EXCLUSIVE: Hits & Pits Festival Crew Allegedly Owed Thousands

Allegations that the promoter of the recent punk touring festival Hits & Pits owes crew members tens of thousands of dollars have soured the otherwise successful event following its completion.

Multiple sources have spoken to theMusic.com.au recently alleging that Ben Neilson of Collateral Manage, who promotes Hits & Pits, owes them significant amounts of money for their work on the tour. In recent months punters have also taken to social media with claims that they have not received refunds for cancelled tours by The Locust and Daughters, due to take place earlier this year.

TheMusic.com.au has been in contact with Neilson in recent weeks about the allegations and had previously been assured that all efforts were being made to fulfil the refund obligations, but he has yet to respond to repeated requests for official comment.

Told that theMusic.com.au would be running a story today Neilson said over email that today was a “big day” of settling payment with bands and crew members, just five days after the tour finished. He did not respond to questions.

Repeated calls this afternoon have not been returned.

It is believed that Neilson has been using pre-sale tickets – some of which were sold through the festival's own platform – and other fundraising methods to pay off existing debts. While that's a common practise for promoters in the music industry, the delicate balance between incomings and outgoings would appear to be tipping – and patience within the tight-knit Australia punk community is dwindling.

Creditors were irked further last week when Hits & Pits launched a crowdfunding campaign to expand the Hits & Pits festival, which Neilson has told theMusic was premeditated prior to the tour. With 13 days left in the campaign, which has a target of $50,000, over $8,000 has been raised so far. Of that, six people have donated over $1,000 in exchange for guaranteed Access All Areas passes for any Hits & Pits show in the future.

Unlike traditional crowdfunding efforts, the Hits & Pits campaign has opted for “flexible funding” which means that all funds raised will be collected by the campaign even if it doesn't reach its target.

TheMusic.com.au was first alerted to potential cash-flow problems for Collateral Manage when it became apparent that comments posted on the company's now inactive Facebook page had been routinely deleted during recent months. The original Facebook 'event' pages for the tour, where complaints regarding refunds were being posted, were also removed.

One post from earlier May alleged, “I'm still waiting for a refund for the money he owes me for The Locust show too. There are others who are owed money also… I'd suggest paying the people you have ripped off.”

Last week Neilson told theMusic.com.au that the refunds were largely complete, and that he was actively chasing contacts for those who were still owed refunds. The end of the Hits & Pits tour in Perth on Sunday 18 May has brought to light allegations of further debts that have thrown doubts over Collateral Manage. TheMusic.com.au understands that tensions between the crew and promoter arose early on in the tour and that the as-yet-unpaid crew members were responsible for holding the show together until the final show.