like many have said,this really pisses me off,birmingham is awash with "promotors" who seem to have a handshake on certain venues in brum.if i was gonna bring 20+ people to a venue id put my own gigs for my band on,most do little or no promoting we promote there gigs,or they wont put u on how the hell are u sposed to get ur music out there if ur new or like us niche,the support is just that...if they got a "big" local band that should pull punters not the other four supporting them,ok they pull there own people,like my band we should be put on say second thro merit of of our music not how many people,i did a midweek for a "promoter",he never put it in any press,put a couple of posters up in the venue he never even spoke to any of the bands just got a pint then sat in the corner the bands ended up sorting the running order ect out,we ended up as main act..playing to the band before us and the bar staff....then i approached him for some support slots as hes in at the 02 birmingham,his answer was yes but u need to sell 15-20 tickets....my veiw....PROMOTERS PROMOTE.....BANDS TURN UP TO PLAY THEIR MUSIC TO GET IT OUT THERE TO NEW POTENTIAL FANS!! if i wanted to promote other peoples gigs ID BE THE PROMOTOR.....also they seem to dissapear just before the end of the gig with the cash box!!