Comments on: Thursday round up

By: A Friend of A Friend

A Friend of A Friend — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:09:06 +0000

#72 is right. The featured showcase artists are paid. Actually, one group I know of will be on Main Stage AND on a showcase. They indicated that they were getting paid more for the showcase than for their main stage appearance. It is hard to believe, but they really have no reason to lie about that. I’d say that I’d take the showcase over the main stage. The lesser-known groups seem to grab the audience’s attention better in a smaller setting. There’s nothing worse than being on stage in front of 15,000 people, and 90% of them are blanantly just enduring your 12 minute stand, as they wait on The Gaither Bunch to take the stage…

By: David Bruce Murray

David Bruce Murray — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:56:44 +0000

#71, Gaither/Haase did a showcase last year. Believe me, they were paid.

If the showcase is free, though, then no, it’s doubtful any of those artists would be paid, and you’re correct that they may very well be paying in some fashion or another for the opportunity to sing…renting a booth, for example.

Rule of thumb…if you have to buy a ticket from NQC in order to see a showcase, those artists are likely being paid…at least something. I know the Chuck Wagon Gang announced they were declining to attend NQC a few years ago, because what they would have been paid for a showcase was considerably less than what they’d have received to sing on the main stage…but it’s not like they aren’t paid at all.

By: LS

LS — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:22:14 +0000

I’m not talking about the regional showcases…the featured showcase artists are paid. A good friend of mine, who happens to be a well-known booking agent,
told me last year that the groups are paid. (No, I didn’t ask how much.) Also, I’ve seen checks being handed out. The groups may have to pay a fee for some showcases–I don’t know, and unless you’ve applied, you don’t either–but they do not pay to appear on the afternoon NQC showcases.

By: Weber

Weber — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:38:46 +0000

#68, the showcase folks are paid? where are you living. These groups pay to sing brother, which i think is an abomination. These artist developement companies tell these groups they need exposure, so the groups pay them lots of money to sing one or two songs. Its southern gospels own little ponsi scheme.

By: AnnD

AnnD — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:51:07 +0000

Uh….don’t think the showcase folks are paid

By: LS

LS — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:01:50 +0000

#68…The groups don’t pay to be on the featured showcases. NQC pays them, so someone must believe they’re quality groups. (And 99% of the time, they are!)
I enjoyed the showcases last year more than ever before. Moving them to a real concert hall instead of conference hall made a world of difference in the presentation.

By: Weber

Weber — Mon, 25 May 2009 22:23:04 +0000

#67 You may be right, to some degree about the connections being the criteria for Main Stage. If my memory is correct, Heirline was on mainstage a few years back. Maybe the ‘boot’ went into effect last year, not sure. How many years does a group have to pay to sing, or showcase before they realize they are not main stage material.

By: LS

LS — Mon, 25 May 2009 15:12:38 +0000

#66…Heirline didn’t “get the boot” from NQC. They’re on an afternoon showcase, as are many artists who aren’t on the Main Stage this year. (They were on a showcase last year, too, and I really enjoyed their performance.) The Main Stage is as much–or more–about connections as about quality, so don’t knock the showcases. Many of those groups are Main Stage quality…but with the same few groups singing on Main three times during the week, there aren’t a lot of spots left for the rest!

I’m just sayin’…

By: Weber

Weber — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:01:12 +0000

Wonder why Ernie and old Heirline got the boot or no invite to NQC main stage this year, not that they have the quality that needs to be there, im just sayin

By: cynical one

cynical one — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:15:30 +0000

#64 — People tend to talk most about what they know the most about. Maybe Ernie knows food most. lol

But then, some of the posts on this site might indicate that people talk most about what they THINK they know the most about.

I’m just saying. . .

By: Thursday

Thursday — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:26:51 +0000

# 45 Ernie Dawson spends too much of his concert time talking about beans and taters, taters and beans, beans beans, taters taters, beans beans, taters taters.

By: jbb

jbb — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:07:18 +0000

Just hear the DE sing “How Big Is God” last night on the Gospel 4 show hosted by Brian Free. They did an awesome job.
I agree that alot of good groups get overlooked, even those that sing in the siderooms at the Hotels and the siderooms at the convention center.

By: Nashville Phil

Nashville Phil — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:47:22 +0000

Fedup,
You are absolutely right about the Dixie Echoes! This line up that Randy has put together is certainly the BEST ever. When Pat sings “How Big Is God”, I get almost Penteeecostal.

I don’t know if they are snubbed. I really don’t think they try to compete in the “See Me, I’m A Star” show. They are very in-tune to their Market. They pack the Venues where they work and sell lots of product.

Singing News Charts doesn’t sell product, the Performance does!

Heck, I love em!

By: Leadsinger

Leadsinger — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:06:11 +0000

I have to agree about the DE’s they are very deserving of the Traditional Quartet award… They are what Traditional is about, they are REAL without all of that canned junk in the background…

By: fedup

fedup — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:58:09 +0000

The group that gets SNUBBED the most is the Dixie Echoes and The Dixie Melody Boys. These are two fine groups, and I cannot remember the last time they won an award. You can not touch the Dixie Echoes right now, and they aren’t even in the top ten groups. Who are the Down East Boys. WHAT A JOKE!!! What makes me sickest is the fact that Pat Barker (Bass vocalist for the DE will get looked over this year just like last year. He can flat sing as can all of these guys. I AM FED UP!!!