How have clubs tried to screw you? - Page 2

troyus · #21 07-25-2008, 09:12 AM

One show 99 people showed up to see us "according to our records", and the bonus kicked it at 100 people, and they did try and screw us out of that. It didn't help there was over 150 people there when I flipped out.

But you know, it was the thought of screwing us that counts. Have not played there since.

QORC · #22 07-25-2008, 09:58 AM

wow. So glad I do the cover scene. We never put up with that bs. We get a bar tab free and don't even talk to a club that doesn't guarantee $800 to us. Our agent gets 10%

Makes things a whole lot simpler.

The Owl · #23 07-25-2008, 10:05 AM

To me, one of the ultimate rip-offs is the "scapegoat slot", in other words, putting you on at like 1 AM or so, guaranteeing almost no-one in the audience.

mrokern · #24 07-25-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate74

Does he do sub work?

LOL!

To give you an idea of his persona...he was a sports agent for a few years before starting his own firm. He's now focused on business-to-business debt collection (i.e. if your company owes my company a few hundred thousand and isn't paying, he's the guy who goes after you).

-Mark

fullcircle · #25 07-25-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canshaker

HA! Welcome to LA!

Actually,the bay area is very much that way,too. Since there are a lot of bands/musicians in CA, clubs don't care(unless it is a big name act).

Robster22 · #26 08-10-2008, 11:55 PM

It happens all over...I recall the old dissapearing act even back in the 60s. Played one club in London UK only to have the manager go missing at closing time....He left a message with the 300lb Gorilla at the door to pay us, guess what the doorguy claims he got robbed and theres no money...Yeah right.

Nowadays here in Canada the scam du jour is the local 12 band Charity deals like "rock for kids" etc yes, the money raised by auction goes to a good cause but the bands are paid nothing except two free beer tickets and the pub owners take is in the thousands as they pack their establishments from 10 am til past midnight.

Musicians are one of the few groups who will work whether you pay em or not cos they WANT to play...the club and pub owners all know this very well and take full advantage. Alas, Its always been that way and will likely continue.

armywalaby · #27 08-11-2008, 07:14 AM

So, you're saying we all need to open our own bars?

Robster22 · #28 08-12-2008, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armywalaby

So, you're saying we all need to open our own bars?

Not at all........ I solved that particular problem by non participation in these rackets/scams and ultimately by a more thoughtfull selection process of whom I do choose to play for.

"Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice shame on me"

armywalaby · #29 08-12-2008, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robster22

Not at all........ I solved that particular problem by non participation in these rackets/scams and ultimately by a more thoughtfull selection process of whom I do choose to play for.

"Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice shame on me"

Well, what I meant was there seems to be a shortage of bar owners who appreciate the live music for more than an act that makes them sell more beer. Understanding it's a business, but you know what I mean.

Dave Muscato · #30 08-12-2008, 04:18 AM

Subscribed.

Man, I could tell you stories.... and I will, when it's not 5 AM! I'll check back in soon.

cossie · #31 08-12-2008, 04:22 AM

My past bad experiences have been pretty similar:

* being told it was a paying gig and then get about 25 euro for the band!

* being told the bar manager "forgot" she'd booked us in her pub and she had booked someone else to play that night, after a 2 hour van ride (even after phone confirmation we had the gig the night before).

* bar manager disappearing near the end of our set to avoid paying us, we could see him behind the bar the whole gig until the "This is our last song tonight...". A$$h()le!

* being booked at our original price of 500 euro for a gig to have the owner call up and say "It's 360 euro now or you don't play" (this happened quite a bit near the end as one absolute skinflint bought up a local few venues)

PasdaBeer · #32 08-12-2008, 04:25 AM

we have the joyfull "pay to play" clubs around here.

You "buy" x number of tickets....if ya dont sell them, your stuck with the cost.

Then they rape you by paying $400 for the soundman, who doesnt even mic anything.So there goes the door charge income.

so basicaly, you play for a pitcher of beer, and MAYBE, if your lucky, a shot.

Gotta love Bay Area

modulusman · #33 08-12-2008, 06:27 AM

If Idiot bands would quit doing the pay to play deal then maybe it would go away. Unfortunately there are too many idiot bands.

ggunn · #34 08-12-2008, 09:27 AM

My band booked an opening slot here in Austin at the old 311 Club. We agreed to play for $150.

After our set, the manager came over and asked how much money there was in the tip jar. Some of you already know the punch line, I'll bet.

Yes, the club subtracted the amount of the tip jar from the agreed upon $150.

We didn't play there again.

eotpr · #35 08-12-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modulusman

If Idiot bands would quit doing the pay to play deal then maybe it would go away. Unfortunately there are too many idiot bands.

+1

RudeMood · #36 08-12-2008, 10:10 AM

Yes, clubs have tried to srew me before and some have been successful. Like any business people, some club owners are honest and reputable, others are crooks and will do whatever they can to increase thier bottom line. It's best not to trust anyone until you have established a relationship with them from gigging several times at the venue. Even then being careful and covering your a$$ is a good idea.

ggunn · #37 08-12-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modulusman

If Idiot bands would quit doing the pay to play deal then maybe it would go away. Unfortunately there are too many idiot bands.

They aren't idiots, they are just doing what they have to do to get their music heard. There are too many bands chasing too few gigs. Supply vs. demand - Economics 101.

Sure, if the bands could somehow all agree to stop doing it, then the club owners would do something else, but short of that, the bands that hold out will be the bands without gigs.

I'd be really curious about how many bands that start out this way actually hit. Maybe the solution is to get the hell out of lala land.

BillyRay · #38 08-12-2008, 11:29 AM

A band (1 guitarist/vocalist + me, actually) I used to be in was playing a place (now closed, can't remember the name it was near Joliette) that had fooled us once. We had agreed, by written contract, to play 3 sets for 300$. There was no clause about how much people we should bring. So we basically arrive there @ 9 pm and the place is almost empty. We do a soundcheck and proceed to begin to play at 10 (we we planning on finishing at 1 and go crash at a friend's place a few blocks away).

The bar owner, seeing that his place wasn't packed (at all) and that he is probably losing money, pulls out the plug at 11:30 midset, saying that he is closing due to poor attendance. We don't mind, but he says he only owes us 100/ due to the fact we only played 1 set.

We point out that:
a) We actually played 1 1/2 set.
b) We have a contract stipulating 300$
c) HE chose to finish the show.

He threathens to call the police if we don't leave with our 100% saying that we are troubling the peace in his bar. The singer/guitarist is a girl who weights maybe 85 pounds and I'm an easy going, short, fat guy. Very well mister. We pack quickly and go to my friend's place (where we supposed to sleep).

This guy is:
a) A policeman doubled by a martial artist
b) Friends with 3 bouncers who happen to be there for hockey night.

We got our money alright and an apology for trying to screw us over.

Vic Winters · #39 08-12-2008, 03:14 PM

At our last bar gig we were promised $300 + sound. We got about $180 + sound. We had to find the sound guy, haul his gear and rent drum mics on top of it all because he didn't have any. The stage mix was incredibly thin, but apparently it sounded good in the audience. On top of that we had sound (PA) issues at the beginning of the first set. Somehow this translated to being our fault, so if we want to play there again, we have to re-prove ourselves to the owner by doing another opening slot. Personally I wouldn't play there ever again. Maybe if he had some semblance of a parking, more people would show up.