>when he threatened to punch people from <BR>>Seattle? or when he decided to <BR>>say "I don't have time for <BR>>this"? <P>No when he explaining the booking agency view of "established artist". Because the experience you listed did not include working at a booking agency, perhaps you should have taken heed from a man who makes his living doing tours...<P>>And about the "established artists" is bullshit. <BR>>How can anyone sit there and <BR>>say the likes of Alkaholiks are <BR>>not established?<P>Did you read the definition of "established" that Quest gave? The Alkoholiks cannot go anywhere in America and fill 2000-5000 seats. The Roots can. That's the difference, PERIOD. I love the Liks too, but as a promoter i would never pay the same amount, or even NEAR the same amount, for the Liks as I would for the Roots, because I understand the Roots are ESTABLISHED and are GUARANTEED to pack the house if the show is reasonably promoted (hell, I've seen em pack the house for badly promoted shows! I *never* get fliers for Roots shows at 9:30 Club, but they always pack it...).<P> None of their albums <BR>>have reached gold (one of the <BR>>pre-requisites in "qoolquest"'s mind on what <BR>>an "established artist" is)<P>You really didn't thoroughly read Quest's reply, did you? I will post it again for you below...<P>>>being part of the roster at william morris >>talent agency (which controls 70% of the >>entertainment industry)in the department of >>music (namely hip-hop) there are 2 <BR>>>different catagories: 1) artists who are able >>to sell out a venue between 2,500-and <BR>>>5,000 seats. 2) and artists who don't.<P>Quest admitted that including "gold record" as part of the criteria was incorrect and then posted the above. The Liks fall into category 2 when touring outside the West Coast or NYC. By the way, Quest meant HEADLINERS who can pull in 2500-5000 people...that means that folks see the flier with just "alkoholiks" on it (and probably a lesser known opening act) and 3000 people show up. Outside of Cali and NYC, that ain't happening for the Liks. And you say you're in the industry? You must not be paying attention...few, if any, of the Liks albums broke 150,000 in sales...they also don't tour nearly as much as the Roots (as headliners). <P>Also, I noticed that you don't have a profile attached to your posts. What are you, the anonymous industry poster? Hi, I'm Alan Page, video show producer, former show promoter, emcee, co-owner of a very teeny teeny tiny indie label, and all around nice guy. What's your name?<P>Hey while I'm at, let me address a few more of your replies to Quest...<P>>>but in lauryn's eyes busta <BR>>i>s more established because of his <BR>>>media exposure. <P>>- When did i mention Lauryn's eyes?<P>I couldn't believe you posted that. In fact, I was aghast. "In Lauryn's eyes" is a figure of speech and Quest only included it as a further example of "established artist". I am curious as to why Lauryn would think Busta has more media exposure than she does...considering she has been on the cover of many, many national magazines, while I have never seen Busta on the cover of anything non-hip-hop related (i.e. general interest magazines like Newsweek).<P>Peace,<P>Spirit<BR><a href="http://amphibians.iuma.com">http://amphibians.iuma.com<;/a><BR><a href="http://infiniteloop.iuma.com">http://infiniteloop.iuma.com<;/a><BR>DC hip-hop is on the rise...<P>"High grade when I create beats/if I don't get signed/I'ma be the most dope bum that ever walked the streets" - <BR>Aychell (HL, of Khemystery)<P>"If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it's probably a tool of the conspiracy" - unknown