As one of the last free venues in Brighton started to charge promoters for it's venue hire, I started to question the future and sustainability of the Brighton Music Scene.

There once was a time many years ago that a pub would put on a band for the entertainment of the regulars and to draw in new crowds. It would be free to enter as it was just in the pub. ALL the bands would get paid from the takings of the night and the pub would promote the gig massively.

Then, pubs started trying to be live music hubs but they tried to get out of their obligation to promote by allowing outside "Promoters" to run their own nights in the pubs. This was working fine and everyone was happy; there was no obligation for the bands to bring at least twenty people because the night wasn't costing anyone anything and their fans could get in for free and have a good night.

But now, we have pubs that have converted to venues. They won't even attempt to promote a night, they'll charge an arm and a leg for use of a damp room meaning that the promoter has to insist that the bands bring at least twenty people each just to break even. This then means that the promoter has to charge an entry fee, meaning that the fans are put off by having to spend money to see their friends' band and after all this you only get four people turning up to your gig.

This is KILLING the Brighton Music Scene as greedy venue owners try and make as much money as possible.

Lets say you spend £200 on the room. Then lets say that 100 people turn up and buy four drinks each at £3... That's an easy £1200 behind the bar plus £200 for the room hire. Two staff behind the bar for 5 hours at £6 p/h costs only £60. A sound guy will be about £50-100...

So who is it making the money? Is it the promoter who has worked hard to get people in the door, design and print posters, get the gig listed...? Is it the bands who, after all, are the one's with the talent and that are providing the service?

No, it's the venue that has, essentially, done nothing other than make an absolute mint out of other people's hard work and talent.

I've now pulled out of the live event promotion side of music because I can't afford to put on decent shows in decent venues. I now don't go to gigs because I can't afford to spend £5 to get in, then £3 per pint to see some bands that have had their souls destroyed because they can't get people in to their own gigs. Is it because they're a rubbish band? NO! It's because people WILL NOT PAY £5 TO SEE A BUNCH OF UNKNOWNS.

I never thought I'd say this, and I can imagine it will end up backfiring, but I urge you to BOYCOTT overpriced unsigned band gigs. NOT because I want the bands to suffer, but because I want the venues to realise that THEY ARE THE ONES KILLING BRIGHTON'S MUSIC SCENE.

Do NOT pay more than £2 to see four unsigned bands. Do NOT encourage venues to think that they can get away with ripping off the bands, the promoters and fans.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MUSIC SCENE BY GOING TO REAL UNSIGNED GIGS, not gigs where the venue has ideas above their station...