Accountability in Music • Page 709

I mean.. I know it’s on Twitter, but it seems so weird to even be remotely involved in that conversation. I’m not at all trying to invalidate the op’s reasons for posting.. because it’s always fair to bring things to discussion, it just doesn’t feel like an accountability issue to me. I won’t interject any further I just felt the need to add my two cents there.

 

Agreed, I would understand the accountability aspect more if it seemed like Sunny was taking a greater stand for videographers in general, who are probably overcharged for their craft ($500 seems wild but idk). But instead it kinda just looks like he just wasn’t extended his exclusive deal one time and decided to publicly throw a fit online instead of just reaching out and asking what happened

 

A). Definitely not an accountability issue

B). Music venues have a history of exploiting artists and creative types. Sunny did nothing wrong.

 

idk I think I am going to hold a literal venue (owner/staff whoever is responding) to a higher standard of professionalism than a freelance videographer who is pissed off bc he’s losing out on work indefinitely at a venue he’s built a rapport with bc they’re deciding to be greedy shits out of nowhere. either way I feel like it’s a stretch for this to be in this thread but I would also say there’s not really a more fitting place to post it either.

edit: imo it’s weird to see some of y’all be like “maybe this shouldn’t be made public” when people in that thread have exposed other shady shit the venue has done (specifically, taking merch cuts while claiming that they don’t do that).

 

Charging for filming seems lame but whatever I don't know what the industry standard is, but taking a cut of merch is real scumbag shit imo

 

Sunny is a cool dude, I'm inclined to think the venue is being shitty. But this also doesn't generally seem like the type of thread for this issue, I dunno.

 

Sunny is coming across fine lol what are y’all talking about

 

If this is an accountability issue, you're going to be upset when I introduce you to every industry ever

 

No one said it shouldn’t be public.. if that’s the preferred venue for you to go off, then go off, I guess.

 

Lol this.

 

I mean, I’ll drop this, because again I have *no* idea what going rate for videographers is these days. $500 seems absolutely insane and worthy of criticism. My issue is that the Twitter thread reads like Sunny was fine with it until the rule applied to him. Maybe that’s a misread!

And the only reason I said anything about “publicly” was bc if the conversation can mutually end at “let’s get dinner talk it out bro!” like it did, then maybe the situation was not quite at “blast them on Twitter” level yet. Hell he’s not even arguing with the decision makers on Twitter, seems like he’s just yelling at a dude running the account

 

I guess I misread some posts, could have sworn I saw at least one post saying something of the sort. either way I still feel like acting like Sunny looked anywhere close to as bad as the venue is a weird take. but that’s just me.

weirdly condescending post considering almost every post (including the original one lol) has called to question whether it belonged in the thread. and also considering probably everyone who takes issue with UT’s practices here is aware the music industry at large and like every industry in general is fucked and exploitative. but you know, get your dunks in I guess lol

 

personally i think labor issues seem appropriate but

 

Hot take: Capitalism is bad and we should actually never refrain from criticizing bad industry practices. Holding venues accountable for exploitatative behaviors is incredibly important.

 

I also think questioning how a person of color, in an industry that historically favors white folks more often than not, responds to labor issues, specifically with a venue they have had a relationship with for ten years...is not great. We should be celebrating all the work that Sunny puts into preserving live music, not trying to limit what he can do.

This reminds me of what happened at The Hideout venue in Chicago recently. A person of color who was employed there for a period of time came out with allegations of workplace mistreatment/hostile work environment/etc. and you had (white) people claiming that the employee was exaggerating things, not in the right to speak out, etc. and minimizing the employees complaints.

 

The concept of accountability is just so subjective, and for the most part, I feel like most things in here are posted in good faith. So, my bad if I came across as, like, gatekeeping accountability in any way.

 

I have never in my life heard of a venue charging a videographer to record. Maybe it’s a common thing but that seems insane to me. Are photographers charged by the venue to come take pictures at the venue?

 

Didn’t really look into it but Sunny rules

 

I feel like we skipped over Brand New very likely coming back shortly rather quickly here.

 

Because they have new shirts in stock?

 

I think there's be a lot more discussion if it was more than that. Still shitty, but hopefully just trying to make a buck with legacy shirts or whatever.

 

They don't deserve the time of day from us imo

 

I'm kinda tired of "brand new might be coming back" every few months, maybe from now on, only bring it up if it does happen?

 

I think we talked about Brand New just enough.

 

I'm on Sunny's side with this one. I'd be pissed if a venue/promoter I'd worked with for 10 years suddenly decided to pull the rug out from under me even if it is a special arrangement that only applies to him considering the clout he's built up as this is full-time gig. Considering he's (very, very arguably) done more for hardcore in a positive manner, I'm generally on his side, especially if he feels like he's being exploited.

Sunny's tone here also shouldn't be surprising to anyone who knows. He's a sarcastic individual who sometimes is a bit petty to his detriment. Can't blame him though since he gets a lot of shit as a leftist POC in a white bro dominated space.