Arkaba Debacle (Part 3 - Final)

SoulTradermusic.com talks to Simon James Betts aka Soul Trader®

SoulTradermusic.com: Hi Simon, how ya going?
Simon James Betts: Not bad. (Simon’s default response to that question)

So we’re here to talk about, as we’ve called it, the “Arkaba Debacle”?
lol, Yeah, that’s one name for it.

So the rundown is basically that the owner of The Arkaba stopped the gig because he didn’t like what you were wearing? Is that right!? It just sounds so, well ‘stupid’, to be blunt”
Yeah, that is right, and yeah, it does sound stupid.

So how did they stop you, did they drag you out kicking and screaming?
lol, it crossed my mind, one of the managers came up in the break between the 2nd and 3rd set and said “I am not happy about this, but the owner has said ‘No more’”. I was tempted to jump up and and start playing, but I have very high professional standards. I didn’t want to lower myself to their level.

I am sure a lot of people who you have told about this have asked this question and for the record we will ask it, what were you wearing?
Well it was a mini skirt, boob tube and fish nets. Oh you meant at The Arkaba. The usual Jeans and one of my t-shirts that I wear at all gigs.

The one’s that show of ya muscles!!?
ha ha yeah those ones. If I was American I would have the right to bear arms...lol...Now that’s funny...lol

Ha d Ha Ha....To clarify they are t-shirts with no sleeves?
Yeah, they’re shirts I only wear on stage, as in I don’t wear them at other times, they are part of the show. I also change after each set as, I don’t want to be going up to chat to people dripping in sweat.

We saw in Arkaba Debacle (Part 2) that you had played at The Arkaba before, if you always wear these shirts was there a problem then?
No, not at all.

So were the Managers and the Crowd offended?
No the manager(s) I spoke to were both pissed off at the Owners decision and the crowd were really pissed and lot of them up and left. One couple had called their friend and invited them down to catch the last set. The one that didn’t happen. They rang their friends and went somewhere else. Another girl put together a petition and everyone signed it, there was a whole sheet of signatures, it was full on. She said how pathetic it was and how she had paid for a babysitter til 10:30, but they had wrecked her night and she would be home, by 8:30. I was quite upset to hear that. What made it worse was the manager said the owner wouldn’t ever read it.

Who is this Owner? Does he have no idea?
I don’t know him, never met him, he didn’t have the guts to come and talk to me directly, which in my book says a lot. He clearly thinks he knows what he is doing. From what other people have told me he has no idea and as one agent put it “..he’s a f**k idiot.”

So for those who haven’t been there is The Arkaba a classy venue?
Weeellll noooo, after my first gig there and the great reaction I got I thought “I should play here every week and see if we can liven this place up”. the funny thing is to most people is you say “I’m playing The Arkaba” they reply with “Oh grab a granny!”

So was the Owner worried you were gonna get all his chicks?
LMAO, I can’t believe you just said that, but maybe. I’ve had a heap of people say he is just jealous, it just makes me laugh.

So is there a dress code?
I would guess so and don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t wear a sleeveless top out to this venue as a patron. However I do know from experience that he lets girls into his bar wearing a hell of a lot less than I had on and that is just not right. In fact it is beside the point, because as the entertainment I am there to entertain and put on a show and that is just what I was doing. He probably would have been happy if I had on a tracksuit, but not making an effort is not me.

So maybe they are trying to go for the older class crowd, who like tracksuits...lol?
lol. I wish I could say “Yeah that must be it”, but it is not the case. One other muso playing at The Arkaba told me that he did a gig and people were having sex in the corner in full view and they announced it over the PA and they just kept going with the whole crowd gathered around. He told me it wasn’t pretty as the guy had grabbed a granny...lol.

Oooo oh so classy.
Yeah, it’s a worry isn’t it.

This guy sounds like he runs an average venue?
Yeah, I try not to judge a venue until I see it and experience it for myself, but everything I was told turn out to be true. He actually owns a number of venues, I have been told that The Arbaka is one he spends time at.

So what other venues?
The Marion, The Tonsley, The Kensington, Hotel Royal, and the 2 that he gets the footballers (Ricciuto & Goodwin) to run The Alma and the Port Lincoln.

So, I take you it won’t be playing any of those venue?
No, I have cancelled all future gig bookings. I was looking to Play at the Alma and maybe Port Lincoln as my dad lives in Waikerie and knows Mark Ricciuto’s family and I also used to play cricket with Simon Goodwin (well at the same club, he was a lot better then me). But now I don’t wish to have anything to do with the Hurley Group of hotels if this is how they treat their Staff, Entertainment and Hotel Patrons.

This guy seems to have a lot of money and power?
Money and power doesn’t equal integrity and professionalism. My personal opinion is that Peter Hurley is not fit to be on the board of the ABC or the Adelaide Crows Football Club, but one man can’t change the world.

So is this guy the only bad owner you have come across?
lol, it would be great to say yes, but there are a number of owners that make strange decisions, but at the end of the day, I deal in facts and not emotions. I am paid to entertain the crowd and keep them coming back, and if I do that, I have done my job. He’s not the first and he won’t be the last.

So you’ve moved on from that night?
Yeah, I deal with these things ok, it was more the complete amazement and trying to explain it to other people, who couldn’t believe it. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. They did of course refuse to pay the agent, saying that I couldn’t sing, etc. This was of course crap, the agent paid me, as they know the truth.

So moving on, where to now for Soul Trader®?
Well Japan is calling, so I need to get over there for a bit and see what happens, but locally I am looking to take my music to the people as that is what it is all about, I will be looking to do “House Concerts”, that is a gig in peoples houses, there will be more on that soon.

That sounds awesome, I look forward to letting people know about that on Soultradermusic.com. I just want to say thanks on behalf of all the fans out there for filling us in on the whole Arkaba Debacle?
No problem, thanks

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