National event promotors RAW natural born artists are controversial for a few reasons, poor taste notwithstanding. The group’s Honolulu branch has thrown several “parties” at places such as Vice Nightclub and Hawaiian Brian’s that feel more like a sweaty, depressing pyramid scheme than anything that promotes or supports the artists involved.
LA Weekly wrote about the organization, which is based in Laguna Hills, California, last year and said the problem is, “although this isn’t mentioned on Raw’s website—or in most of the write-ups about it—the talent has to pay to play. Artists, bands, and designers who want to be in a Raw showcase need to sell 20 tickets at $10 apiece. If they can’t, they must make up the difference out of pocket.”
Honolulu-based artist, photographer, and contributor to Contrast Magazine, Landon Tom, took issue with this business model publicly on twitter, and he makes some good points. See below.
RAW Honolulu’s next event, SCOPE, is scheduled for September 18 and will feature people called Darkly Darling, DSanti, and UrLoved. What are your thoughts on RAW Honolulu?
These guys called RAWartists contacted me. This is a good read, if anyone else in HI has been contacted: http://t.co/Zbef06vJna — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
Hey Haley, can you defend yourself against all the shit people are saying on tha innanet bout u guys? Please leave Hawaii now. — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
OHH EVEN BETTER THEY HAVE TWITTER @rawhonolulu SUP — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
Hey @RAWHonolulu, question, if I take part in this do you guys straight up do everything and I just make art and get free marketing off u?? — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
Or do I have to sell tickets for you? @RAWHonolulu — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
Also, I’m hungry. Rent is ridiculous here. I want to make some kind of money to make up for the time spent on creating. Pay me? @RAWHonolulu — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
Sorry if anyone I know is involved in @RAWHonolulu. Not mad at you but you guys know your RAWboss is on his sea-doo in the Caribbean rght? — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
I’m not done with my @RAWHonolulu rant. Your twitter sucks. No updates since nov? What do you guys do again?? — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
Where do you guys get the money to throw these events? How long after an event do you support/promote the artist? @RAWHonolulu — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
I want a 100 person guest list for your party and I’ll make you free art, deal @RAWHonolulu? — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
.@RAWHonolulu pic.twitter.com/pJ5ECIVpaS — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
My main issue is they want you to sell tickets for them and their trick is to build you a half assed profile on their website. — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
Where you won’t get any analytics or feedback, your hyperlink to your real website will die and not be updated, — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014
Where they’ll push your art on an IG with sub 200 followers, and an inactive twitter account. Ridiculous. I’ll stop when you stop. — lando (@landonjumpoff) August 9, 2014