14th
early morning call from Sony.
Due to an error on the Blanket Statement Records website, I’m still listed as the manager/booking agent for Turn Back Now! when it has been discussed that Claude and David manage the career of thier band, I book some shows for them.
So I get a call early in the morning (11AM) from an A&R guy from sony, Jeff, something, currently looking for Minneapolis bands, he calls to set up a meeting with me in regards to Turn Back Now!
I listen for about 5-10 minutes about things I already know, how great they are, how much potential lies there, and he wants to set something up.
Finally, I interrupt him, “I need 400 bucks.”
“What?” asks Jeff.
“I need 600 bucks.”
“We can offer more for an advance.”
“No, I don’t need an advance, I’m not going to pay you back. My rent is 320, and I’ve been staying with my girlfriend for a few months and would like to give her something for rent as well.”
“When do you need it by?”
“I can give you my address, if you could drop it off today, that would be perfect.”
“uh….alright, I think I can do that.”
“yeh, then we can go from there, what part of town are you in?”
“Loring Park.”
“Yeh, it’s yuppy as fuck over there, yeh, it will give me enough time to wake up.”
Then I gave him the address.
He showed up an hour later, in jeans and a t-shirt and a pair of aviators, that put on look of being scruffy, when really, he showered this morning and his clothes were clean.
I was outside smoking, we shook hands.
“If you have a check that’s fine, but really things will work much smoother if you just gave me cash.”
We got in his lexus, and drove to the US bank in Dinkytown, where he withdrew the 400 from his business checking account, all the while trying to bring the conversation back to Turn Back Now! Since I didn’t know why he was talking to me, I let him keep going, occasionally saying “Totally,” or “Right on,” or “Yeh.”
With 400 bucks in my pocket, rent for my summer sublet, and something to give my girlfriend for the time I’ve been staying at her place, I decided to come clean, or at least give a non commital “No.”
“Look. As far as I know, Turn Back Now is very happy with the deal they have, we can set up a meeting, but I don’t think there’s anything you can offer them. You just don’t have the resources or connections to help out a band this big. I’m sorry sir. But we’ll see, I’ve got your contact info. Lets set up a meeting for next thursday at midnight, you should bring a twelve pack of black label.
And here’s your money back, clearly you need it more than I do, get some real clothes, no one’s going to take you seriously dressed like that. “
He looked confused, but there was no way I could let him get a word in.
Back on Raleigh I got out of the car, I couldn’t take his money, but it was all very entertaining.
I called Claude, he was a little upset but still thought it was funny, and that’s the point.
-Patrick
