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There is a booking agent named Terry Sharkey who is soliciting bands on MySpace to do business with him. He charges $65 and books you a tour. However, he isn't really a real booking agent, but a struggling musician who takes advantage of other struggling musicians.
He claims he gets the artists gigs, however when the artist shows up to the venue, it really is a dive bar. They have no idea who you are and won't pay you! You complain to Terry, and he blames you for being an unknown artist! Sometimes he admits he made a mistake, and claims he will send back your money, but never does. However most of the time he refuses to give back your money and hangs up the phone on you.
After my bad experience with Terry, there now appears to be a growing list of musicians he has ripped off with the same scam!
Please beare of him if he contacts you on MySPace or another channel.
Here is his page so you know what he is pushing:
http://www.myspace.com/roadbooking
Avoid him at all costs, he has already taken several thousands of dollars from un suspecting musicians! This guy is a total fraud avoid Terry Sharkey!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Terry has been nothing but up-front and honest with my band, kLoB. We have used him for 3 mini-tours. He booked us at some great venues, like the 5 Spot in 5 points, ATL. Along the way, he might book us at a bar that might not be perfect for us, but will guarantee $250+ for playing there. That is priceless on a low-budget tour. When you play at an actual music venue like 5 Spot, you might be getting $40 or less, maybe no money at all if you are an unknown band. He really doesn't deserve this negativity.. AT ALL! I have a feeling that the band who wrote this complaint were total jerks to him and left him no choice but to tell them all about themselves and their unrealistic expectations. We're going to be giving him a call to start booking our March tour real soon. Truly a great and likable, friendly guy.
Also, he makes it very clear that we could book the smaller clubs ourselves, but it cuts the difficulty level of landing gig using a name or agency the club is already familiar with. He also told us from the beginning that once he books a venue for us, we should make a connection with the booker for the club and book it ourselves the next time we come through town. He says there is no reason to keep paying him for future dates at the same club if they liked us.
You get what you put into it. Hard-working bands who want to make things a little easier on themselves should definitely hire Road Booking.
-Brian Jenkins
http://www.klobsong.com
I have nothing but positive things to say about Terry. He booked us dates on three separate tours, and each of them were at or above our expectations. He even came out to see us play in Philly and had a few beers with us.
Any band that's ever booked their own indie tour knows how hard it is. Think about the product you're selling - you're most likely unknown, have no fans in any given area besides your hometown, need to be paid nightly, and want to get in front of new people. Anyone who's been in a band for the past few years knows how bad it is out there. The clubs and bars are struggling to stay alive. Live music apathy is at an all time low. But it's not Terry's fault.
What he does is simple - he books you in venues you could probably book yourself if you really wanted to, but it takes a ton of time an energy to do so, and he makes it easy for you. He's not claiming to launch you to stardom. He does the work you don't want to do, and he charges a reasonable fee for it. You could do it if you want to, but if you don't, hire him! You know as well as I do that it takes dozens of emails and phone calls to book one gig on an indie tour, and know as well as I do that 9 times out of 10 you're soliciting "dive" bars. We used Terry to book a few shows on our tours, mostly in towns we didn't already have contacts. Positive experience all around.
Know where to set your expectations, and hire Terry. You won't regret it.
Christopher Andrus
Bless You Boys
This is Terry Sharkey from Road Booking. I think it is sad that one band decided to write a bunch of complaints about me, and my agency behind my back.
In my three years of professional booking I have worked with over 100 bands. Although, I have only had a few complainers, it is a few too many for me. I try to accommodate all of the artists I book. However, some are just beyond accommodation. Some bands do not truly understand how hard it is to "make it" as a touring act. For instance, the band above, was from Iceland, on a small label. Although no body new of them in the US, and they brought no one to their shows, they felt entitled to play the best venues on their very first tour. They felt they would come over here, and fame and fortune would be handed to them. The truth is, as many bands already know, fame and fortune in the music industry is extremely hard to reach. Only the hardest working, most talented musicians can make it to this level. "Hard working" being the key ingredient. If a group is unwilling to work hard, like the band complaining above, there is nothing I can do for them. Again, I feel it is sad that they have taken their lack of success and general frustration of the music industry out on a booking agent. However, I can't say that I don't understand. I am a musician as well. I have toured the US and Europe 8 months out of each of the past three years, and I also helped create the Free web site Indie On The Move. I know how trying this industry can be. However, I also know that a bad attitude and poor work ethic will get you know where.
This complaint thread is a prime example of a relationship gone bad. It is a sad thing, but it is bound to happen, when you are dealing with people who feel they are owed something that is undeserved. Although it has almost been a year since I booked their tour, and this issue is all but forgotten, I do have one question for the band that has written these things about me behind my back... Why does your record label continue to illicit my services, if I did such a bad job?
Feel free to contact any of the 19 bands on my current roster to see what they think about me at www.myspace.com/roadbooking
Have a great day. Hope to talk to you soon.
Terry Sharkey
[protected]
I agree, he's a total fraud. Maybe he though he could get away with screwing over a band because they were from far away, poor guys, screwed my band over also!
Ain't had the same experiences guys and gals. The complete opposite actually. Why are all you complainers from Iceland? It seems like y'all just one band complaining over and over again. Terrys a nice guy. He done my band right. Ill let him know about this. I'll tell ya, it makes ya look bad bashing a dude like that. He's a real stand up man from what I gather with my dealings with him, and his band is truly doin something different. He helped me out. Whatcha y'alls bands? Ill check you out.
Here's another funny thing, read the myspace where it says. "The founders have booked successful national tours". Maybe there was another guy who founded Road Booking with Terrey and went on the do something on his own that was successful after discovering how much of a sleezebag Terry was? Who knows, and what band was this and what were the venues I'd really like to see that info...
I'm sure he's into some bad s**t given his attitude. Anybody who wants business does not mouth of to people when he screws them over, then again a legitimate honorable business would never screw bands over as much as he does. Sure agencies cost a lot, but usually the good ones take percentage and therefore have a deal at stake regarding the quality of the gigs they book, plus they offer promotion along side the actual booking. Terry is charging a fair amount, if he was actually doing his job not asking bands to bend over and take it up the rear end!
I've heard so many very bad things about this guy I can't even believe he still has bands willing to work with him, unless the CAPS POSTER is in fact Terrey Skarey.
I'd pay more more for better gigs or book the ### venues myself he's taking payment to book, just check out the venues he's booking if you don't believe me, THE ALL HAVE LINKS THAT SAY "WANT TO PLAY" SEND US A CD OR PRESS KIT OR CALL SO AND SO. Screw you Terry!
Terry is actually in a band called Zelazowa, a mediocre local alt-rock group. I also sent him money and was booked in some pretty ### dives. Still waiting on my credit he said I had.
He has a drugged out roomate. So maybe he spends the money with his roomate on drugs and that is why the bands never get reimbursed. This guy is a loser, the quint essential stereo-type of the sleazy booking agent. Don't give this guy your money, what a waste!
-ROAD BOOKING IS A GREAT LITTLE AGENCY! I RECENTLY BOOKED A TOUR WITH THEM THOUGH THE SOUTH, AND IT WENT OVER WELL. SURE A FEW SHOWS WERE BAD, BUT THATS TOURING, NOT OUR AGENTS FAULT. HE DID EVERYTHING HE SAID HE WOULD IN THE CONTRACT.
I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I SAW THE COMPLAINT ABOVE. I USUALLY BOOK MY OWN SHOWS, BUT I AM JUST SO SICK OF IT. ROAD BOOKING WAS ABLE TO POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND HOOK ME UP WITH VENUES THAT I STILL PLAY OFTEN LIKE THE MILESTONE (NC). MY FAV!
ON A SIDE NOTE... TERRY ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE I HAVE WORKED WITH, AND $65 A SHOW IS A STEAL! I WONDER IF THE COMPLAINER KNOWS HOW MUCH MOST AGENCYS CHARGE? I DOUBT IT. SOMETHING JUST DOESNT SEEM RIGHT ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS. THE TERRY I WORKED WITH WAS THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE OF WHAT SHE SAID. IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THE COMPLAINER IS ONE OF TERRY'S OLD GIRLFRIENDS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SHE SOUNDS LIKE A SPOILED BRAT THROWING A TEMPER TANTRUM. -
-JACOB-
HUNTSVILLE, AL
Beware of this booking agency, he overcharges (Terry Sharkey) for booking bands in venues he claims are difficult to get in to, then you show up and it's a total dive that bands book themselves into, and everybody in the club asks, why did you go to so and so club, it's the hottest place.
The pay is never what Terry Sharkey claims, the terms, load in times, bands etc. never consistent with Terry's information.
When you call him up to talk about the situation he calls you a spoiled brat, and unknown bands have got to build fans, well when the clubs are druggie hangouts people avoid them who like music and there's no fan base to build upon. No refunds and he quickly turns from helpful and nice to hostile and non-responsive (does not answer calls, emails etc.) after he receives payment.
Do not use this booking agency, there are so many others and the clubs he books only require you send them a demo and bio.
Thank you
California
I totally agree with this. He screwed over my band and this is precisely how he acted. Not one of the numerous gigs he booked for us turned out even remotely like his pay list and venue details. He is a totaly fraud, and I also recommend to anybody to STAY AWAY! He'll totally screw you and your band over and be a total dick in the process!
These are venues anybody can book without a booking agent. I asked, the venues assumed he was in the band.
Wow, this complaint seems sort of funny, since my band has been working with Road Booking for over a year now. Terry has done wonders for us! We are from Chicago, and he has gotten us into the Detriot, Indiana, St. Louis, Louisville, TN, and and MO markets, in very good venues. We had such a hard time breaking into these areas before we heard about his services! Contacts are something my band and I have been trying to make since day one. Touring is obviously tough, but he made the booking part so easy for us. Sorry, you didn't have the same experience. We have never had any problems with him, and continue to use his services.
David