experience at "El Rey" Lu’s fav venue–creating community

To the Lucinda team– Lucinda, band, management and support staff

here’s a twist–this is a reminder from a fan to the artists to please support the communities you are part of. Now is the time to move together and evolve to more health and higher places. Human relationship is present in maybe most of the stories Lucinda shares. So, I think it’s fair that I invite the Lucinda Team to please reconsider the promoters you engage with–this, in the hope that they too will operate in ways consistent with common good.

First–Thank you for a soulful show last night at El Rey, Los Angeles, 23 November 2011. I thoroughly enjoyed it–especially the harder rocken songs where Lucinda pulled out the chrome axe. The band’s leathery tone gripped me thru-out the entire night. I will purchase some recordings.

My experience at El Rey: a week ago a local radio host informed his audience of an upcoming Lucinda Williams gig at El Rey. I thought, “great, I’ve been wanting to see her, and what better than at a small local venue.” I hadn’t experience El Rey yet, so this was perfect.

I logged on to El Rey’s website to purchase tickets and that’s when the delight began to diminish. It’s more than the “convenience” fee that I object to.

Which, btw, was $13 plus the mysterious missing $2 from the venue quoted ticket price of $40 verses the actual ticket face value of $38–thus a 40% surcharge!!

I didn’t mind paying forty bucks to the Lucinda Team. But the “convenience fee” seemed rude. I figured, no problem, I’ll swing by the venue and purchase a pair of tickets in person.

Searching for box office hours I found this note: ” The only time we sell tickets at our box office is the night of the show, when doors open, providing they have not sold out ahead of time.”

So, If I want to be sure to have tickets for me and my date, I’m forced to use the online system. Only one way in–electronic. Something smelled “fishy” for a local venue.

“Okay, I’ll pay the extra 40% just this time.”

Holding my nose I went thru the online purchasing system. I had to divulge way too much personal information–name, bankcard # (of course), address, phone number, zip, last 4 dig of S#, email–all under the threat that if anything wasn’t correct the bank would later reject the purchase.

These days personal information and behavior is a market. I really don’t like to participate in commerce that requires such sensitive stuff–all just to go see a soul singer!! I fondly remember the days of walking down to the corner juke joint and dropping some hard earned cash to go in. no names, no bank cards, no contracts, no emails, no tails–just the gritty experience of those hot moments. How did we get here?

So, when my date and I arrived at the show the treatment was similar to an arena metal gig–sherrifs at the door–ID, wrist strapped, bags searched. Inside was a wide boundary line strictly enforced, thugs with lights telling us where we could stand and a fear driven announcement to report any suspicious bags and such. the heavy security presence and procedure totally confused the sense of place in this 700 person historic and glamorous art deco theater. We did not feel welcome.

It took several songs to loose that displeasure, and eventually I really enjoy the jams. thank you!

Lucinda explained that she would do a final set of the night dedicated to the “Occupy” movements around the country. She played a series of working class anthems. It warmed my heart and gives me the notion that the Lucinda Team may be receptive to the message I am trying to convey.

This morning I researched El Rey. It is exclusively booked by Goldenvoice LLC, a local promoter, who is a division of AEG Live, a division of AEG, a mega global entertainment company, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, an investment vehicle for the diversified interests of Philip F. Anschutz. Who is an outstanding member of the greedy 1%. Google it.

The Occupy movement, that Lucinda literally sang her support for, is striving to make more broadly aware to us 99%’rs the depth of influence the 1%’rs have on our daily lives.

In the case of El Rey–controlled by the 1%–my experience there was nothing like a small local friendly venue. And, it’s a safe bet that the 40% surcharge on every ticket is money sucked out of this region and into the portfolios of the global investor class. This is bad for the health of a local economy.

I feel good about spending my hard earned money when it flows to other hard working humans. I like to participate in local economies–this is what we can do now. (strong democracy will follow.)

Artists like the Lucinda Team have a key role in that process too.

Aloha