Live and Unsigned a Scam? I need your input!

Eilian

I recently auditioned for a competition called Live And Unsigned at the cost of £5. I got through on the back of a 2 minute snap shot of a song (this says nothing of the strength of the song; a Bieber wannabe singing a medley of Journey and something else similarly Glee-like got through at the same time) and was then required to make a £30 deposit before my registration into the next round.

The next round is a Regional Final where I'm to be judged by a panel with a variety of industry faces on it, from a number of BBC DJs to Noddy Holder of Slade fame. But, there are issues.

First of which, is that I'm given a slot of 3mins 30secs to play one original AND one cover, which not only - combined with letting kids like the Bieber-alike through - undermines and makes a mockery of the originality the competition is said to be concerned with, but is so short a window that both songs will almost certainly suffer if not be butchered by the restraint. In addition to this, if the time limit is exceeded - which includes the hurried walk to the mic before playing - by even a fraction, I will be disqualified.

Second of which - and my biggest worry at the moment - is that I'm expected to sell 25 tickets at £8 each and additional awards are given for those acts that go back and ask for more to sell. What worries me is not that many bands will sell infinitely more than me and hence swing the ratio of the voting audience in their favour but that I have to ask my friends to part with as good as makes no difference, a tenner to watch me play 3 and a half minutes, only half of which I'm confident to do and comfortable being judged by (I hate doing covers).

Add to this the fact that at about 12 ticket sales in I've completely exhausted those friends who, albeit begrudgingly, are willing to cough up to watch me play a very messy 3 and a half minutes and am left with 13 tickets I am unable to return without sacrificing my deposit and facing, once again,....disqualification.

Merchandise and equipment prizes are awarded to those acts who secure the most publicity and prove it with press cuttings etc. Studio time is awarded to those that sell the most tickets. Festival and tour dates are awarded to selected artists and there is a cash prize of £10k for the winner - based on the contrived half original/half cover 3 minutes 30.

I do like the idea of getting some professional photographs and a pro-shot DVD of my performance - even if the conditions of my performance are irritating me - but they will set me back £20 and £40 respectively.

The competition as a whole is being filmed by Sky TV into a documentary so there's a chance that out of the hundreds of contestants I may be included in the edit but taking everything into consideration how many of you lovely people would stick it out on the off chance that it may gain you some useful exposure and how many of you would do what I'm leaning towards and save everybody a whole wad of cash by not going?

mackmrlx

There was an episode of Hustle that showed a scam similar to this but for models.
Hopefully not a scam

Eilian

I've been reading up and the Jury's in.

If you're in the UK don't enter Live and Unsigned without Googling "Live and Unsigned Scam" and sifting through the pages of testimonials of past contestants and even winners first.

RB112589

Look I can't say for certain if it's a scam, this particular one, but I have personally been scammed before. There was a legit web page and all of the bells and wistles that went along with it. From what I've learned after that experience, some of these companies play on your heart strings and give a false sence of hope. And what I have since learned, not my words, but if you have to pay for self promotion on things like this, than it's a scam. Take it for what it's worth, I just don't want you, or anyone else, getting scammed for the ambition of "making it" or have a successful music career. Think about this, I would say. Were you contacted by these people? I could be far off base, but just be careful. I'm glad you posted, seeking advice. Good luck!

Eilian

RB112589 wrote:

Look I can't say for certain if it's a scam, this particular one, but I have personally been scammed before. There was a legit web page and all of the bells and wistles that went along with it. From what I've learned after that experience, some of these companies play on your heart strings and give a false sence of hope. And what I have since learned, not my words, but if you have to pay for self promotion on things like this, than it's a scam. Take it for what it's worth, I just don't want you, or anyone else, getting scammed for the ambition of "making it" or have a successful music career. Think about this, I would say. Were you contacted by these people? I could be far off base, but just be careful. I'm glad you posted, seeking advice. Good luck!

Cheers for the post. You're definitely right, a strategic pulling of the heart strings is the top and tail of their marketing draw.

I entered just as part of a recent drive to gig a whole lot more. Like I say, I was getting more dubious the more I thought about the emphasis by reward that is placed on publicity and ticket sales, and the way that shifts the most critical factor in success away from the music. The odd half cover/half original is a gripe and the cost of the footage is astronomical.

This combined with the testimonials that can be found in their droves of people that got a lot further through the process than me, and even won, but were never given what they were promised has sealed the deal.

It's a real money spinner that seems to exploit the bands into exploiting their fans.

Thanks again