Hi - My name is Lee and I've been in the music promotion game since 1996. I'm on myspace to find bands for the clubs I book, which currently includes R Bar on the Bowery, Alphabet Lounge in the LES, and Underscore on the Upper East Side. I also do occasional one-off shows at The Delancey, Southpaw, Midway and other venues. I am not a "booking agent" but a "talent booker" -- I've always tried to work with many clubs and move bands I work with around to different venues. Not all clubs are right for your band. For instance, I love arty experimental indie bands which are great for downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn but not so good for the upper east side, etc.
Please note that you don't have to sell advance tickets nor are you charged a fee to play or some kind of ridiculous deal that some people try to make bands do. Also note the clubs I work with do not pay guarantees - you are paid based on the number of people you bring. You MUST bring people (at least 15 paid to see your band) to get paid and re-booked. If you have a good draw you will get a lot of shows from me.
I am now booking the beautiful spacious R bar club which has a nice back room for bands to play in and also a front room/lounge with a DJ booth to hang out in when not checking out the bands in the back. I always try to pair bands up with other bands that will compliment their sound - a task tantamount to lining up the planets, but sometimes it happens! I love music so I'm very lucky to what I do -- hopefully we can work together. Much love and stay creative always!
Here are pix of R Bar - this is the front room lounge space which has a DJ booth -- yes they like the color red, haha:
Below: This is the back room facing the stage where the bands play - yes they have a P.A, etc. - the stage is empty in this shot. Note all the big framed pix of The Clash, Blondie, etc -- whoever designed this place has good taste (no, I didn't design it):
Below: A view of the other side of the back room. Note the stripper poles - the only person I've yet seen use these poles is my friend Kelly who is a guy who was a little drunk at the first show I did here, haha. No it's not a strip joint - you won't get any lapdances here. I guess they sometimes do parties with go-go dancers....
Below: Another view of the stage where bands play. Yes those are stripper poles, go with it. Yes they have sound gear; the stage is empty in this shot. Did I mention the place looks like an upscale punkrock whorehouse - that's a good thing.
Here are some clips of bands I've booked. This first one is Michael Churton and his band performing at R Bar -- note his go-go dancers he brought which were so perfect for the club!
Here's Hammer of Thor at The Underscore - this band may be a bunch of Wall Streeters but they kick ass!!!!!
Here's Factory Pills playing a club I no longer book:
Here's The Ahhsum Band playing the same club:
Here's a clip of me from 1997 hosting my old TV show back when I liked to put a lot of grease in my hair and be all retro, haha.
