over 90% of them).

How is that artist friendly in any way, and how canit be justified, other than just profits? Profits are all fine and good, but off the artists? Doesn’t seem right……

Personally I won’t use Sonicbids on principle alone, and I am a touring pro who has over 20 years experience playing with people like Christopher Cross, Carlene Carter, Miguel Mateos, LeAnne Rimes, Joe Cocker blah blah blah etc etc etc….I’ve been there done that, and I won’t be a part of this.

Why not just charge what you’re getting from Sonicbids yourself? At least that way the bands can save some money for themselves, you still get the money, and everything is above board and on the up and up. Keep working with Sonicbids and you’ll put them in a position that will eventually come back to haunt you, these are not people of scruples. You make them a nexus of power in your business at your peril.

Do as you like of course, but know that the knowledge of how this thing is used and how artist hostile it is, is spreading.

I write this email knowing that at this point it won’t change a thing, but as awareness grows, I hope you and other folks in your shoes will rethink your position.

WB”

So I hope more people will write to these B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T.S. and let them know how you feel, this crap’s gotta stop!

I went to the sonicbids booth a few years ago and this guy at teh booth keeps telling me to be a member because of the “prestigous” festivals I can enter. He wants to tell me only what I want to hear. He knows what musicians are going for - festivals and status. Guys - stay away from sonicbids scam!

Oh, anyone out there thinking of entering SXSW and CMJ thinking they are going to get discovered? Don’t - save your money, they are better ways to get discovered. Sonicbids, SXSW and CMJ are all palying on your fucking egos, Sonicbids, SXSW and CMJ are all fucking with your fucking heads. Sonicbids, SXSW and CMJ should all rot and die your god dam mother fuckers and B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T.S.

Guys - play your funky music and improve your craft. Just forget about your status such as Sonicbids, SXSW,CMJ and B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T.S. want you to do. After all it’s your music that you want to improve not which festival you’re gonna play it.

Dave here formerly of ApathetiQ/Never Hide.

I created a website by the name of youShowcase.com for musicians alike. I am now offering you an opportunity to present your music, photos, bios, videos, and more in press kit format to music executives worldwide. This service is FREE and is not considered SPAM or a SCAM. There are no hidden fees and youShowcase works on an advertising/CPC/R model. The artists/bands and music industry executives are real too.

You can sign up your project by going to the following site:

http://www.youshowcase.com (Registration takes under a minute to complete and clearance is granted right away).

youShowcase.com wants your feedback too! Please do not hesitate to e-mail us with comments or questions at the following address:

contact@youshowcase.com

You can also add us here: http://www.myspace.com/youshowcase (Help us spread the word to other artists/bands/musicians)!!!!

Thanks,
David P.
Principal, IT Director
youShowcase

Hi Matt!

Even fucking Noisepop here in the bay area uses that shitty service.

These festivals need to be destroyed and real festivals about actual music put up in their place.