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Mindset as a young man toward monetary success
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2021 4:46 am
by PFOLGORE
Dennis,
Glen on his old public access show said that he, when active in the group, was pulling in 5,000 a week, which even today would be a handsome income. Was that figure in the ballpark? As a young man, what was your mindset toward money? Did your management give band members any words of wisdom on your finances and planning for the future? Was it assumed that you would be making large amounts of money for years to come, or did you feel it was a temporary situation?
Re: Mindset as a young man toward monetary success
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2021 2:58 pm
by Dreary
During the Billion Dollar Babies Tour, concert ticket prices were $4, $5, and $6 with a high end of around $8. Compare that to recent prices. We put a lot back into our show. At that time, we were the only band hauling our own sound, lights, props, and stage all around the country.
We did have investment guidance, and we knew bands could be here today and gone tomorrow so we didn't think we would be on top forever. But we also never thought it would end so abruptly.
Re: Mindset as a young man toward monetary success
Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:31 pm
by pitkin88
Piggybacking on the money...In the 70's were bands paid in cash for the shows at the venue? I've read stuff about Zeppelins managers being ruthless with promoters who tried to mess with them.
If so are there any stories you'd like to tell about slimey promoters trying to rip you off?
Also if $ were collected was it Shep that got the money and where was it kept going from town to town?
Re: Mindset as a young man toward monetary success
Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 1:06 am
by Dreary
pitkin88 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:31 pm
Piggybacking on the money...In the 70's were bands paid in cash for the shows at the venue? I've read stuff about Zeppelins managers being ruthless with promoters who tried to mess with them.
If so are there any stories you'd like to tell about slimey promoters trying to rip you off?
Also if $ were collected was it Shep that got the money and where was it kept going from town to town?
Joe and Shep were pretty ruthless when it was needed. Whether it was a bar, a concert hall, or a festival, many promoters had a bad habit of disappearing with the money. We wouldn't set foot on stage until we got paid, which often meant holding out until the crowd was threatening to riot. That, combined with lots of backstage yelling, worked well except one time in Chicago when some tough guys started flashing their guns. We played for free that night.
How the money was handled is better left a secret.