yeah that was a popularity contest, but a good one - maybe it was about how many people you knew, but at least it was democratic and pretty much controlled by the prospective audience. and the few people who would know of someone in a band but hate their band and still vote for them has to be pretty miniscule. (mind you, i'm pretty naive and innocent, and am thinking the best of democracy in general)

//The way kiwi bands are made to compete to recieve supporting roles

it's been like that for a while, perhaps for ever. it's only because the funds are limited, which means those putting up funds definitely want good value for their money. i know you think it should change and i agree, because audiences are suddenly changing and getting more numerous - kiwi music no longer has the cultural cringe thing it once had, so therefore funds should increase as the payoff for marketers and advertisers is increasing. hence the Jack Daniel's Competition - in the end i was surprised a band from a smaller city won ... i'd expect slightly more networking to support more votes for auckland bands ...

It's a beat em or join em scenario. Don't cry about it - learn how to market your band, get support gigs with bigger bands, manage your band, avoid tax on musical expenses etc. Personally, I'm getting some marketing and business textbooks to find out the best way to sell a new, unknown product - my music - to a lot of people.

I'm sure there will be people that will think that by doing this, I am selling out. The alternative (if you want to earn a living writing and playing original music), as I see it, is to join the ranks of Zed, Tadpole and the Feelers - producing lowest common denominator rock which is gauranteed to appeal to the unthinking masses and commercial radio, largely because it is so derivative of successful overseas acts. It'll get you noticed and picked up faster, but at what price?

In my (humble) opinion, "selling out" is simply changing what you would normally do musically in order to fast track one's career - who's to say that the feelers had to curb any natural inclinations for lenghty artistic solos or jaunts away from Verse - Chorus - Verse - Chorus etc, in favour of the hooky numbers they currently write. I'm guessing though, I never saw them pre-their first album.

I TOTALLY agree with Deputy's first comment - quit crying about what you are or aren't dealt and get smart about your product. Unless you enjoy playing to only family and friends, learn some basic marketing techniques.

that's what I reckon anyways.