Dealing With A Manager
From: Charlie Brusco
Subject: RE: Kevin Lyman Speaks The Truth
To: Bob Lefsetz
Cc: Tommy Shaw, James Young, Phil Carson, Stewart Young, Rod Essig, Rob Light, Danny Zelisko, Larry Vallon, Ryan Young, Taki Pappas, Mark CampanaBob… I continually hear you talk about acts charging too much and ticket prices being too high and you lumped the Styx, Foreigner, Kansas tour into that guilt by association in this rant of yours. If you ask Live Nation (they have about 20 of our 36 dates) or any of the independent promoters doing dates on this package you will find their are three very happy participants in the tour. The tour is priced reasonably by today’s standards so the promoter, the artists and the fans are all winning. The show has high production values with a 70′ video screen and great sound and lights. Probably more hit songs played in one night than any other tour on the road and from the faces we see f the fans some very happy fans everywhere we go. The business is not all about sellouts and premium tickets it can also be about fair deals for everyone. By the way this is the 11th year in a row of Styx doing over 100 shows a year and millions of dollars in tickets and merch sales so someone out there must like what we are doing. Nothing wrong with offering fans two for one deals every once and a while.
Charlie
From: Phil Carson
Subject: RE: Kevin Lyman Speaks The Truth
To: Bob Lefsetz
Cc: Tommy Shaw, James Young, Charlie Brusco, Stewart Young, Rod Essig, Rob Light, Danny Zelisko, Larry Vallon, Ryan Young, Taki Pappas, Mark CampanaGood words Charlie!
Bob, we wanted to give the fans a great show at an affordable price. We offered tickets for $15 or less in pretty well every market right from the onsale date. You might find that worthy of mention.
You could always ask one of the twelve thousand or so people who saw the bands last night in Billings, or anyone from the sold out crowd for tonight in Red Rocks what they think.
Best,
Phil Carson
From: Bob Lefsetz
Subject: RE: Kevin Lyman Speaks The Truth
To: Phil Carson
Cc: Tommy Shaw, James Young, Charlie Brusco, Stewart Young, Rod Essig, Rob Light, Danny Zelisko, Larry Vallon, Ryan Young, Taki Pappas, Mark Campana
Oh come on guys, the bottom line is you gave tickets away for free.
And that’s got nothing to do with the quality of the music, but it does speak to demand. And that’s all I commented on.
You can stop the spin.
From: Charlie Brusco
Subject: RE: Kevin Lyman Speaks The Truth
To: Bob Lefsetz
Cc: Tommy Shaw, James Young, Phil Carson, Stewart Young, Rod Essig, Rob Light, Danny Zelisko, Larry Vallon, Ryan Young, Taki Pappas, Mark CampanaBob…no one said we didn’t do 2 for 1’s I said the the acts, The promoters and the fans were all happy…good business. The only one who is bitching is you and frankly no one really gives a fuck what you think. Lets see if you are still around and doing business 35 years from now …good Luck.
Charlie
From: Bob Lefsetz
Subject: RE: Kevin Lyman Speaks The Truth
To: Charlie Brusco
Cc: Tommy Shaw, James Young, Phil Carson, Stewart Young, Rod Essig, Rob Light, Danny Zelisko, Larry Vallon, Ryan Young, Taki Pappas, Mark Campana
Wow, you’re showing your true colors. Won’t serve you well as a manager… I’m just reciting facts and you want to reinterpret them like a politician to make a point that’s got nothing to do with what i said.
Didn’t comment a single word on these acts’ music, or what a good time the fans had. Just that you gave away tickets for free, not 1/2 price (although people did have to pay service fees!)
Does a nice guy like Tommy Shaw know you deal with people this way?
From: Charlie Brusco
Subject: RE: Kevin Lyman Speaks The Truth
To: Bob LefsetzBob… You are making it sound like the only tours that are successful are sellouts. I think shows that average 6000 people a night and are suceesful for the artists, promoter and the fans are successful especially when we try to do it at an affordable price to the promoter and the fans alike. Come out and see a show and see why people like tour. Lots of bang for the buck and you would be surprised at the demo of the crowds…it is all ages. It is a tough summer but we are still trying to entertain people..someone has to.
Charlie
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P.S. While I’ve got your attention, read this story:
