Pay Through the Nose

To Pay or not to Pay...that is the question.

I have seen some recent posts on this, as well as been approached by several different promoters and venues about "Paying to Play"

I personally like to think I'm an open minded individual. I think I'm pretty level-headed, that is unless I've been at Red Eyed Fly pounding Love Juice, then I'm pretty water-headed. I try to look at both sides of the coin, and imagine myself on the other side of the table. Often times I try not to make a rash decision and get the counsel of those around me of whom I admire and respect their opinion. Taking all that into account, I then make the decision and hope for the best. I do this in both my personal and professional lives...including Snake Skin Prison.

So here's what I think about paying to play a particular venue and/show:

-If you are a brand new band, and looking to get out there, and an opportunity comes along to play a big show...then sure...what quicker way to gather the troops then to drop some cashola and take a chance at a big audience

-I think if you're playing as a hobby you'll play for free...but not pay to play

-I think if you're playing as a business...uh...well the last time I got my oil changed at Pep Boys the didn't pay me...I paid them for their services.

-As for the venues charging to pay...well this again is where I would say, that's a double edged sword. Bringing in a big headliner, then charging the bands to open for them, makes perfect business sense. However, as a musician, I have to question the quality of show you're delivering your audience.

EX: "Just released: Metallica reunites with Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine...this show is going to happen only once...and on MARS!! with special opening guests:
-Tha Shithouse Boys
-Dickhead and the Spermy's
-Diamond Crusted Terd Swappers
-They Rapin Evurbody Up in Hur!
...and 28 other no name shit bands whose parents have money to buy their way in...hence the Rebecca Blacks and Justin Beibers flooding the music channels that were once dominated by real musicians who play real music without the aid of stealing…or sampling…from other musicians and/or machines!!!!

So...again there are 2 sides of the coin here....Donald Trump would say, "EFF it, we're making money and that's all that matters in the world...."

However...Sharon Osbourne would say, "Eff that...we can make money and put together a KILLER Line up...people will pay for good music!!" (hence the success of Ozzfest for the past how many years???...15…)

As a venue you have to ask yourself, are you doing this for money?? Or are you doing this cause you love music and you love the people and you love giving them what they want and want to make money??

That's just my thoughts...

Has Snake Skin Prison paid to play??? yes...years ago when we had 6 songs and Keef had short hair.
Will Snake Skin Prison pay to play now??? yes...if currency is Straight Up Southern Metal!! LOL....if you're talking our hard earned green backs...no...we will not pay to play.

Now...how/and how much should a venue pay a band...whew lawdy...that's a whole other monster. Stay Tuned for that one!

Come check out Snake Skin Prison's next Austin show!!


NEW MERCH
NEW SONGS
SAME 3 COOL CATS

Me, My Book and I

Hola from the land of plenty...plenty of time to write you! I must admit it's been a while since my last blog. This blog operates via Google, therefore I sign in with my Gmail account. Well my Gmail account got hacked and they disabled it. So I couldn't sign into my blog. I thought, "Great Scott!! What if I have to start over...all that knowledge lost!" Luckily for you loyal reader, that didn't happen :).

So what's up...well let's see. Snake Skin Prison literally eff'd Dirty Dog last Saturday during ROT Rally. Bikes, Babes, Boobs, and Booze! What else is there? Well, maybe Bologna?? We played a 2 hour set, got to play some songs that we haven't played in a while and had a lot of fun!! Thank you all that came out!



You might notice we are spreading out our dates...well there's some serious Shizzle about to go down in the land of SSP. Good shizzle and I can't wait to tell you about it, but until then...just keep that head banging and that fist in the air.

Our next Austin show is July 30 @ Red Eyed Fly:



That is probably one of Austin's most powerful line-ups. Ayufa!!

Have you supported SSP lately? Need a reason?? Wanna be the talk of the room when you walk into a party...and not because you're drinking Wild Irish Rose???



Getcha one of those babies....email: matt@snakeskinprison.com for more info!!

So...you might be scratchin your noggin thinking, so what's up with the title of the blog?? "Me, My Book, and I" well...allow me to tell you faithful follower :).

I read biographies and autobiographies as much as I can. It's like going to Rock N Roll School...listening to professors teach from experience and real life happenings. I just got a Kindle for my bday and I love the ayufa outta it! I have since read:

-Sammy Hagar
-Vince Neil
-Dave Mustaine

So in a little over 30 days I have read 3 of them :). As reading these books, one thing dawned on me. They have all written AFTER the fact. Meaning, they are very confident and it's very easy to say some things, when you're sitting in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills. So I thought...what if I wrote a book...before hand.

Ya know, no one knows the future of SSP and we don't know if this band is going to grow into a national/international threat or not. I want it too, however after reading these books it looks like things might be better if it doesn't LOL.

And if nothing else, it will be fun to look back on it and remember the times. Cause regardless of how far this band goes, I've already achieved more than I ever expected. This band has done some pretty awesome things, and there's many more to come, you can bank on that. These are some exciting times and when better to write about something, then as it's happening!!

From time to time, I may leak parts here or there, just to keep it interesting, but right now I'll leave you with the title:

Matt Ballengee

All Aboard the Rock n Roll Pain Train


Long Live the Serpent King

Lyrical Gangsta Pt. 1

Here at SSP HQ we like to keep things interesting.

As you might have seen, we were holding a contest for the SSPrisonite that brought the most people to our Stubbs show. Check it:



Well...the winner of that Contest was Die Hard SSP Supporter Anthony Tod!! He sold over 15 presale tix and brought more people the day of...so...from the above mentioned...Anthony has chosen for Keith to wear Jeans!! Keep on the lookout for which show this will go down at.

This Saturday SSP co-headlines Hanover's Memorial Day Festivities on Saturday with Broken Teeth. Talk about a memorial day to remember!! Come check it out:



Alright, with that out of the way, I have been rec'ing several inquires about lyrics for SSP tunes. We don't print the lyrics in our Album notes, nor do I have them posted anywhere. So, I'm going to start a little series called, "The Lyrical Gangsta" where I'll post and explain the lyrics and what they mean. Got a song that's making you scratch your noggin?? Email me at: matt@snakeskinprison.com and we'll see if we can't scratch that itch.

Today I'm going to start with an oldie but a goodie:

"Let it Roll"
You can hear it HERE!!

Let me take you on a little trip down a dark black road not far from here
(I was driving at night down a back road in WV)
A trip I took now I wasn’t alone but I was so damn lonely so far from home
(I had a gal with me, whom I would end up dating for several years later on in life...so I wasn't alone, however I was very mixed up with where I was going in life...so I felt very alone)
Late night black light no head lights, down a one way road doing 95
(it was after midnight, and I was drunk and forgot to take the black out covers off my headlights...I was flying down the backroads of WV)
That radio blaring rock n roll…I heard a scream so loud nearly shook my soul
(My CD Player was blaring Motley Crue, I looked down to turn it up and the fine feline screamed at me cause I had ran off the road)

*At this point my truck flips 5 times and lands back on it's wheels*

Just when I thought that it was the end, I cranked it back up and I did it again
(this line has a couple meanings, the truck landed on it's wheels, and I remember cranking the motor...it started and I tried to drive off...unsuccessfully. Also it's a reference to how even though I had made a huge mistake it would be years, and a couple more wrecks before I would learn my lesson).


I said, O..No…nasty reputation having too much fun
Here we go…some like to let it rock…I let it roll
(I had a reputation of loving to party...and still do I suppose. The title "Let it Roll" is in reference to my truck rolling 5 times)

Knocking on a house that never existed, was the shock of my life now I finally admit it
(This is funny now that I look back on it...but I was so out it I was knocking on a barn that I thought was a house...then proceeded to realize and try to walk to a house I saw in the distance and walked right into an electric fence...hence the shock of my life)

Put my back to the stretcher on the floor…when they asked if I was done I was screaming for more
(Once the Ambulance arrives, I was just wanting to go home, the Head dude informed me that the state police were on their way and if I was there I would have to take a breathalyzer and field test. I then grabbed the stretcher myself...laid it on the ground, hopped on and said "alright let's go!")
Just when I thought that I was free, they asked for the driver they pointed at me
(as we pulled out I heard and saw the blue lights...and thought EFF!...the police officer looked in and said, "who was driving??" and everyone pointed at me.)
*Note on the album I say, "pointed at Keef" for dramatic effect*

Chorus


For the record I went on to the hospital. I remember being pulled out and the first 2 faces I saw was my mom and sister. They were smoking so fast I thought they were eating them. By the Grace of God I didn't get a ticket and no one was severely hurt. The girl with me broke her collar bone, and I felt bad for that, but then again she climbed in the vehicle with me, I didn't tell her to go!! ;)

Now that I'm in Austin we have a thing called, "CABS", and I don't have to drive anywhere!! 512 452 9999 <-in my speed dial!!

Be careful out there folks it's a hard knock life and we'll never get outta here alive!!

Until Next Time!!
AYUFA

Shave Da Hawk!!!

Alright Alright Alright!!

Here at SSP HQ, the wicked never rest.

After slamming Stubbs to a packed out bar and sluggin San Angelo this weekend, yet another wild and erotic adventure is upon us.

You might be familiar with this guy:




Yep that's right...Ol Marc Coronado...

Well, due to outside forces(positive of course), Marc will be shaving his head and dumping the Hawk at our June 3 show in San Antonio @ Clicks.

So...what the ayuf (eff) does this mean to you?? Well...how would you like to be the one to do it?? On stage?? In Marc's Hometown????

Hellz yeah, Me too!! So here's what we're doing. Snake Skin Prison will be holding a Silent Auction, and the highest bidder gets to come on stage during SSP's set, Friday June 3rd @ Clicks in San Antonio TX, and buzz the Hawk off right there!!

So...here's what you do to bid...
Email you bid to: matt@snakeskinprison.com with the SUBJECT: HAWK and in the body, just enter your name and the amount you are bidding. You will receive a response as to whether you are the highest bidder or not.
**must be present to win**
**you will be notified in advance if you are the current winner, in order to make arrangments to be at the show**
**BIDDING WILL END AT MIDNIGHT ON 06/1/11...SO WEDNESDAY NIGHT MIDNIGHT**

Let the bidding begin....if you have any questions again email Matt @ Matt@snakeskinprison.com.

Here's to hair... I wish I had!

MB

The Cradle Will Rock....

In kindergarten we had nap time...whatever happened to that?? I've never been to Italy, but supposedly everyone takes siestas in the middle of the day...we need to get back on that schedule.

Anyway, in Kindergarten, we had nap time and we took turns bringing music (tapes) to school to listen to during nap time. So it was my turn and Mrs. Hazelwood said, "Alright Matthew, go home and tell your mommy and daddy you need music for nap time."

So as any loyal 5 yr old with a cowlick would...I did. My dad handed me a tape and said, "here ya go boy...tell ‘er...put that in on side A and press play"

So as any loyal 5 yr old with a cowlick would...I did.

The next day we all laid down on our mats and as everyone is settling in...eyes getting sleepy...holding favorite stuffed animals, picking noses, other awesome things kids do...the raunchy gritty guitar tone of George Thorogood and the Destroyers comes blaring out of the dual deck cassette tape player...and yep you guessed it...I started playing air guitar...right there in front of my teacher and class.



That's when I knew I was ready to rock... LOL...and they could tell right away I was bad to the bone. \m/

That's a true story. Don't believe me?? Go to the source...my mother. She told me...and she'll be at Stubbs this Friday night along with the Destroyer himself...the ol' man.





TICKETS are selling fast...super fast. So Click the image above to get yours today...you can pay online for $10 and pick them up @ the Venue!!

Adios Amigos!!
See ya Friday!!
MB

NEW ssp PROMOTION

Alright!! Check the Vid!! The ONE person that sells the most Advance Tickets to Stubbs this Friday. The Winner gets to choose between 3 ridiculous acts to be performed by SSP.

Marc - will run down 6th street in his boxers (at a later determined date...not during the show!)
Keef - will play a show in Jeans (he hasn't worn anything but camo pants for 10 years)
Matt - will take a shot of party liquor every 2 minutes for 20 minutes...that's 10 shots in 20 minutes!!!

To get tickets just contact SSP via anyway you know how:
Facebook, myspace, Specs, Adult Megaplex....or booking@snakeskinprison.com

Remember the winner will only get to pick ONE of these!! So get to selling them tickets...

DOA

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