The Story Of Frank
Last night I went to an unknown bands night in a local rock venue with the rest of my band (guitarist and drummer).

We weren't playing, but we're looking to get some gigs so we figured that we could make some useful contacts there.

As I wasn't driving, I proceeded to get rather hammered on whisky, and talked to just about every musician in the place.
I managed to get a lot of info about local venues, names and numbers of promoters, recording studios and other bands, so it was all good really.

Anyway, I went out for a well-deserved drunken cigarette, happy that I'd managed to get so much information, and that the night had been worthwhile.

There was a strange man out there, struggling to light his cigarette, so I offered him a light, and we got chatting.

This is where it gets blurry... The alcohol had hit hard by this point.

His name was Frank, and he was in his late fifties, by the look of it.
He was pretty well dressed, wearing a black suit and a dark red shirt, but there were a couple of odd things about him.
He had a massive scar across his forehead, he was quite short, he had a cane, and piercing blue eyes.
He said that he was a music promoter, and we started chatting about that, and I mentioned that my band are looking for gigs.

He asked if we had a demo, and I went to grab one from my drummer.
Frank followed me, and had a chat with my bandmates, took the CD and my contact details and said that he'd call me in the next two days.

I fully appreciate that he's likely some weirdo, but I can't shake the feeling that he's exactly how I imagine the devil to look, in human form.

Maybe I shouldn't have given my number to him...
( Cawl, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:05, 21 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

to be fair
thats where you will end up, so might as well skip out the middle man, sell the soul for a bit of loot and enjoy the ride!
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:09, Reply)

@ Kaol
You didn't happen to be standing by a crossroads when this happened?

And you're not suddenly playing like Les Claypool out of nowhere?
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:10, Reply)

Not a crossroads,
But near a roundabout.

Even weirder, I just got a call from him, saying that he listened to the track on his way home last night, and he was impressed.

And that he'd *wwwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
Yeah, my phone cut out, and I can't call him back, without it going to answerphone :|
( Cawl, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:15, Reply)

Try him on this number

www.talktofrank.com/article.aspx?id=260
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:25, Reply)

It can't be the devil.
He doesn't have a cane. He rides a gold-plated Segway Personal Transporter.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:31, Reply)

You
have been watching too many epoisodes of Reaper.

the girl in that is cute but her teeth are very very shiny!
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:38, Reply)

Whatever the truth of the matter
It's a very cool story. As is the update.

Keep us posted...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:48, Reply)

Well, I just got called back
And I've been offered a place "On the books".

*shrugs*

I've no way of telling if he's genuine or not, but whatever, just have to wait and see...
( Cawl, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:49, Reply)

On the books eh?
Are you sure he wasn't a pimp?

Seriously though, good luck. Have you tried googling his/the company's name?
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 11:54, Reply)

I suppose it's hard to pick someone out as a reliable promoter by their appearance
The last promoter I met looked like an accountant. Thoroughly nice bloke, and got us a gig in the end, but hardly looked like the sort of person to be peddling "the devil's music." At least this 'Frank' looks the part.

Mind you, Tony Blair tried to be a promoter for unsigned rock bands before he went to University, so who knows what to think...
(LongJohnBaldry, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:05, Reply)

should end up as an interesting story if nothing else!
hope it works out!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:07, Reply)

Yeah, it's odd!
I've got no way of knowing if Frank is a genuine guy, or if this is all some pub-crazy stringing us along.
*shrugs*

I'll remain sceptical, but anything better than nothing is a bonus.

He told me on the phone to write all the lyrics and parts of our songs down and post 'em to myself, getting the post office to put a seal on them.

I've heard of that before but... *shrugs*
( Cawl, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:13, Reply)

linkageness
copyrightauthority.com/poor-mans-copyright/

Posting to yourself eeees balls.

Here's hoping you don't end up in Frank's refridgerator.
( djtrialprice, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:18, Reply)

Easy copyrighting procedure isn't it?
Posting PO-sealed stuff? At least that's what I read years ago when I was looking into copyrighting my stuffs.

Edit: nuff said DJ :)
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:19, Reply)

my band has looked into copyrighting our stuff recently
the posting it to yourself thing is bollocks

it costs about £75 to actually copyright some songs, can't remember if it is 6 or 10 or something....
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:27, Reply)

hah!
this is Cowl we are talking about here, it would be more along the lines of mutually assured cannibalism, they would eat each other from the feet upwards
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:29, Reply)

It doesn't cost anything to copyright something
If you've written and recorded the song, you automatically have the copyright on it!

Anyone trying to charge you is having you on.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:35, Reply)

I think it is more a case
of paying to have someone witnessing and affirming that you have the copyright, rather than the copyright itself
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:39, Reply)

If you've written songs
They're your intellectual property until you record them or write them down, at which point you have the copyright on them.

If you've recorded the songs, then having the multi-track tapes / session file backups will usually be accepted as proof of copyright.

(Slight swerve, I believe everything should be licensed under CC rather than traditional copyright, which imo has turned into a bad thing rather than a good thing)
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:44, Reply)

*shrugs*
I've got no idea.
He wasn't trying to charge us, anything like that, he just said to do it.
I couldn't care less, I'll do it anyway, would be good to have all our songs written down properly anyway.

But... This whole situation is really strange.
Fuck it, it's an exciting ride.
Hopefully one that won't end in his fridge.
( Cawl, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:44, Reply)

Unless he's got cake.
Cake is good.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 23 Oct 2008, 12:49, Reply)