Open letter from bar owner to musicians

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by pedro

I'm curious if you think the age of the audience is at least partially a factor? I'm not sure of your age, or the age of your audience but I live in a college town and the impression I have is that there are some venues for originals but they tend to cater to a younger crowd. The bars and grills that cater to middle aged folks tend to prefer covers.

I'm in a college town. No doubt the bulk of people coming out to gigs are between the ages of 18-27ish, but there are also a surprising number of 40+ year old people coming out as well. In fact, the biggest local hot spot for original music that isn't a music hall or theater has a built in crowd that's about a 50/50 split between kids fresh out of college and people who probably have children already in college. There are also plenty of other places that you can find that have a younger crowd but won't let bands play anything but cover tunes.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

I know this a little off the point, but isn't the drinking age in many U.S States still 21? If so, that must make a huge difference, particularly in college towns.

Lots of places are 18+ if they have live bands. Of course the under 21 year old kids can't drink, but they can still get in.

[zazz]

When I read the original post I couldn't help but think Filipino lounge band ....well presented..competent ....plays all the latest hits that everyone wants to hear and they leave their egos at home.....thing is these guys are playing for money because they really need it and won't screw up the deal ....that's why there are so many of them across the globe.

[petrus61]

Really wish more bar bands understood this concept.

[Bisounourse]

Originally Posted by TRichardsbass

Low Sound, what exactly is it you "are trying to do?" That is the club owners point. Its not about what you are trying to do, its about what he needs you to do.

Well, my guess is he is trying to make the best show he can, and show of his music. Since this is Belgium (this little country in the EU), that is all that is asked of a band by a club owner. It might be different in the US, but that is how it goes over here.

[pedro]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I love the article, I get it and embrace it.

If anything, I will use some of the verbiage when I'm trying to book my band.

I want that owner to know I understand how his business works and we understand our role is to sell alcohol.

" Hi,

My name is blue. I represent the Acme Blues Band.

The reason for my call is to understand your booking process.

We have been successful over the last 6 years in helping businesses like yours sell more premium alcohol. "


Blue

Curious if you ever play in Madison?

[SquierJazz72]

When is music not business?

Past a certain point, all music is business, if you have any kind of ambitions beyond just playing for fun or your own satisfaction.

Unless you are independently wealthy enough to do EVERYTHING yourself, or pay for it, you need other people's money. And even if those people fully support the artistic aspects and believe in you, they also generally have other expectations for giving you money. As soon as they do, and as soon as you accept, it's business as well as music.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by pedro

Curious if you ever play in Madison?

No, not with my current band. I wish we had some Madison dates.

I don't think we have tried real hard to get in there. I think it's tough for outsiders to get in.

Blue

[pedro]

Originally Posted by bluewine

No, not with my current band. I wish we had some Madison dates.

I don't think we have tried real hard to get in there. I think it's tough for outsiders to get in.

Blue

Well drop me a line if you get a date in town. Would love to come out and say hello.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

No offence taken. I don't think it's "appalling"; I just said I won't do it. I appreciate the apology though, and likewise if I offended you.

If the owner said, help me out make the announcement and I'll book 3 more dated. If not we can part ways.

Would you do it, if your band needed the work?

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by pedro

Well drop me a line if you get a date in town. Would love to come out and say hello.

No problem,

I will.

Blue

[TRichardsbass]

Originally Posted by Bisounourse

Well, my guess is he is trying to make the best show he can, and show of his music. Since this is Belgium (this little country in the EU), that is all that is asked of a band by a club owner. It might be different in the US, but that is how it goes over here.

Clubs here only ask the same, but part of that showing off the music includes showing yourself off as a professional band, which includes the business side.

It wouldn't matter if the bar owner paid you or not, if you are playing out to show your music, it is always secondary to the venue. Ever open up for a national or global act? No one, and I mean no one except maybe your friends and family (and usually even not them) is there to see you. You are there to fill space, and give people a reason to show up to the venue early so they can buy all the merch and beverages before the headliner hits, because once they do no one is really paying attention to the bar. So you better do a great show, push the bar, and also the headliner. And you better be the best band ever. Oh, and don't do any song that even comes close to what the headliner is doing.

Lots of rules, but its still the same. Your best show, your best music, is only seen and heard if you give them a reason to do so. And no one goes to a bar normally just to listen to a band.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by bluewine

If the owner said, help me out make the announcement and I'll book 3 more dated. If not we can part ways.

Would you do it, if your band needed the work?

Blue

Yeah Blue, this is what I was getting at, and the crux of the issue IMO.

If you live somewhere where bar owners have no expectations or needs beyond "come in, play great music, put on a good show, hold my crowd," that's awesome. Congratulations to you. You are blessed.

But that doesn't help the rest of us for whom the situation is very different. For us, the question is: If you are in a situation where your weekend warrior musical expression livelihood finds itself threatened by, or in direct competition with, bands who have an edge on you because they DO pick the barkeep's brain, they DO find that he DOES have special needs beyond those listed above, and they DO make the effort in order to get in the barkeep's corner and on his regular rotation of bands he books...

Would you play the game?

For me, it's a no-brainer. I love playing live music for appreciative audiences and club owners far too much to be deterred by the expectation of a little light MC duty or the suggestion that I should save my cargo shorts for the beach.

[JohnMCA72]

Originally Posted by jive1

...

From a detail perspective, one reason why I like contracts is that it spells out the details with some level of enforceability. Even if the contract isn't worth more than the paper it's written on, it still spells out things.

Same here. The simple act of reading through a check list of details goes a long way towards making both sides understand what's expected & something important isn't dropped.

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by bluewine

If the owner said, help me out make the announcement and I'll book 3 more dated. If not we can part ways.

Would you do it, if your band needed the work?

Blue

I'd tell him to go to **** himself.

[nortonrider]

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

I'd tell him to go to **** himself.

Now THAT'S Rock and Roll!
Stay hard Bro!

[MarkMgibson]

I'll give it the old Viagra try!

[Holdsg]

Finally finished reading all of this.

I wish it were not true, but my CR cover band got fired recently from a regular bar gig for not bringing enough of a "following". Friends and family only spend so much on food and drink, not as much as bikers, or NASCAR fans, or whatever we don't seem to attract.

As much as people want to argue that your job is not to insure the amount of $ in his cash register, if the owner thinks otherwise, you're not getting the next gig. that's been my experience.

[Downunderwonder]

Originally Posted by TRichardsbass

In the US most clubs that have original bands live off the cover charge and are usually very small places. Average cover is $10 and bands get $2 or $3 for each person who pays the cover and says they are there to see you. Big headlining acts get $3-$5 of every cover and the bar owner gets the other $2-$4. So if 50 people walk through the door he already has $100 to $200 in profit. Or he has at least paid for the cost of his bartender and will make money on the drinks from the get go.

A "cover charge" is meant to "cover" the cost of hiring the band and sound system. What you're talking about is a "entry fee" or "ticket", same as Disneyland charges to get in and pays entertainers.

I like to keep the distinction so we know when we're talking about pay to play.

[BawanaRik]

Of course none of us drank before it was legal.

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Lots of places are 18+ if they have live bands. Of course the under 21 year old kids can't drink, but they can still get in.