no more weekday gigs...

[mambo4]

I was chatting with the drummer for a fellow band and he mentioned to me that his band doesn't even bother to book weekdays anymore.

I used to think more gigs = more exposure, so a band trying to build a following shouldn't turn down most chances to play.

But I'm realizing that MOST potential new audiences are going out on the weekends, so there seems little point in playing the weekday shows to increase our following...
I have been in bands that run about gigging smaller venues on off days for years and they always seemed to loose steam.

Has anybody else adopted a "weekends only " policy for their gigs? has it helped or hurt your success?

[Wesley R]

that it was best for us to allow for some exceptions.

1. A venue that we were popular at asked for some weekdays to help out their business

2. A high payning venue had a band drop out at the last minute.

Generally, it was great idea (less wear and tear on gear and band, more time to learn new songs, more family time). I do doubt that in the beginning, it would have nbeen good for us.

In an entirely different band ("both kinds of music, Country and Western"), the owner did a Wed-Sat schedule and you had no choice. He always lost money on Wednsday and Thursday, broke even on Friday and made $ on Sat. He claimed he could tell if Friday would break even by the Thursday crowd.
I thought the guy was going to keel over one Thursday as he was screaming for the band to come to the bar. He was so thrilled that his place made a profit on Thursday for the first time in five years.

Best of Luck,
Wesley R.