• Tulsa Lines
  • Tulsa Lines Merch
  • Industry Autopsy
  • 5 ON IT
  • Events
  • About
    • Contact
    • /strēt/ wear >
      • YALE AVENUE T-SHIRT
      • PEORIA AVENUE T-SHIRT
      • MEMORIAL DRIVE T-SHIRT

Tulsa
Lines

Subscribe to Newsletter

"Tulsa makes $12 not worth it..."

7/12/2016

1 Comment

 
A night out on the town, Tulsa to be exact. Normally this would involve a movie, a bar, maybe dinner, but this particular evening something something different caught my attention. Rappers vs. Poets II, seemed  interesting enough. A hip-hop event happening and on a Friday evening nonetheless. For Tulsa, this is a very big step in a city, where this wasn't always the case. A local rapper named Verse stated in The Voice magazine,
“They had all these pay-to-play shows at clubs, where you had to sell a certain number of tickets to get your slot, or pay for whatever tickets you didn’t sell. It just wasn’t legit.”
(
Matt Cauthron, March 2015) Blowing up: The rise of Tulsa's hip-hop underground Retrieved from http://www.thetulsavoice.com/March-A-2015/Blowing-up/)
But this event seemed pretty legit filled with poetry, rappers, battling, a real hip-hop atmosphere. That was until one thing stopped me dead in my tracks. It was a $12 admission fee. I know 12 dollars thats nothing, but in Tulsa for a local event that seemed like a little too much. But why is that? If we breakdown some of the normal activities that we consider entertainment then it would be a little something like this; 1) The average movie ticket during peak hours is around $12 with tax. 2) The average drink is $6 to $7 depending on the grade of alcohol you get, so 2 drinks and a tip and your already over $12. 3) Dinner at a restaurant on the cheap side is around $9 to $10 plus a tip and there you have it the price of admissions. But why is it so hard for us to think that an event in Tulsa is not worth as much as what we get from the other things that we routinely spend on money on?

One explanation may be past experiences. I admit that there are more venues like SoundPony or TheYeti  that offer free admission to listen to local artists, in which hip-hop artists have undoubtedly used to their advantage. But if you have ever been to a big time hip-hop show then you know that these shows just don't give you the same type of feeling that a big time hip-hop show gives. I'm not talking about flashing lights or projection screen videos, or even a big name headliner. One of the biggest things that Tulsa hip-hop events miss is atmosphere. Atmosphere, why else go out, whether that be a movie, a bar, or dinner atmosphere is what we pay for. And in the case of some of these events a small group surrounded by the 'not your typical hip-hop audience, but the normal bar patrons' are not enough to promote the type of atmosphere that brings in larger audiences or the recognition of being a hip-hop destination.  

A second theory would be location. Tulsa is not exactly the hip-hop mecca. The premiere venues such as the BOK or Cain's ballroom does not cater to the hip-hop audience, and rarely do they allow headliners of the hip-hop genre to play at these locations. Which points back to the venues SoundPony and TheYeti, where admission is free. But does free admission hurt the brand (i.e. local hip-hop artists)? There is no doubt that no one single hip-hop fan would turn down a free concert to see Drake or J. Cole in a personal setting like these venues. But this can almost have the opposite affect on a local artist trying to make a name and ultimately build a brand through ticket sales and merchandising. An example of this occurred when Apple came out with its' cheapest version of the iPhone ever. And from an pricing perspective, it was true that more people were able to afford the iPhone, but one thing that Apple forgot is that people don't buy iPhones just because they can afford them. People buy iPhones because, not just everyone can afford them, and it is a symbol of one's economic status. There are a million different phones on the market that are way cheaper and do more than the iPhone, but the brand is what sets it apart year-in and year-out. And for Tulsa artists the price of admission is definitely a factor when it comes to branding yourself and getting more and more people to in the doors.

Well, maybe Tulsa rappers don't have the bars (i.e. lyrical bars)? Whoa!!! HOLD UP!!!. It's still a little to early in this publications life to be making bold statements like that. So what about the way an event is promoted? OK, thats a little better. In an era where the internet and social media rein supreme and with information practically at your finger tips with the evolution of smart phones. Is there too much information out there? Who do I follow? These are some of the biggest questions to ask yourself if your looking for local events in Tulsa. The research that goes behind finding an event in Tulsa on the weekends can literally start on a Monday and last until Friday evening. Furthermore, spending money on a place where you are unsure if there will be the right....you know what I'm about to say 'Atmosphere' is important. The promotion for a particular event is key not only getting people in the door, but it also getting the 'right' people in the door, thus creating the perfect 'Atmosphere' (Preach as Snoop Dogg would say). And there is definetly a void in the since of having a central location where people can see what local artists are performing or even different events that are going on. (P.S. Hopefully this publication can fill that void, one day.)

Genius!!! So there you go, we solved the problem right? People are less likely to pay $12 for a local event because, Tulsa doesn't have atmosphere. Whoa!!!HOLD UP!!! Not today!! Not Today!!! I don't think that the only reason why people are less likely to pay $12 is because Tulsa has no Atmosphere. Have you been around the city lately? It's oozing with Atmosphere. But I do thing that the right of combination better experiences, better promotions and the right Atmosphere, will take Tulsa from a 'good place' to hear local music to one of 'the places' to hear great local music and who knows maybe even for 12 bucks. As always feel free to comment, like, and share this article.
1 Comment
Paul
7/27/2016 04:58:53 pm

I think you make a good point about the general atmosphere and promotion of the scene in Tulsa.
I imagine one of the things that is needed is a measure of cohesiveness in the hiphop community in Tulsa. It's not enough for a venue to throw a show here and there and have it be advertised on a show by show basis. There needs to be a real sense of community. A core that cultivates and drives the energy.

I think you're on the right track w this blog...it's certainly needed. Someone needs to do the work to tie the scene together.

As this community develops it will carry w it the atmosphere needed.

Good post!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About Author
    Just another John Doe seeing the visions of local TulSa Artists.

    Archives

    October 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All
    1ForTheShow
    #1STANNUALDREAMLANDFESTIVALWINNERSAndLOSERS
    1st Verse
    #2020
    #2021
    #2021 Rap Up
    #2021 Rap-up
    21 Savage
    24K Astall
    2ndAnnualWCMF
    2Peece
    #2U
    2WCMF
    4batz
    50 Cent
    50 Years Of Hip Hop
    #530
    5 On It
    90DaysPastDue
    #918lien
    95
    #99ProblemsChallenge
    #AaronSawyerWinningForClicks
    #AceHood
    Adam The God
    Adonis
    #AdonisHeirToTheIndustry
    A FEMALE RAPPER SHOULD BE IN YOUR TOP 5
    AF Quari
    Afterparty
    AI
    A.I.
    #AICrossesOverToTheMusicIndustry
    A King's Intuition
    AlbumReview
    Alexis Renee
    #Alkaline
    #AllFactsPt2
    All I Want For Christmas Is CRYPTO
    #AllLove
    #AllOfThePlayers
    #ALoveSoComplicated
    #AnEastSigning
    Ang
    AP=Chem
    Apchemband
    #AreYouDown?
    #Arrived
    #ArrivedNowThatImHere
    Artificial Intelligence
    Auri
    Ausi
    AUSI AND WINNY FLOWS
    #Autopilot
    A Written Testimony
    Ayilla
    #BackFromMe
    Bambi
    #BandCamp
    Bash The Rappa
    #BattleRapAintDead
    #BeCareful
    #Beforeigo
    Benny The Butcher
    Best Rap Album Of 2018
    Best Rap Album Of 2023
    BET Awards 2023
    Bezel
    Bezel365
    Biggie
    Billy J. Bruner
    BitCoin
    Black Cowboy
    Black Friday
    Black Teens Are Breaking The Internet And Seeing None Of The Profits
    Blerds
    Blog
    Blu Cato
    #BlueMagic
    #BOBWS
    Boneyard
    Bonnie
    Book
    Boss'd Up
    #BossUp
    #BounceOut
    #BounceOutWithThat
    #BrandsAndBusiness
    #BroadDayGang
    Brooklyn
    Brooklyn Public Library
    #BYE
    #Caillou
    #CallsOfTheNorthWind
    #CalvinsStory
    #CantHoldBackFreestyle
    #CantTellMeNuthin
    ChatGPT
    Chip Kip
    #ChopAndMeet
    Chris Richardson
    Chris TheGod MC Cain
    Chubbs Perry
    Cityboy Chop
    #Closure
    #Collect
    Covert Run
    Creo Cash
    Cry Baby Hill
    Crypto A Dish Best Served Cold
    Cryptocurrency
    Curren$y
    Curren$y Is Getting A Key To Downtown Main St.
    #CuttinUp
    Cutty Forever
    DAMN. I STAYED UP TIL 3 AM BUYING CRYPTOCURRENCY
    Dangerous Rob
    Dark Clouds And Purple Rain
    David Puffin'
    David Townsend
    #Deadicated
    Deezy
    DeJay Williams
    Demetrius "Juice" Deason
    Devon $.U.A.V.E
    Dialtone
    Dial Tone
    DJ Drama
    DJ $ir Mike
    DJ Noname
    Dj Noname.
    #djnoname.ShowsWhyHesTheDonAtHisMercuryResidency
    D Koolin
    Dolemite
    Dolemite Is My Name
    Domo
    DonOfANewEra
    Don't Let Social Media Get You Fucked Up
    #DownIntheDM
    #Drake
    #Dream
    Dream Land Festival
    Drop The Fucking Album
    Drugz In The Party
    Dr. View
    Earl Hazard
    #EastieBoyz
    Eazy The Block Captain
    Ebay
    Eddie Murphy
    Elo
    “EMOCEAN”
    EPMD
    Events
    #EverybodyKnows
    #Fabolous
    Facebook Ads
    #FamilyFeud
    #Fantasy
    Fassler Hall
    #FastCars
    #FeelGood
    Female Rappers
    Fem-Jay
    Fire In Little Africa
    FIRE IN LITTLE AFRICA: THE ALBUM THAT DIDN’T LIVE TO IT’S POTENTIAL
    Flavio Cútatore
    #Flavorpiece
    #Floating
    #Fly
    FN Meka
    #ForBlackWallStreet
    #FordFreestar
    #FreeddyKrueger
    Free Larry Hoover Concert
    #FreeYeFromTheDrakeObsession
    #Frozen
    #FuckILookLike
    Gang51E June
    #GangstaGrillz
    Genius
    #GetOnUp
    #GhostinBlood
    GiveAway
    #Go4WhatYouKnow
    #GoAskEm
    Groundwaves
    #Grow
    #GuerrillaWarfare2
    Guthrie Green
    GxThree
    Hakeem Eli'juwon
    Hamilton
    Hank Byrd
    Hansons
    #Hated
    Heezy Made Yungin
    Hip Hop
    Hip-Hop
    HipHop918
    Hip-Hop Evolution
    HIPPIETREE SHOOTS AT THE BIG APPLE FOR AUSI ALBUM DROP
    Hittman Holla
    Hoop2Help
    HOV
    #HowMuchDoesADollarCost
    How Much Does A Dollar Cost
    How To Get Paid From A Free Show
    #Hustle&Flow
    #HustleSoldSeparately
    #IamYungQwan
    #ICantFWJunkiez
    #IDONTFEELLIKERAPPIN
    I Hated Fire In Little Africa
    #Imed=2
    #ImPlugged
    #ImUpNext
    #InMyMind
    Instagram
    (IN) VISIBLE MAN
    #Issa
    IT AIN'T ABOUT WHO DID IT FIRST.
    IT'S GOING DOWN IN THE QUESTION
    #IWatchedThe2023BETAwardsIKindOfLikedIt
    Jacobi Ryan
    Jarry Manna
    Jay Balfour
    Jay Electronica
    JAY ELECTRONICA'S NEW ALBUM IS WATCH THE THRONE 2
    Jay MBA
    J.A.Y. Pilotlife
    JayZ
    #Jay Z
    Jazz In Little Africa
    Jazzy
    #JCole
    J. Cole
    J. Cole Type Beat
    Jeezmino
    J. Friday
    Joey Organic
    Johnny Polygon
    #Junkie
    #JustMe
    JuvieRay
    #KanyeWest
    Karma Jonez
    #KeemHome
    #KeengCut
    Keeng Cut
    Keezy
    Keezy Kuts
    Kelefa Sanneh
    Kelly Slater Experince
    KendrickLamar
    #Kerosene
    #KillDialTone
    Killer Mike
    #KillUsBoth
    King Spence
    #KingSpencer
    King Spencer
    Kneeling In Tulsa
    K.O.
    Kode Ransom
    LA
    LA Coliseum
    #Lane
    Larry Hoover
    #LaserQuest
    Lee Littles
    #LetGo
    #LetterToTheTown
    #Lie2MyFace
    #LikeThat
    Lil Baby
    Live From The Tisdale
    Live From Trytan
    Livin Life In-The Ghetto
    #LnR
    #LonelyAtTheTop
    LonelyBands
    #LookinGood
    #LoseYourLove
    #LoveAffair
    Love And Hip Hop Miami
    #LovelaceAndCompany
    #LovesMeLikeYou
    LVLC
    #MacN'WithMess&Mike
    Magnum
    Malachi
    Malik
    MarchMadness
    Marshall Sinclaire
    Max B
    M.C.
    #Medicated
    Medisin
    Medley Jones
    MeekMill
    Mel Gibson
    Meta
    #Michael
    #Michelangelo
    Micki Ronnae
    Middle Of The Map
    Mikey Beatz
    #Mode
    #MogulMinded
    #MoorFlex
    #MoreThanAnArtist
    #MrUniverse
    Murs
    #MyManFreestyle
    Nas
    NASA BO
    #NasIsIrrelevant
    NetFlix
    New Haven
    #NewHavenNewConfidence
    New Page Alert
    Nipsey Hussle
    #NipseyHussle.TheMarathonContinues
    #NoiseTheRealUndergroundMusicOfTulsa
    Noname
    #NoPressure
    Norega
    #NotLikeMe
    #NotTonight
    #Oasis
    OKC
    Oklahoma City
    Okmulgee
    OmaleyB
    Omeli
    One Aux
    #OneNight
    #OnNow
    OTS J Huncho
    Otsutsuki Brothers
    #OWNIT
    Pade
    #Paradise
    Parris Chariz
    #PartTwo
    #Penthouse
    #PitStop
    Playya 1000
    Podcast
    Poetry
    #PotOfGold
    #PoundMan
    Pre-Rolled
    Prince
    #Procrastination(Broke)
    Purple Rain
    #PushaT
    #Rap4
    Rap Battle
    Rap Or Go To The League
    RayBans
    Ray June
    RECIPE
    Remy Ma
    #Reparations
    REPARATIONS ISN’T WHAT TULSA NEEDED!
    #RestrictedCalls
    Rick Ross
    #RidingLegacyACelebrationOfTheBlackCowboy
    #Rockstar
    #Rollin
    #RollUp
    Ruby G
    #RunitBack
    Rush Fest
    SAIKKO10
    SAIKKOMIKE
    SAIKKOTWINS
    Sanaa Mason
    SANAA MASON IS READY TO MAKE YOU SIZZLE WITH HER LYRICS.
    Saturday Night Slaps
    Screenwriter
    #ScrewCool
    #ScrewCool3
    See No Hip-Hop
    SeriouslyK5ive
    ServiceGanja
    SERVICEGANJA: THE BLACK OWNED BUSINESS HELPING DISPENSARIES SCALE IN A PANDEMIC
    SheisKO
    SHOULD YOU POST YOUR SPOTIFY WRAPPED 2020?
    ShyGuy
    Shyheim
    Shyheim Nwadiei
    #SilvernGold
    #Sincerely
    #SIRNONAME
    #Smile
    Snackin' With Flavor
    Sneak The Poet
    #SnowOnThaBluff
    #SoFarGoneChallenge
    SoloFunds
    #SoLoFundsTheNewWayArtistsCanFundTheirAlbums
    #SomeoneNew
    #SomeTimeInJune
    #Song33
    #sotulsa
    #sotulsachallenge
    SoufWessDes
    #SoulbodyCyphersGotTalent
    #SoulbodyMetaCyphers
    Spotfiy Wrapped 2020
    #SSS
    Stay Flavored My Friend
    #StayLoyal
    St. Domonick
    Steph Simon
    STEPH SIMON LEAVES A REASONABLE DOUBT WITH HIS ALBUM "DIAMONDS FROM THE TISDALE"
    Steve Stove
    #StoicDayOne
    Stoic: Day One
    #Summertime Shootout
    SuperFriends
    Surron The 7th
    Survival Guide: Cry Baby Hill
    #Swear2Gawd
    SYB Slowbucks
    SynthDom
    T3DA
    T3REZZY
    #TapIn
    #TCTAS
    Tea Rush
    #The2WeeksOffProject
    #TheBiggerPicture
    THE BOOK OF ELO: A JOURNEY TO GRANDMASTER OF RAP
    #TheBookOfHov
    The Book Of Hov: A Celebration Of The Life And Work Of Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter
    The Deeksta
    #TheGlassesForTheSociallyAwkward
    TheGRAE
    #TheInterview
    The Juice Radio Show
    The North Wind Masquerade
    #This2ShallPass
    #TickTock
    Timbaland
    TINA TOKEN TYPES HER REVENGE
    #TKO
    Tokyo Jetz
    #TonesBeach
    Toree T.
    Track2Track
    #Track4
    #Traffic
    #TrapTrunkz
    Tre Trezzz
    Trip G
    Tulsa
    #TulsaBounce
    Tulsa Cypher: #FEMALESPITTAZ
    Tulsa Cypher: The Vets
    @tulsalines
    Tulsa Lines Podcast
    Tulsa Lines Show
    Tulsa Rappers All Sound The Same
    TULSA...THE CITY THAT SLEEPS
    Tulsa World Culture
    TXR
    #umademeast4r
    #Upside
    @urfave_nessa
    Valentine Day
    Verse
    Victory Lap
    #Viral
    Visions From The Cinema
    Visions From The Tisdale
    VSXO
    #Wavy(HiddenTrack)
    WCMF
    WCMF Registraion Form
    WhatDoesAIKnowAboutTulsaHiphop
    WhyNot?
    Why You Should Go To Local Shows
    Winny Flows
    World Culture Keys
    World Culture Music Festival
    Written Quincey
    YE
    You A Mess
    Young DV
    #YourFavoriteRapperHasAGhostWriter
    #YourMoneysNoGoodHere
    You Should Run Facebook Ads During The Superbowl
    You.th
    #Yukmouth
    Yung Qwan
    Yung Trunkz
    Zack Thra$h
    Zoolu Tha Captain

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo from ttmarketing
  • Tulsa Lines
  • Tulsa Lines Merch
  • Industry Autopsy
  • 5 ON IT
  • Events
  • About
    • Contact
    • /strēt/ wear >
      • YALE AVENUE T-SHIRT
      • PEORIA AVENUE T-SHIRT
      • MEMORIAL DRIVE T-SHIRT