Creating the Niagara Music Scene

Working in the music industry has always been one of those 'golden ticket' jobs.
So many people try to break into the scene, and ultimately fail at living their illusions of grandeur. Luckily, for local promoter Pat Murphy, he found his niche when he was 17 and has been working towards building his business, the Niagara Music Scene, as high as he can fathom.
At 17, Murphy booked his first show at the now defunct Red Square, and then his progress moved somewhat unintentionally until he eventually began his own production company. Starting out as a high school kid with little knowledge of how to manage the events of a live music concert was tough, but he said that after a couple of shows he had people coming to him to play his shows.
"I had just booked my second show and they both went really well, and then all of a sudden I had all these bands asking me to book them shows and then overnight - I was a promoter. I didn't really plan on doing anything long term with it. It was kind of weird, but I ran with it," said Murphy.
He claims that it began as a 'high-school hobby', but six years later he has turned it into his full time job. Whether it is phoning and emailing agents, researching bands, posting advertisements on the Internet or postering in high proximity areas, there is a lot of work that goes into the construction of a concert.
Coincidentally, Murphy has found the job that most undergrads strive for. The opportunity to be your own boss and work your own hours, in comparison to the mundane nine-to-five that is ever-present in today's society, are few and far between.
But, being a promoter isn't as glamorous as it seems. Without a financial backer, every show that is booked is a liability. Generally bands have contracts and guarantees, and those deals need to be met, whether or not there are enough paying customers to aid in the collection of funds to support the act.
"Losing money is the worst feeling ever. If you have a show that you know it's not going to do well, you can tell within a couple weeks, and you just start hating those weeks. You can't get it off your mind. It's like a payment for nothing. It is really painful, you think about it all the time and think about how much you are going to end up losing," said Murphy.
"When it's your own money, sometimes you have to borrow or do whatever you have to do to pay that band whatever amount that you honoured or guaranteed them. If you don't do that - if you neglect or sketch out and not pay somebody, when agreements were made, it only reflects bad on how you are as a businessperson. It can hinder your chance of moving forward in the industry. You're only as good as your word in this industry."
Fortunately for Murphy, the good shows outweigh the bad. Obviously, losing money and bringing a band to town to have them play to an empty venue is terrible, but the feeling of packing the house and having an enjoyable night highlights the real reason why Murphy got into this business.
Usually the bands appreciate the work that Murphy has done for them, but there has been a couple times where he or the staff at L3 have been confronted because they were not happy with situations or agreements that had been put forth.
"There was this one time, when a member of a declining hip-hop band got in my face. I didn't feel too threatened because I was promoting the concert he was playing that night. Basically they had some unfair requests that weren't agreed upon in the contract that I was abiding by, he was not pleased and he got in my face to pick a fight and said 'I'm not a Backstreet Boy, and you're not going to grind me'," said Murphy.
Promoting is one of those jobs where the good nights make up for the bad scenarios that come about. Brawls, disagreements with bands, confusion with agents or bands hanging from the rafters can all affect the way a show operates, but Murphy tries not to let these situations phase him. He would much rather look at the good situations, such as being able to bring in bands from all over the world. Over the last couple months, he has brought The Arkells, The Most Serene Republic, Stereos and The Wooden Sky to St. Catharines' downtown core.
"I feel so fortunate that I am able to work with music on a daily basis. If I wasn't working with music I would be consumed with it anyways. Now, I can channel it for a business purpose. In any capacity, working with music is amazing," said Murphy
"It is what it is. You have your days that are good, and then you have your days that aren't so good. Working downtown in a club where there is alcohol, things can get pretty crazy. But, in the end, promoting has treated me well. I've learned that the harder you work, and the more you believe in something, the more rewards there are."
Check out Murphy's upcoming events at niagaramusicscene.com.