If it really was Scooter, then a lot of things would make sense.
On the one hand, although Scooter wasn't exactly a top-tier industry bigwig, this was still a rare opportunity, an extremely important one for independent singers and bands. It could be a chance to open doors, build connections, or showcase themselves. Even if it wasn't to display their talent, just using Scooter as a stepping stone to get to know the higher-ups at Universal Music would definitely be worth the gamble.
On the other hand, precisely because it was Scooter—this well-informed and well-connected manager—it wouldn't be surprising if inside information had inadvertently leaked. It might even have been Scooter himself who deliberately released the news. What would follow would be a test of the independent bands' networking depth and breadth. Singers would inevitably mobilize all their resources to gather information and do everything they could to win a chance to present themselves in front of Scooter.
Most likely, even the Full Moon Party organizers themselves hoped to ride Scooter's coattails and truly make the Full Moon Party famous, attracting more audiences and more performers, genuinely establishing the "Full Moon Party" brand beyond the borders of New Orleans and gaining national attention.
At this moment, it was a time for the Eight Immortals to cross the sea, each displaying their unique abilities.
Who could accurately find out when Scooter would arrive at the party? Who could persuade the Full Moon Party organizers to adjust the performance order? Who could get close to Scooter through their connections? And who could fully utilize the opportunity of the Full Moon Party to kickstart their career?
No wonder!
The hustle and bustle at this moment had a reasonable explanation.
However, Ronan didn't like it. Ronan had no personal opinion about Scooter; they didn't know each other, so there was no question of liking or disliking him. What Ronan truly disliked was this chaos, the act of interfering with the performance arrangements in order to争取a chance to appear, which had clearly put the cart before the horse.
Performances were originally supposed to be about music and performing, but now everyone was more concerned about whether they could show their face in front of Scooter. It seemed no one cared about the quality of the performance, nor did they care whether disrupting the performance order would affect the performance quality, and even less did they care whether the audience who came to attend the Full Moon Party would be affected.
The real victims were actually the audience who hoped to fully enjoy a carnival party.
This was the part Ronan didn't like.
He couldn't help but recall the long queue outside the Old Blacksmith Bar. The audience was eagerly anticipating witnessing a carnival, but with less than four hours before the official start of the show, the organizers were changing the performance order, disrupting the preparation plans of a group of bands...
Sigh.
Deep down, Ronan sighed softly, but he couldn't blame the eagerness of these bands and singers. After all, the One Day King band was facing the same situation. If they also had the right to choose, would he still nobly refuse the opportunity to perform in front of Scooter?
Ronan hoped he could maintain his pride, but he also knew that his thoughts were just hypothetical. He couldn't predict his true attitude when actually faced with the situation. Only when one truly encounters a conflict between ideals and reality can one understand what kind of dilemma it is. Aren't there many instances of "bending the knee for a few bucks" in real life?
Therefore, Ronan didn't make any comment on Maxim's reaction but instead joked with a smile, "Don't talk as if we have a choice."
If their band manager was still around at this time, then they could still try to see what they could do. Whether it was adjusting the performance order at the Full Moon Party or connecting with Scooter through connections, the manager would play an important role.
But their manager was a thing of the past. Relying on the band members' own abilities was impossible. They could only wander around on the periphery like headless flies, unable to find the door.
They no longer had the initiative to choose.
Maxim was stunned for a moment, then his shoulders slumped like a frost-bitten eggplant. He sighed deeply and said, "Yeah, what does all this excitement have to do with us? We should be thankful that we can still stay on the performance list. Otherwise, if a band with a strong backstage suddenly needed to take a spot, wouldn't a band like us who joined at the last minute be the obvious sacrificial lamb?"
"Maxim!"
Ollie and Cliff exclaimed at the same time, their voices exploding like thunder directly in Maxim's ears, startling him badly.
"What if it really happens?" Ollie frowned, waving his hands repeatedly, completely unable to hide his worry and nervousness, as if Maxim were a witch whose prophecies would come true just by speaking them.
Maxim came back to his senses and also realized this point. He scratched his head and chuckled dryly twice, but didn't say anything more to defend himself. The more he said, the more mistakes he might make.
Alice, who had unconsciously dropped important information, was confused. "Is this a very important person for bands?"
Maxim and Ollie exchanged a look but didn't know how to answer. They both turned inquiring gazes towards Cliff, but the question was a bit complicated, and Cliff didn't know how to explain it simply.
Alice captured the information she needed in the silence, so she waved her hand. "It's okay if you don't answer. I was just purely curious, but not knowing doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't understand these things. Even if you told me, I probably wouldn't get it."
Unexpectedly, Ronan spoke, "We're just trying to seize every opportunity we can; and this Scooter has always paid attention to independent bands. Maybe he is an opportunity."
Although he didn't explain the complicated relationships, Alice still understood and said casually, "Then doing your best performance is the best resume, isn't it?"
"What I mean is, he chose to come to the Full Moon Party specifically, so he will definitely hear about the outstanding bands at the Full Moon Party. Didn't Ronan say that he pays attention to independent bands? So whether he attends the entire Full Moon Party or not—and I don't think anyone can last the entire Full Moon Party—he will still pay attention, right?"
Simple words instantly made the band members' eyes light up: those involved are often confused, while onlookers see things clearly. It was Alice who saw things more clearly.
Even if the performance order was indeed adjusted to coincide with Scooter's attendance time, how long would Scooter be willing to stay at the venue?
One hour? Two hours?
Two hours would only accommodate four bands.
So, the number of bands that could actually appear before Scooter was limited. Even with connections to open doors, only a mere four bands would have the opportunity. Could such efforts really yield the expected returns?