Kelly McGarry Productions

I just ended my budding relationship (ahem, not really) to this group (sounds like it's just 2 people, Phil and Kelly). I agree with every review on here, particularly the gaslighting, manipulation, and talking down from Kelly that Moongirl mentioned in her review/comment.

Literally no information up front was given to me besides the venue and a date and time once I gave her my availability. Nothing about the performance deal, or even how much tickets would cost. She was about to send me a confirmation email without letting me know any of this, until I asked. There is no written agreement or anything pre-written whatsoever available for you to look over to know what you're signing up for until AFTER you "confirm" via text, supposedly (I never confirmed so I never saw it).

So after asking very basic questions about the performance deal and what was being provided at the venue/by them, which felt like pulling teeth, she basically ignored any questions that would show that it was a pay to play situation and answered my other basic questions with condescension and attitude. When I specifically asked if I would need to buy the tickets up front myself and then sell them, she didn't answer it, and continued to talk to down to me over text in her other answers. Keep in mind I've been completely civil and neutral with her, positive even before that, thanked her for reaching out, and only asked questions to clarify what exactly the deal/agreement would be for since nothing was provided up front.

I also had asked for/offered a phone call since I had many questions since NO information was provided upfront, and she wanted to handle everything over text. Then she said given my hesitancy, she thought I should just come to a show as a guest. Joke of the century.

After having worked with other companies like Breaking Sound, who provide all of this information and a written contract UP FRONT, and offer much more to the artists who work with them, AND whose reps are more professional and respectful in their communication, this experience felt incredibly scammy. I would definitely not recommend working with these people.

I had to write this review because I think it's only fair to let other artists know how icky this experience was before considering working with / getting scammed by them.

- No Hesitancy Here

Terrible business people. The prior two reviews are spot on. P Malish contacted me and would not give me any details on the shows unless I gave him my phone number. I finally did and this woman Kelly called me with one of the most awkward attitudes I’ve encountered. I told her I was interested in playing a free show they advertised, but she kept trying to make do other shows because her «focus isn’t free shows». Then I said I wasn’t really interested in «quota based» shows and she got super defensive saying that I was acting «really closed» and that her job is to «sense people» and didn’t understand what quota based means. She kept cutting me off. Thank god I got off the phone with this woman and didn’t fall for that crap. Underground bands, stay away!

Musicians! Lets put these guys on blast and let the world know who they really are. This is a PAY TO PLAY SCAM feeding off the hopes and dreams of younger musicians. This company, along with others like it need to be stopped. As a professional musician for the last ten years, I think these guys are the lowest of the low. My band was initially contacted by a guy named Phil Malish, who asked if we would be interested in playing a «free» show at house of blues main stage here in san diego. I asked what he meant by «free». «Free» as in your not compensating us to play the show? or «free» as in your not charging admission? After several emails of Phil trying to get me to give up my phone number (said he couldn’t explain the process through email) I eventually declined and told him not to contact us again. Faith B is absolutely correct in her assertion that these guys are out to steal money from bands. They are out to manipulate YOU. Here’s the bottom line folks: If any promotion company tells us (the musicians) that they want to book a show BUT we have to sell all the tickets and then fork over the ticket sales to them guess what? Its a scam. Its pay to play. We have to stop thinking this is acceptable. We need to make everyone in the musical community aware of this and boycott companies like Kelly McGarry Productions. They are slime, lowest of the low. Say No to pay to play !!

Kelly McGarry Productions is a scam booking promoter that is basically pay to play, but lies saying they actual care and will work with your draw numbers. They steal money from bands and than don’t let them play. The owner of this production company Kelly finds bands with small buzz and contacts them directly. It starts off with you need to make $ 200+ in ticket sales unless you have a special agreement with her. Though if you make an agreement with her when you show up with the money they will take it set up a scheme with the door person and call you a liar for being slightly short on ticket sales; when she acknowledged your draw was lower than average. Very disrespectful promoter!