Band is Growing and Wants More $, How to Deal with Bar Owners

[Quadzilla]

So I'm in a project right now that's starting to gain a decent following (not huge, but typically enough to make the bar owner/manager happy at the end of an eve). So we have been playing a handful of bars steady for a while and occasionally play other ones here and there.

So for the places we play regularly, we have a set price with them, which we now feel is a bit low. So how does one approach the owner/manager to ask for more cash? I'm more or less the manager of the band (my first time doing this because in the past projects I've been in, others handled these duties). Some of these venues are not huge and I know they prob can't afford to pay much more (if any). We love playing some of these places and would also hate to leave them.

I know that many of you have been in this position in the past. How have you handled it?

thanks!

[Phalex]

We have had a big upswing in bookings the last year or so. This past summer was busy as all get out, and we still turned down a fair amount of offers for gigs. We've used the scheduling madness to work into more money.

We tell the bars "Look, we have offers to play coming in from all over the place and we can't possibly do them all. If you want us to play your club this year the price is going to be higher." So far, no one has said no. We did price ourselves prohibitively high for a club that's a lot farther than anyone wants to drive. I'm really hoping they say no.

[fenderhutz]

If you truly have a growing following then also advised the bar to charge a 2-3 door fee as well and that well nicely supplement the revenue.

[realdeal]

Ask for a pecentage of "the ring"---
That is, the amount of proceeds from the Bar.

There's a big profit from selling beers and cocktails-
If a band is bringing people in, they're going to drink, and some of that money should be channeled to the Band, who should inspire people to "get happy!"

I lead a project once where in order to perform at a venue I considered a hot-spot, I cut a deal with the owner- A minimal guarantee plus a 30% ring from the hours we played-
10-1.

I needed a drummer at one point, and a few I knew balked at this pay-out, turned the job down. Their Bad.

I was right! The minor guaranteed pay-out was nicely augmented- more than TRIPLED!! for each player.

Beers sold for at least $5 or more (Imports!); shots or cocktails could be Ten bucks or more...There were also appetizers (Sweet potato Fries!! etc) from the bar that upped the ante.

This was a pretty high-end place, nice decor, upscale crowd, etc, and Friday nights it was jumpin', a live R&B band w/ hot Lady singer made it more so! The cash register at the bar got hot from all the action!!

Even in a small local bar, asking for a percentage could be significant.

Remember..."the ring" may be the thing!

[baba]

Start booking some other places, based on your track record at your regular haunts, and bump the price up from the get go. Once those prove successful, go back to the original joints and ask for a raise. Then if it comes to debating about your worth, you can explain that you are paid more at so and so's place, but really like their place, etc...yada yada.

[Slater]

I've found that honesty is the best policy. Don't play games or give any ultimatums.

If you and your band really think you deserve more money, just have a little meeting with the bar owner/manager and say, "I think we deserve a little more money." and list the reasons why. It's pretty much like asking for a raise on your day-job.

Another thing our band has done in the past, was set-up a bonus system. If the bar takes in $X amount when the band is playing, then the band receives a bonus (of a pre-agreed upon amount) above the regular gig fee.

[Juniorkimbrough]

Agreed, be honest.......explain to them that your fan base is growing, you are drawing a larger crowd than previously and you'd like to get paid more for consistently bringing in larger crowds.

Certain bars in our area have a max amount they can pay the bands per the mgmt., $500, and ultimately they end up losing a lot of big bands that draw a crowd just because they aren't willing to part with more of their profit. It ends up being good for bands just starting out but to the larger bands that have been playing there for a while it sucks.

[gig-getter]

[quote=Phalex;4980592

We tell the bars "Look, we have offers to play coming in from all over the place and we can't possibly do them all. If you want us to play your club this year the price is going to be higher." So far, no one has said no. We did price ourselves prohibitively high for a club that's a lot farther than anyone wants to drive. I'm really hoping they say no.[/QUOTE]


You could soften the above phrase ("offers coming in" etc) up by telling the bar owner how you love playing their place. Remind them how well you always go down, how busy the place gets etc. Then tell them you have a bit of a problem going forward.

Tell them you have been approached by a number of bigger places and you're now going out for quite a lot more than you used to. Tell them you're gonna have trouble getting the band out to them for the same price as last year/month etc. Tell them you're happy to give them a discount from what these other places are paying you but that their price will need to move to something like... (name your figure).

This will show that you're being "forced" to raise your price, that it's "out of your control" almost.

Works for us and others I've mentioned it to.

Good luck

PS - If all else fails it may be time to leave these venues behind. If you're striving for better-paying gigs as you go forward its inevitable some venues will at some stage be crossed off your list.