I’m not a fan of SonicBids, although we do have an Electroinic Press Kit (EPK) there, and use the service occasionally.

SonicBids allows performers to create an EPK and submit it to venues for a fee. The fees are split between SonicBids and the venue. The fees are generally greater than the cost of sending a press kit through the mail, and sometimes exceed fifty dollars. Beyond taking the world further down the dreaded ‘pay to play‘ slippery slope, SonicBids sucks because most of the opportunities listed are thoroughly awful. Why on earth would one pay to submit a press kit to a coffee house open mic?

That said, I got an alert from SonicBids today for what may be the worst opportunity ever: unpaid performances at KOA campgrounds. I’m not making this up.

This exciting opportunity is a great way to network your music, gain great contacts and establish a fan base in areas other than your home town. KOA campgrounds enjoy new and exciting talent and are looking forward to offering great bands to their campers.

Here’s a nice blog entry from someone else who thinks SonicBids sucks.

Here’s a wartime ditty from the archives, recorded by western swing legend Ocie Stockard for Cincinnati-based King records. The song laments the ineffectiveness of the wartime Office of Price Administration, or OPA. The tune bears a striking resemblance to ‘Milk Cow Blues’. This is King 600B.

OPA Blues (MP3)