Do clubs draw more people in cold weather?

[Skel]

My band has been playing out for the last 3 or 4 months and even though we always get asked back, most of the clubs have been dead. We don't have a following (yet).

I get most of the gigs for the band, and I always make darn sure the bar owner/manager understands not to expect us to bring a following. I can't stand being bitched at by the bar owner half way through the night because we didn't bring any people in - I'd rather just not have the gig, which is why I emphasize that part so much.

Now to the thread title: Does anybody know if cold weather/winter naturally causes more people to show up (assuming your band is good)?

[Silaxian]

It does around here. In warmer weather people tend to have more options.

[manicbassman]

there's a serious lack of disposable income out there and people are keeping a tight reign on any non-essential spending.

[TripleXL]

I find Friday nights are pretty consistent throughout the year - people often go straight from work and make a night of it. Saturday nights in early winter can be a bit dead, especially the first couple of nasty cold nights. After a bit people seem to get used to the cold and head out anyway.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by manicbassman

there's a serious lack of disposable income out there and people are keeping a tight reign on any non-essential spending.

You're not the first person I've heard say that. I really didn't believe it the first time I heard it, but maybe you're right. I always thought people would never give up going out drinking and dancing to live music - it's sad when that has to happen.

[Phalex]

There are a couple of places around here that either just don't book bands during the summer, or limit live music to one night a weekend.

[Warpeg]

The colder times of the year are a bit busier for medium and large clubs in Ohio. However, it seems that the state-wide smoking ban knocked-off a good chunck of club business throughout the year.

[lonote]

Originally Posted by Phalex

There are a couple of places around here that either just don't book bands during the summer, or limit live music to one night a weekend.

The same is true here in the twin cities.

[davidjbass]

In my experience summer tends to be dead at least in the N.E. area. People stay outside more because the days are longer and warmer. Also you have to keep in mind the economy really sucks right now and people are very careful on how they spend their money. I don't drink but I went to buy my buddies a 2 of beers at one of our gigs and they came to $8.00. I was floored. So if you have 2 people that go out and drink 4 to 5 beers or drinks a night you are looking at around $40.00 to $50.00 just to drink for the pair. That's not counting the gas that they had to spend to get there and the cover charge the club has.

In the winter here people tend to go out more and I agree with one of the posters on this thread that Friday's seem to be busier than Saturdays because of the afterwork people.

As far as the club owners are concerned I have dealt with a lot of them. And 90 % of the time they are not happy even if you pack the place. And it is not soley the bands responsibility to get people into the club. They would love to have the bands believe that it's their job to pack the place but they need to advertize and do promo's as well.
It's their club.

It's going to be very interesting this fall and winter as to how people spend their money on going out. As a home owner I know I am very concerned about home heating oil prices. That combined with the cost of gas,food and the upcoming holidays is going to make it really rough on people. I think we as bands are going to see a lot less people going out. Which in turn will make the music scene even tougher then it is.

I already told my band to be prepared to take a pay cut or lose gigs. Hopefully this will not be the case. Hope this helps.

[manicbassman]

Originally Posted by Skel

You're not the first person I've heard say that. I really didn't believe it the first time I heard it, but maybe you're right. I always thought people would never give up going out drinking and dancing to live music - it's sad when that has to happen.

they're not giving up on it, just reducing the frequency.

[tycobb73]

Lets see, I could be in a smokey sweaty bar or I could be swimming in Lake Michigan. Get the point?

And actually bars tend to do better in bad eccomies. My grandfather owned one. People have more free time on thier hands and feel sorry for themselves.

[Saetia]

Originally Posted by Warpeg

The colder times of the year are a bit busier for medium and large clubs in Ohio. However, it seems that the state-wide smoking ban knocked-off a good chunck of club business throughout the year.

That's strange, we played a show in Columbus on tour and everyone was smoking inside the place. Is it just not enforced?

OT: Around here it seems the winter months tend to draw quite well, but then again the summer shows seem to do well also. It really depends on how extream the weather is either way, over all it's pretty constant IME.

-Benny

[zac2944]

Originally Posted by davidjbass

In my experience summer tends to be dead at least in the N.E. area.

Not so much in Boston. You lose some of the college crowd in the summer, but more local people and tourists fill their place. Gotta love the city. There are also many seasonal gigs that you only get in the summer. We have some areas near the ocean that are pretty dead in the winter, but are tourist hot $pots in the summer.

[Krispy]

Outside of the NYC Metro area, we don't even book clubs in July or August. There's no draw, and people are either at the NJ shore enjoying the ocean/boardwalk or enjoying the summer in other ways. We only book parties/festivals/private events in July/August. Now if your a shoreline band, there's plenty of work and some of it actually pays well too. But winter is the opposite, so it cuts both ways.

We had a regular gig at a decent room that wanted us to book the Friday evening of Labor Day weekend and we turned it down with the explanation that we didn't want to take his money and have it be a loser for him. He understood and agreed.

Once September comes, we're back in the clubs. (although not for me since I was recently jettisoned. )

[CapnSev]

Generally, they do here because of the huge flood of tourists for the ski season. I'd say that club attendance goes up double.

However, we'll see how many people come here to ski with the way gas and the economy are.

[scottbass]

Originally Posted by lonote

The same is true here in the twin cities.

+1, and throughout the upper Midwest (WI, MN, IA, ND, SD). The exception is the biker bars/road houses in the smaller communities of western Wisconsin. They seem to book bands (and draw good crowds) consistently year round - except when there's a wedding dance in town. And I have also noticed that the economy seems to be having an across-the-board negative effect on bar crowds lately.

[jomahu]

when we played buffalo in the dead of winter, the place was packed! buffalonians are crazy (good crazy).

for some reason, people will persevere in the snow, but run like crazy from the rain. weird.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by jomahu

when we played buffalo in the dead of winter, the place was packed! buffalonians are crazy (good crazy).

for some reason, people will persevere in the snow, but run like crazy from the rain. weird.

If nothing else, I'm getting pretty psyched about playing this winter. I love season changes. I'm gonna have to start really putting some effort into insuring that people to show up. People are what make gigs fun. Almost nothing makes me feel better than seeing people dance to what we're playing. I'd rather play small, intimate clubs than huge arenas. I know that's easy to say since I've never played a huge arena and never will, but I truly believe that.