Talk:The Empty Pockets

Deleted unreferenced addition
With apologies to User 98.227.93.160, I re-read the article on  Biographies of living people and it looks like with biographical material about a living person where there are no references at all (much less the higher standard for biographical information that we include "high quality" references) it must be "removed immediately and without waiting for discussion." So, notwithstanding my suggestion that I would wait a few days and then post a warning and wait a few more days before deleting, based on being reminded of this policy, I went ahead and deleted it now.--Ludasaphire (talk) 03:12, 27 June 2009 (UTC)


 * With respect to Ludasaphire, you are correct regarding the article Biographies of living people and are correct for deleting the unreferenced section regarding controversy. This was original research and you are correct to remove under those guidelines.


 * However, the information that Josh Solomon was an Executive Producer and head of One Theater Company, the producing entity of Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story is not controversial or disputed and is already thoroughly established in existing high quality references. Additionally, that Janet Louer managed the Empty Pockets and also Directed Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story is not controversial or disputed and is already established in existing high quality references.  When I get around to it, that information will be reinserted with links to references.  98.206.44.74 (talk) 03:59, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

Sounds good 98. I did a quick search, and while I couldn't find anything about Josh Solomon being Executive Producer of the show, I did find the following article in the Oak Park Journal about Solomon being artistic director of One Theatre Company (although this looks to be a different production of the show):

http://www.oakparkjournal.com/TheaterReviews/Village-Theater-2006-buddy-holly-story.html

There are a bunch of other articles about Josh Solomon as Artistic Director of One Theatre Company, but not in connection with the Buddy show, but rather prior shows that the Company produced. Some of them look to be big productions with legit actors and directors at good theaters in the city. Perhaps it's noteworthy to add something about Josh Solomon forming a theatre company that produced several shows over the years, apparently while he was a teenager, although it doesn't seem directly related to the band, while the Buddy show does.

I do think it would be noteworthy to add something about the band's manager. Do you know if it's still Janet Louer? I couldn't find anything about who's managing Josh and the Empty Pockets today (or even back then, for that matter). If it's Janet Louer, that's probably noteworthy since I did find some stuff about her: "Janet was a casting director in New York City for Broadway, Film and Television. Since relocating [to Chicago], she has worked as both a Casting Director and a Film and Television Agent, setting up the first Broadway Talent division. In addition, she owns LTM Management, handling such talent as Tony Award Winner Heather Headley." But the only things I could find connecting Janet Louer with the band (other than via the play) was on Facebook and MySpace which, as you know, aren't appropriate references on their own. Even though we couldn't use it, I couldn't even find a manager listed on their MySpace or Facebook pages.

Wish I could be more help. Good luck!--Ludasaphire (talk) 05:03, 27 June 2009 (UTC) P.S. If you put a colon or two "::" at the beginning of your entries, it's easier to follow a conversation. I added two to yours above to show you what I mean.--Ludasaphire (talk) 05:03, 27 June 2009 (UTC)


 * I don't know if Janet Louer still manages Josh and the Empty Pockets. I know she managed them for a period prior to and following Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story, but do not know if she still does.  At that time, it was called Josh Solomon and the Empty pockets.  To speak to the intent of the edit,  the production of Buddy! appeared to be a vehicle for Solomon, in that he paid for it, his company produced it, and his manager directed it.  The sentence that he "was cast" in the show may be misleading in that regard. I know that the eventual allegations of financial impropriety surrounding Buddy! sent ripples through the community of people who work in the theatrical community in Chicago and was widely and openly discussed and condemned, although perhaps not documented in mainstream press beyond those circles. Perhaps Louer parted ways after that, but that is very speculative. I am not aware that One Theater Company or Solomon have produced dramatic theater since those allegations spread.  I think that may be noteworthy, since it may have shaped his career away from dramatic theater production and towards music.  All a bit speculative. Maybe not appropriate here. I do feel additional research on this controversy is warranted.  It's certainly true that the allegations exist, I don't know if it's documented or noteworthy. 98.206.44.74 (talk) 06:20, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for the additional info, 98. Sounds like some noteworthy stuff if you can find references. Are you in the Chicago theatre business? If so, perhaps you know of some industry periodicls that would surely have an article about it if it both true and was noteworthy. It also might be worth adding that the band's name used to be Josh Solomon & the Empty Pockets, although I couldn't find anything appropriate to use. The only additional Janet Louer reference I could find using "Josh Solomon & the Empty Pockets" rather than "Josh & the Empty Pockets" is the following blog which, as you know, doesn't typically count as a reference, at least not standing alone:

http://norblog.typepad.com/norblog/2007/02/index.html --Ludasaphire (talk) 13:39, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

Hey 98! I did a bit more checking using your insight that the band's name used to be "Josh Solomon and the Empty Pockets". Although I found hundreds of web pages, so you're certainly right that the name was changed, I can't find any reference mentioning it so, while true, clearly not noteworthy. One interesting article was actually a review of the more recent Drury Lane Theatre’s production of the show, where the reviewer says "there isn’t as much camaraderie or glee in their performance as compared to the one put on by Josh Solomon and the Empty Pockets when the show played at the Mercury Theater a few years ago." I would add this to the article but I really don't think the fact that the band came out of the Buddy show deserves much more of a mention than it already has. Feel free to use it, though, if you decide to add to the article about Janet Louer managing the band and Josh Solomon being Executive Producer of One Theater Company which produced the show, although I've tried and still have not been able to find any references on any of that. In fact, looking back at One Theatre Company, it surprises me that Josh Solomon's company put up the money for the show without taking credit. It seems that this would have actually been more helpful to his career than apparently pretending that someone else produced the show. Doesn't make sense, but certainly interesting if true.--Ludasaphire (talk) 03:38, 29 June 2009 (UTC)

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Potential addition to article
There have been some articles and a few TV news accounts (although I don't know how to refer to those, short of finding them on YouTube, so I'll stick to online articles) regarding the band playing at the House of Blues. Since I have a conflict of interest, I won't add this. But if an editor without a conflict agrees it makes sense, here's what might be added, right at the end of the article I'd think...

On October 5, 2010, Josh and the Empty Pockets played at the House of Blues for Michigan Aveneue Magazine's second anniversay party, sharing the stage after a brief performance by Jennifer Hudson who hosted the event.

Thanks.Ludasaphire (talk) 16:53, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * Hi. :) Seems reasonable, but with whom did they share the stage? --Moonriddengirl (talk) 17:28, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * Hi Moonriddengirl. It's great to see you back! :) I guess my wording wasn't too good. Let me try again below. They shared the stage with Jennifer Hudson. You can tell by looking here and seeing the drumhead with the band's logo behind Ms. Hudson cutting the cake, and also this set of photographs that, for some reason, focus almost entirly on Ms. Hudson but do have two shots of the band, if you scroll down a bit, on the same stage. Let me try again:


 * On October 5, 2010, Josh and the Empty Pockets played at the House of Blues for Michigan Aveneue Magazine's second anniversay party, sharing the stage with host Jennifer Hudson after her brief performance.


 * Thanks for taking the time to take a look.Ludasaphire (talk) 20:35, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * No problem. :) I'm afraid as written that might be original research--the cited source does not say they shared the stage, and I don't know that the drumhead being in the background of the picture can confirm that they were actually on the stage at the same time. How about we go with:
 * On October 5, 2010, Josh and the Empty Pockets played at the House of Blues for Michigan Aveneue Magazine's second anniversay party, which also featured performances by Jennifer Hudson and DJ Rock City.
 * Then we could add that they shared the stage with her when a reliable source explicitly publishes that. It's not that it's not true, you know; just that it has to be printed somewhere reliable for us to use it. :) --Moonriddengirl (talk) 21:37, 9 October 2010 (UTC)


 * You are, as always, absolutely right, Moonriddengirl. I think your suggested language is a fair reading of the current coverage. I doubt there will be anything else written so that'll make a good addition to the article as you wrote it. Thanks! Ludasaphire (talk) 00:41, 10 October 2010 (UTC)