EXCLUSIVE: Sacked Bald Faced Stag Lease Holder Responds To Allegations Of Not Paying Bands
The GM has issued a statement.
Scott Mackenzie, the general manager of the company sacked as lease holder for Sydney's Bald Faced Stag has responded to allegations it has not paid bands owed money from gigs in the last ten months.
The Music broke the story this week that the venue's landlord, Marvan Hotels, removed Ulladulla Property Services Ltd on 20 January for "abandonment and non-payment of rent".
A source from the Stag alleged that US band The Dillinger Escape Plan and Melbourne's The Peep Tempel are allegedly owed $40,000 and $10,000 respectively, while fellow Melbourne outfit The Go Set have claimed they are still chasing over $1,000 from a show that took place last April.
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In a statement given to The Music, Mackenzie claims that bands have not being paid because "the business was not able to sustain itself just through music based on the inconsistent revenue".
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"Any money owing to bands will be getting paid once all costs have been allocated," the statement reads.
"There was and still is no intention to not pay any bands that are owed.
"There has been a massive loss at our end with the amount of time and money that was put into changing the location from an old man's pub to a music-oriented business, however the cost to float the quieter periods severely effected the business which we were not able to sustain."
See the full statement below.
The allegations come after Mackenzie was jailed for over three years in 2009 after pleading guilty to stealing more than $5.7 million from a group of companies, admitting to ten charges of obtaining by deception.
Unfortunately the business was not able to sustain itself just through music based on the inconsistent revenue.
The business was running at a very high break even for each week in regards to rent/staff/equipment/stock/power land tax of 40k a year and council rates of 30k a year.
December/Jan came into effect being the slower months and the ability for the business to survive was not viable.
Any money owing to bands will be getting paid once all costs have been allocated. There was and still is no intention to not pay any bands that are owed.
There has been a massive loss at our end with the amount of time and money that was put into changing the location from an old man's pub to a music oriented business however the cost to float the quieter periods severely effected the business which we were not able to sustain.
We hope the business continues and allows talent to be showcased for many years to come.
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