NOmaha, NObraska

I want to give a special thanks to Chris (from Chicago), Michaela, Elliott, Shannon, Tony, Ryan, Dodge, Phil, and the others whom names I can't remember.... for such a special evening in NOMAHA, NOBRASKA Monday night.

 "Nomaha" as we have called it in the van for the last few weeks actually started out as a promising city for us as a tour stop. Back in January while we were working on “Dreams and Bones” we began booking this tour and at first Omaha looked like it was going to be a great night. Vincent had a list of over 25 venues to contact and from the research we have done we are well aware how great of a music scene is there. We figured that with that many music venues, 3 months and bands around whom we could show swap with, that we would be able to lock something down for Omaha no problem.

Fast forward to late March and we still were unable to lock down a date. Most of the venues were either booked since December (?) or just flat out ignored our emails and phone calls for 3 months straight. How did Omaha become Nomaha for Model Stranger? It began with around 200 Nos that came in many different forms - both from bands and venues.

After being shot down or ignored by every venue we reached out to in the greater Omaha area we went into overdrive determined to lock down a date. On April 3^rd on our way down to Western Illinois University we  pulled up a website that listed every bar in Omaha and started at the top. We figured we would call each bar to see if we could perform the old fashioned way. Set up a PA, put out a tip jar and go for it. For about 3 hours of our 4 hour drive we took turns calling each bar on the website. Out of actual music venues to reach out to each conversation went something like this in a nutshell.

“Hello. Do you have live music?” - “No”. “Do you want some?” “No”. 

Some people just straight hung up on us without even answering our questions.

Occasionally we would be humored and were asked to call back but after this first stint we officially renamed Omaha, - Nomaha. Over the course of the next 4 days we contacted an estimated 124 bars, this isn't including the initial list we had started with in January.

In addition to all of these venues/bars we reached out to, over the course of our research there were also 60+ bands whom we reached out to between our social networking sites for either suggestions or help. Not only did every band that replied say NO to trading shows, most of them didn't even reply.

Finally, lucky phone call 125 came. Vincent made a connection with a place called "The Rusty Nail” where we eventually ended up performing. When we locked in the “The Rusty Nail” we were so relieved and glad to find that we even were guaranteed some pay. Unfortunately this didn't work out either for there was a misunderstanding that the 12^th was a Saturday and not a Monday (?), so on the 10^th we found out that we would be playing for $0, or NO pay. Hahahaa

This didn't bother us much. It isn't the first time we rolled into town without guarantee. As a band you just have to make sure to have fun, perform well and sell pretty much anything you can!

We aren't the first band to go through this, and Nomaha isn't this hard for everyone. Just as there are  certain venues for certain bands – there are certain cities for certain bands too. This one took a bit to crack for us. Longer than any other city. In the 28 states that we have performed, Nomaha took the most effort. We really had no friends there and did everything we can do. The important thing is that we didn't give up. YAR!

So the night wasn't spectacularly over the top in attendance (despite 800 messages via myspace) and we had no guarantee, but Omaha turned out alright. The patrons and staff at The Rusty Nail were super cool and very helpful in giving us contacts and insight for our next time through town. Chris, the Chicago Native, bought us some shots and traded stories about being a Southside Irishman. Ryan and Shannon fed us Hot Wings and gave us some great insight on what to expect where in Omaha, and Dodge - the biggest mouth in the bar - begged us to shave our precious moustaches off of our faces. We performed two 1 hour sets with a nice relaxing break in between. In the downtime I took my first shot at KENO and lost miserably.

Our biggest achievement for the evening was selling a piece of merch to every person in the bar. For a city that Model Stranger relearned the humbling word NO from, these folks sure like to support bands whom they enjoy.

Now I know you are thinking.. what were there 5 people there? Actually NO, there were 12 and I can remember most of their names and faces.

So, was it easy getting into Omaha? NO

Were the bands we reached out to helpful? NO

Did anything go smoothly or according to plan? NO

Was worth it in the end and will we give it another shot? YES.

Thank you for reminding us just how small and insignificant we really are Nomaha. We will see you soon.

Say Yes.

Stephen Francis