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Emergenza is an adult battle of the bands that sunk its foul claws into our city a few years ago. While it's certainly a boon to the clubs that play host to its elimination rounds, we can't see why any band would want to enter the competition.
In order to enter, you have to pay a $70.00 fee. While it does does guarantee you'll get on at least one showcase, it does nothing to insuring any semblance of quality in many of the participating bands, nor does it mean you'll be competing against bands from a similar genre. A fee that guarantees entry should be the first tip-off that this isn't exactly a competition interested in crowing the most talented band as its winner.
Then there's the method of moving forward in the competition. The bands aren't judged by any impartial panel, they're chosen through the voting of the people attending their concerts. This means the band that gets the most fans out, gets to move ahead, and the results have zero to do with musical acumen. So if you're an up-and-coming band hoping to move ahead on your talent, it ain't going to happen. No one attends these shows unless they are brought in through their fandom of a specific band on the bill.
There is an upside to this arrangement, though. It does provide great business for the bar hosting the event, and since their staff has to sit through so many bad bands -- and we're not saying all the bands are terrible, but with no filter outside a high registration fee we will say the ratio of good to bad is heavily weighted towards the latter -- we are of the opinion that the venues deserve to turn a hefty profit.
We could even probably be persuaded that the voting process is o.k., especially in the American Idol age, but then we noticed that the initial elimination rounds in Chicago (occurring at Elbo Room) charge fans a $20 admission fee.* And that's just the first round! God forbid your band is unlucky enough to move forward from there, forcing them to demand their fans pay another hefty fee at the door for a competition they'll most likely lose.
So, local bands, save your money. Play your own shows. Record in your bedroom or at local studios, and grow a following through writing good songs and winning over fans with your music instead of hoping fancy equipment or free studio time will gain your band groupies. Trust us when we say a crooked self-serving competition like Emergenza isn't really there to help you get ahead in the biz. It's only there to help itself fatten its wallet.
*We sent Elbo Room an email asking to clarify who gets the admission fee, but are still awaiting a response. We will add a clarification when we get one.
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Oh Hell Yeah Chicagoist! Set 'em straight- it's rip off alright. Mention Emergenza on Craigslist and all hell breaks lose.
Amen Tankboy. Amen. Not only that, but Emergenza screws the pooch for bands and promoters locally looking for a solid date for a show. As a local band member and promoter, I have advised all my bands of the same opinion. Just say no to Emergenza.
I'll agree that the American Idol voting system is less than perfect. But it does serve it's purpose. A couple of points. The $70 fee covers your band for its LIFETIME which means that if your band remains in tact for 5 years, you can compete each year, but you only pay the $70 once. Playing on diverse bills? It is the best possible format. No one wants to sit through 7 metal bands or 7 soul groups. Even devout fans get tired. Plus, the true test of a bands mettle is winning those who don't have a taste for your style. Yes, shitty bands get on the bills, but there asses are filtered out. Is it a popularity contest? In the earlier rounds yes. But how is that any different than any other show in this city? The bands that hustle and promote promote promote are the ones that get somewhere. If your band doesn't move on because some other band got more people, they deserve it b/c they worked their ass off. No band in this competition draws 200 people just because. That takes work. Emergenza still needs to make money to pay their employees and advertise. Not to mention paying for airfare and hotel rooms for winning bands. They want the hand voting because it forces bands to bring in people, which also has the side advantage of bringing in bigger crowds for bands which equal more exposure. Let us not forget that their IS a panel of judges at The Metro. These people decide who goes to Germany as well as who wins the other prizes (guitars, drums, etc.)
The bottom line is that no competition is perfect, but for it's scale Emergenza does a pretty decent job. I'm not an employee of Emergenza. My band, in our first year in this competition, have made it through to The Metro and we did it by promoting the hell out of ourselves and getting people to show up. It seems to me all the people who seem to have a problem with the competition are the bands that got voted out before the Double Door or Metro. These bands seem to feel they deserved to make it through based on skill and feel that less worthy bands were put through b/c it was a popularity contest. While that may be so, those "lesser" bands hustled and got asses in the seats, so on that night they were the better bands.