The cost of fee-free ticketing

I don't know how many of you out there are from Michigan and know of Nate and the folks over at Fusion Shows. But if you don't, they run a promotion company for venues around this grand state and sell tickets without ridiculous service fees you'd normally see from Ticketmaster, Livenation or other ticket brokers.

Don't take this as a hit against them though. I love everything that Nate and everyone at Fusion have done and continue to do – not only for my wallet, but for the Michigan music scene. But when you are used to purchasing tickets through them and then try to get tickets to something you know they won't be promoting, the service fee hits you a little harder. It almost makes me not want to go to these shows unless I can find a way to purchase tickets at the door, which is still cheaper than the usual hit you take from more ticket brokers.

But by creating such a gap between themselves and 'the man', Fusion Shows will not only be a reminder to everyone else how important the D.I.Y. movement is to the bands on the stage, but a reminder to the people coming to the shows. Sure, you can't keep a band in your back pocket forever. Bands have grown out of the independent market into huge behemoths requiring tour packaging and extensive riders that would make us shake our heads in dismay. But by giving us the opportunity to save a little money, we have to be willing to give it back in another way. Maybe that extra five bucks will help a band get another few miles down the highway to a gas station instead of having to walk to get gas after they run out on the three hour drive they made to play to a small group of people passionate about real music.

So next time you save a shit-ton of money going to a show put on by a local promoter who isn't out to take all your money, do them and the bands they promote a favor and put the cash towards what you and everyone else their should love – the music.