Anyone know what a typical bar averages per person?

drpepper · #1 02-24-2010, 04:42 PM

I have kind of an emergency (in that it needs to be dealt with this evening). If anyone has an idea from experience, I'd appreciate hearing it.

The scenario - A hopping suburban bar (30 and 40 somethings - generally partying it up) with about 100 people at any given time - what would be a typical bar total for a Saturday night?

We had a small fixed fee + 20% of the bar over $500 deal and their accounting doesn't feel right.

Jehos · #2 02-24-2010, 04:50 PM

Depends on the prices of what they sell.

A friend of mine owns a martini bar that holds about 130 people. On a packed Saturday night they pull in about $5k. That's for 6pm to 2am, and their clientele is pretty high-end.

There's another irish bar around here that's more of the college student and young professional crowd that holds about 300 and pulls in about $10k on a Saturday, and that's selling a lot of domestic beer, some mixed drinks, and some shots, all at pretty decent prices. So 100 people for them would be more like $3300 for the whole night, again like 5pm to 2am.

Don't know if that helps you or not.

yeeharacing · #3 02-24-2010, 04:53 PM

I don't know if this helps you figure out what you need but my friends band just played Saturday.

We had 443 people in through out the night. The bar's take was approximately $8000 for the night. Minus the $1000 for the band.

drpepper · #4 02-24-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jehos

Don't know if that helps you or not.

That's very helpful. Thank you. Some bit of anecdotal information is better than none - Yes, conditions vary. This is a bar in a professionally populated area with a decent median income.

One of the bartenders apparently said that it preliminarily looked like $4,400 as he was closing the drawers out. He also said it was the best Saturday night they'd had.

I don't have the full story yet, but it appears that they're trying to tell use they did $1,500.

drpepper · #5 02-24-2010, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeeharacing

I don't know if this helps you figure out what you need but my friends band just played Saturday.

We had 443 people in through out the night. The bar's take was approximately $8000 for the night. Minus the $1000 for the band.

Thanks. Any info is helpful at this point.

adamrobertt · #6 02-24-2010, 05:22 PM

It'd be pretty hard to answer this question without actual numbers, but the bar is probably screwing you over. That's how it usually goes.

Warfender · #7 02-24-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drpepper

That's very helpful. Thank you. Some bit of anecdotal information is better than none - Yes, conditions vary. This is a bar in a professionally populated area with a decent median income.

One of the bartenders apparently said that it preliminarily looked like $4,400 as he was closing the drawers out. He also said it was the best Saturday night they'd had.

I don't have the full story yet, but it appears that they're trying to tell use they did $1,500.

Do they charge a cover at the door? What was your base fee before the 20%? How many hours was your gig? What was the head count? Give us some more details.

jowens004 · #8 02-24-2010, 05:27 PM

Sounds like they are trying to pay you on profilt only and not gross. 1500 would probly be close on 4500 in sales.

drpepper · #9 02-24-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamrobertt

It'd be pretty hard to answer this question without actual numbers, but the bar is probably screwing you over. That's how it usually goes.

I know that no one can tell me what the bar did, but as I said above, anecdotes help build a range of what's realistic. The actual numbers I have are that the place was packed all night at something just over 100 people. I really think $4,400 seems high, but the bartender throwing it out there set up an expectation.

I'm hoping there's been some kind of mistake. They shouldn't want to short us. It was a great night. They should want to have us back and they should want us to want come back.

Basshappi · #10 02-24-2010, 05:53 PM

Welcome to the music business, vasoline helps.

DavidE · #11 02-24-2010, 05:54 PM

A popular bar around here does about $3500 on a decent weekend night. $4k plus on a good weekend night. +$5k on a really kicking night.

DavidE · #12 02-24-2010, 05:55 PM

Most bars will have all this stuff computerized. If you never want to play there again, ask to see the printout.

Oh, if they did $1,500 in sales on a weekend they won't have you back.

Richland123 · #13 02-24-2010, 05:59 PM

I don't know any bar owner or manager who would truthfully agree to what they really took in through the bar on a % deal and pay the fair share of what was agreed upon. That is why I never accept these types of deals. Too many variables to factor in they can claim and too many underhanded people.

drpepper · #14 02-24-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warfender

Do they charge a cover at the door? What was your base fee before the 20%? How many hours was your gig? What was the head count? Give us some more details.

Thanks for responding. I really don't want to sound like a **** when I'm publicly asking for input and help, but most of what you're asking me to clarify is irrelevant to what a typical bar take is given certain parameters - about 100 rolling average, 30s-40s, professional, very upbeat.

Hayseed · #15 02-24-2010, 06:11 PM

Percentage deals usually work on the profit. Of course, you'll never know what the overhead is so you just have to take their word for it.

But, typically, bars that attract professional type people don't make as much as other bars because their clientel for the most part don't drink as much as say a college bar with people that have few responsibilities in life.

The way I look at it is that unless the % is ridiculously low at payout, I'm usually happy and gracious with anything over the guarantee.

drpepper · #16 02-24-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidE

Most bars will have all this stuff computerized. If you never want to play there again, ask to see the printout.

Good thought

drpepper · #17 02-24-2010, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richland123

I don't know any bar owner or manager who would truthfully agree to what they really took in

That's sad

drpepper · #18 02-24-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayseed

Percentage deals usually work on the profit. Of course, you'll never know what the overhead is so you just have to take their word for it.

But, typically, bars that attract professional type people don't make as much as other bars because their clientel for the most part don't drink as much as say a college bar with people that have few responsibilities in life.

The way I look at it is that unless the % is ridiculously low at payout, I'm usually happy and gracious with anything over the guarantee.

Thanks for the input.

lowfreq33 · #19 02-24-2010, 07:31 PM

Well, let's lowball it and assume that 100 people each had 4 bud lights at $3 a pop.

That's $1200.

Now let's say that the clientele turned over twice that evening - 200 people total.

That's $2400.

Then figure some mixed drinks instead of beer, those are $4-$8. So let's say $6 average. Figure about half the clientele doesn't like beer. So swap 100 of the beer drinkers for 100 liquor drinkers.

Total of $3600.

Getting the picture?

drpepper · #20 02-24-2010, 07:40 PM

Thanks, all.

It's over. I didn't get to be involved in the discussion and the bar owner wasn't present.

From what I understand, the claim is that the bar uses some cockamamie bs system of what part of the total constitutes "the bar" take based on the the part of the floor that is the "dining area."

An amount was settled on and I guess we won't go back there.

I'm disappointed because the night was awesome and I was looking forward to doing it again.