John Harris Talks About Local Music and MMC 2000

John Harris Talks About Local Music and MMC2000
By Ed Yashinsky

While John Harris might have stumbled into the music business in the late 1970s, there is no doubt about his hold on the local entertainment scene. Harris has managed the likes of The Sharks and Kixx, and is currently managing The Martini Brothers and Big Tubba Mista, but that is only part of his involvement. He books bands at local clubs, serves as an entertainment consultant for local hotels and music venues, and regularly offers professional advice to up and coming Central Pennsylvania bands. The Millenium (sic) Music Seminar and Showcase is about to undergo its fourth permutation in early February.

For local musicians, Harris is considered everything from a friend to a confidante to an arrogant asshole, and truth be told he takes all of the kudos and criticisms in stride. He says he doesn’t make a ton of money off events like Millenium and points out that he has to make a living like everyone else. Now, with Millenium becoming an established event, Harris want to teach young bands the ins and outs of the music industry and offer insider tips of the best way for these bands to survive.

What are your feelings on the current Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania music scene?

Not unlike any music scene, it is in a constant and continuous state of flux, and I would say we are currently on an inward flux. Obviously, I prefer original live entertainment and that has been my thrust ever since I’ve been in the industry. I can understand artists playing other people’s music to get paid because that is what the public wants, but if a band wants to be a band then they have to write music. We have some great and distinct and unique songwriters, singer-songwriters and bands in this market, it’s just that it’s very unfortunate they don’t have many places to play.

Besides the bands you manage and locals that have been signed nationally, what local bands have what it takes to break out of Central PA?

There are a lot of things that go into it. You can listen to a demo tape or a CD and say, "wow there’s something there." I really like to listen and see the spark. I have seen that in some bands, but sometimes it doesn’t translate to the stage or the organization and commitment within the band is not there. There are bands that I can help out like a Jump the Gun or an Off the Wagon or a Dead 50’s or a Tony Perry 3, and there are a lot of bands that are making music and every time they make something new you’re seeing something and feeling something.

In recent years, Central PA seems to be losing live music venues instead of gaining venues, why do you think this is the current trend and is there anyway to stop this trend?

Obviously, another device of the music conference is to educate the community to support live music. We have had some success over the weekend that Millenium occurs, but it is also a time of the year when everything is totally dead. Unfortunately, it’s not just clubs — it’s radio stations and all down the line. Right now there is only one radio station in the market that plays local and regional musicians and they honestly don’t do enough of it.

It’s also tough in Harrisburg to bring in outside promoters because of the 10 percent tax; that’s usually the promoter’s profit. When they hear there’s a 10 % tax and you have a $29.00 ticket, $2.90 going to the city and the school district is a lot of money. I understand the city is trying to work that thing since they know it keeps us from having business, but it’s one of the main reasons the Farm Show doesn’t get too many shows.

Let’s talk about the Millenium Music Seminar. Where did the idea of starting a music seminar like this in Harrisburg originate?

I used to go to a lot of music conferences, and I thought this was something this community could use. I get frustrated when bands say, "there’s only one way to go, if we don’t get Harris we can’t get anywhere." Obviously, I have to make a living so entertainment has always been a major part of what I do, but I can’t do it for everybody. A lot of the things covered in this seminar are things bands can do themselves and it’s important that bands learn the avenues of doing it themselves. My goal is to take musicians in their formative years and get them on the right track so they don’t make the mistakes that leave them 30 or 35 years old still trying to weave through the basics, some of which are actually simple.

I’ve had calls from parents saying that I ruined their son’s career by not getting them a gig. I only book bands in one or two places, and unfortunately, there are more issues than just the music, it’s about the band bringing a crowd in as well.

When Live and Poison were coming up they wanted to know how they could get out of the malaise of this area. I told them they had to come from here. I told them to pick a place, make it their place, pack it and then move on to the next place. It starts from the center and moves out from there. Live did that at The Chameleon and Poison took the other route. They borrowed money from all their friends, jumped in a van, and drove out west. Poison opened a lot for Kixx, and took their gimmicks and tricks to the west coast because people hadn’t seen that kid of thing before.

I’ve heard among local bands that Millenium is falling out of favor and the bands don’t feel it is worth their time and effort to participate. Why do you think there are not as many local bands participating this year and where are the replacement bands coming from?

I have heard it, and I can’t be bothered with it. This seminar is about a music community. If these want to be in it, they want to be in it. They’re going to play plenty more free gigs than Millenium and if that’s their problem, fine. I can’t be concerned about it because I am most concerned about educating young musicians. I am sure the musicians who say it’s not worth their time are the ones who are a little bit older and maybe it isn’t worth their time, because maybe their careers are not happening and Millenium isn’t going to jumpstart it.

These bands have to realize that if they live in their own world in their own garage and they never see other bands that they are missing an opportunity to network and find like bands. Musicians all live in their own world and they think they’re the greatest thing since sliced bread, but they don’t know what other bands are doing or what other bands sound like. That’s part of the showcase thing. It’s not just putting on a showcase for the community, it’s putting on a showcase for themselves so they can meet each other.

What does your future hold? I’ve heard that you’re moving to the west coast after Millenium to run a club there. Is there any truth to these rumors?

I have been back and forth to the west coast for a couple different reasons recently, and I still have the irons in the fire out there. I have so many things here besides music — a soccer club and consultation work with several hotels — that I suppose the only way I will go is if I have something very worthwhile. But I guess the truth is I still really haven’t figured out what I want to do with my life.