annoying customers at gig and or hangout

[SelenaBassGirl]

Don't ya hate it? Where I go to, there is this couple that has been regulars for years. It's a younger guy and an older lady. She's like 70 years old and drinks like a fish. She gets all complaining when she drinks. He complains but not as bad. She, on the other hand, is constantly putting the band down. Or a particular band member (whom ever she chooses for that day). The thing is, I happen to not only sit in with that "horrible they suck" band, but also dating one of the band members.
I say if you hate the band so bad, then why come back? And she is constantly talking. She has ME beat and I am a talker. It's annoying esp. when I am listening to my bf sing. Or he could be singing a song that is special between him and I. Or when I am "practicing" bass by playing "air bass" or when I am trying to listen to learn a bass line. OR when I am up on stage singing, she tries to get me to take a request or take a sip of a drink or worse grabs my hand to high five WHILE I am playing bass.
But the part about her constantly putting the band down really hurts me cause I am proud of my bf. And that is the band that gave me the first opportunity to jam with them.
She can be the sweetest person or she can be the meanest. And of course they spend money, so the owner isn't going to kick them out.
Any of ya have ones like that hanging at your local hang out/gig? Let's hear about your annoying people stories.

[kcole4001]

Had a similar experience once, just smiled and kept on playing. It wasn't a continual thing, just the one time.
Some people just like to complain. The subject doesn't really matter to them, they just whine constantly.

Maybe let slip (in a friendly tone) basically that if she thinks it's so easy, perhaps she should get her own band together to 'show everyone how it's done'.

[DarkShadesBill]

Oh yes - they're out there.
The local place has been around since the early 70's - and I think some of the patrons have too.
Alcohol does weird things to people.
Ignore her.

[countrybass007]

Focus on the nice people people at each gig and the nasty ones will seem easier to tune out. The regulars at some bars can often be a pain, but it goes with the territory.

[cdaniel]

Getting pissed about the drunken behavior of alcholics is pointless.

If it gets to you that bad you need to get out of the bar band business.

Take pity on the pathetic existence those permanent barflys have. Or you can find the humor in their mindless rants.

[Stinsok]

She and that guy are probably mother and son and have some bizarre incest relationship. Their life sucks and they just want everyone else to be miserable too.

[Phalex]

I'd just agree with her whole heartedly, and make jokes that she doesn't realize are at her expense.

You can't argue with drunks, but you can encourage and ridicule them.

[jkramer5]

Bars have Barflies. There is no known repellent.

[steveksux]

Originally Posted by cdaniel

Getting pissed about the drunken behavior of alcholics is pointless.

True

If it gets to you that bad you need to get out of the bar band business..

Not necesssarily, there are ...... options..

I was in Quincy IL. for a week or two, can't remeber. We normally played hotel circuit, but in this town they had us in a bar, so they had to provide rooms. Ergo, the rooms at the cheapest fleabag hotel down the street upstairs from a seedy strip club.

We stop in the strip club after dropping off the gear to check the place out, the girls are pretty skinny. They have the girly parts all right, but the rest of the stuff didn't look right.

Yup. Trannies. Pre-op. Got the girl parts on top, the boy parts below. Apparently there was a circuit they did, from Chicago down through Quincy, and parts unknown. So we shot the breeze for a while, if we had a slow night and quit early, we'd stroll by and laugh at the guys slipping dollar bills in their G strings, not knowing how close they were to rubbing another guys johnson by doing so... They'd stop by our club if they quit early and it was slow... Interesting week.

So our last night at the club, some drunk wants Freebird, or something like that. We were Top-40, didn't do southern rock. He complained bitterly, "Y'all don't know nothing bout no rock-n-roll" at the top of his lungs. Real douchebag.

So I go over there on break to apologize, offer to buy the guy a beer to be friendly and shut him up. Plan is working pretty good, he's amenable. Problem solved.

Just being nice can be a great solution to these sorts of problems.

Just then, one of the strippers from down the street enters the bar, in a slinky long dress. Hmmmm... Getting revenge on an angry drunk can also be a great solution to these sorts of problems, too!

I subtly mention, "hey, man, that hot chick that just came in? I recognize her, she's a stripper from the club down the street, we stay there, I've seen her before. Bet if you buy her a few drinks, you'll have a night you won't soon forget...."

Now the formerly angry drunk is my new best friend. Break over, I head back to the stage, mission accomplished.

Guys can't figure out why I'm laughing hysterically while the guy shuffles over there, buys a round of drinks, sneaks in close, and ends up necking... Sooner or later, they end up walking out of the bar hand in hand...

It was really heartwarming to see the transformation from an angry obnoxious drunk to a happy friendly drunk, and very satisfying to realize I had a hand in making that happen.

Its true what they say, love conquers all. Learn to turn a frown upside down, make lemonade out of lemons.. Think POSITIVE!

Of course I explained to the guys why we had to pack up as quickly as possible and immediately leave town instead of stopping at the diner down the street for breakfast.... I'm thinking there may be another transformation back to angry drunk when he finds out his date has a bigger johnson than he does... Being farther out of town with the maximum # of other possible directions we could have gone in by the time he finds out is to our advantage at that point.

Randy

[BritPicker]

Originally Posted by SelenaBassGirl

Don't ya hate it? Where I go to, there is this couple that has been regulars for years. It's a younger guy and an older lady. She's like 70 years old and drinks like a fish. She gets all complaining when she drinks. He complains but not as bad. She, on the other hand, is constantly putting the band down. Or a particular band member (whom ever she chooses for that day). The thing is, I happen to not only sit in with that "horrible they suck" band, but also dating one of the band members.
I say if you hate the band so bad, then why come back? And she is constantly talking. She has ME beat and I am a talker. It's annoying esp. when I am listening to my bf sing. Or he could be singing a song that is special between him and I. Or when I am "practicing" bass by playing "air bass" or when I am trying to listen to learn a bass line. OR when I am up on stage singing, she tries to get me to take a request or take a sip of a drink or worse grabs my hand to high five WHILE I am playing bass.
But the part about her constantly putting the band down really hurts me cause I am proud of my bf. And that is the band that gave me the first opportunity to jam with them.
She can be the sweetest person or she can be the meanest. And of course they spend money, so the owner isn't going to kick them out.
Any of ya have ones like that hanging at your local hang out/gig? Let's hear about your annoying people stories.

Don't let them get to you!

Not meaning to be patronizing but I guess that you are quite young and, probably used to people saying "well done" and being encouraging and polite, or putting their criticisms nicely.

Well, in this world, there are lots of people who aren't like that. They should be, but for one reason or another - usually people were never very warm and nurturing toward them, or just having a very crappy life - so it comes out in the way they are.

They are to be pitied above all else. Some kind of revenge on them just perpetuates their behavior. In some way they enjoy being at the venue, I guess they don't have a lot else that is 'good' in their lives.

You sound like a positive, supportive person - so say hello, find out their name - ask how they are when you see them, smile, give them 5 minutes, say enjoy the show, then move away! Some people just want attention, and will so anything to get it, so give her it, have an exit strategy so you can get away after 5 then maybe she'll be a bit nicer, who knows.

Spread your positivity.

That's the kind of thing I do at gigs. Often 'lonely' people talk to me - why not make them feel a bit better about themselves? It's only 5 minutes. The skill is ending the conversation in a good way, a handshake and a 'it was nice talking' works for me.

EDIT: I see you're just a little bit younger than me! You have a young attitude, good!

[touji]

Originally Posted by steveksux

Trannies.

Randy

You evil evil man!

[walterw]

the ones who make a spectacle of themselves i usually introduce over the mic to the rest of the audience with "have you folks met our manager?"

[EatADeadGoat]

Originally Posted by steveksux

True

Not necesssarily, there are ...... options..

I was in Quincy IL. for a week or two, can't remeber. We normally played hotel circuit, but in this town they had us in a bar, so they had to provide rooms. Ergo, the rooms at the cheapest fleabag hotel down the street upstairs from a seedy strip club.

We stop in the strip club after dropping off the gear to check the place out, the girls are pretty skinny. They have the girly parts all right, but the rest of the stuff didn't look right.

Yup. Trannies. Pre-op. Got the girl parts on top, the boy parts below. Apparently there was a circuit they did, from Chicago down through Quincy, and parts unknown. So we shot the breeze for a while, if we had a slow night and quit early, we'd stroll by and laugh at the guys slipping dollar bills in their G strings, not knowing how close they were to rubbing another guys johnson by doing so... They'd stop by our club if they quit early and it was slow... Interesting week.

So our last night at the club, some drunk wants Freebird, or something like that. We were Top-40, didn't do southern rock. He complained bitterly, "Y'all don't know nothing bout no rock-n-roll" at the top of his lungs. Real douchebag.

So I go over there on break to apologize, offer to buy the guy a beer to be friendly and shut him up. Plan is working pretty good, he's amenable. Problem solved.

Just being nice can be a great solution to these sorts of problems.

Just then, one of the strippers from down the street enters the bar, in a slinky long dress. Hmmmm... Getting revenge on an angry drunk can also be a great solution to these sorts of problems, too!

I subtly mention, "hey, man, that hot chick that just came in? I recognize her, she's a stripper from the club down the street, we stay there, I've seen her before. Bet if you buy her a few drinks, you'll have a night you won't soon forget...."

Now the formerly angry drunk is my new best friend. Break over, I head back to the stage, mission accomplished.

Guys can't figure out why I'm laughing hysterically while the guy shuffles over there, buys a round of drinks, sneaks in close, and ends up necking... Sooner or later, they end up walking out of the bar hand in hand...

It was really heartwarming to see the transformation from an angry obnoxious drunk to a happy friendly drunk, and very satisfying to realize I had a hand in making that happen.

Its true what they say, love conquers all. Learn to turn a frown upside down, make lemonade out of lemons.. Think POSITIVE!

Of course I explained to the guys why we had to pack up as quickly as possible and immediately leave town instead of stopping at the diner down the street for breakfast.... I'm thinking there may be another transformation back to angry drunk when he finds out his date has a bigger johnson than he does... Being farther out of town with the maximum # of other possible directions we could have gone in by the time he finds out is to our advantage at that point.

Randy

EPIC.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by jkramer5

Bars have Barflies. There is no known repellent.

+1 it can be a pain to engage on a personal level too, even though you feel it's polite..........
I had a funny/not one once in London, walked in to the place to use the toilet before unloading, a guy is stood at the side of the door and he is howling, howling drunk, I thought 'time he was going home he's had enough'.......10 minutes later I find he's the manager It got a lot worse, he was screaming at us while in the middle of songs, it was well out of control the drummer stood up and gave it the....we wrapped up and got out quick, the regulars didn't look right at all

[Tampabass]

Originally Posted by EatADeadGoat

EPIC.

+1 - great story. very funny.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by EatADeadGoat

EPIC.

Just read this....nice setup , I'd have given the game away laughing

[Rick Nicak]

Honestly, the best way around these people is to talk to friends and other patrons who are more positive about the band and life in general. Misery loves company, and the douche bags will stick out more once they see other people who are enjoying themselves.

[Kael]

Originally Posted by jkramer5

Bars have Barflies. There is no known repellent.

Wrong. The repellent for barflies is closing Unfortunately it is only a temporary fix. .

[steveksux]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

Just read this....nice setup , I'd have given the game away laughing

They kept looking at me funny cause I was laughing the entire set, tears in my eyes at the end.

Just goes to prove there IS a God. Fortunately, its the angry, vengeful God of the Old Testament to give me such a wonderful opportunity...

Randy

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by steveksux

They kept looking at me funny cause I was laughing the entire set, tears in my eyes at the end.

Just goes to prove there IS a God. Fortunately, its the angry, vengeful God of the Old Testament to give me such a wonderful opportunity...

Randy

Cunning like the fox What a scene, excellent