What's your draw?

[ShoeManiac]

In our home market of NYC, we're ranging between 75 - 100 per show. That number has actually topped out, because on some occassions we've maxed out the capacity of the rooms. On that front we're probably going to need to start booking some bigger rooms.

But as we're ranging farther out of town, those number are softer. Simply because it takes some time to build things up when you tour regionally. Thankfully, we're starting to get some press. And I'm hoping that's going to have a positive impact on the turnout for the road gigs.

[Floyd Eye]

Last night it was 56 at 9PM, 70 at midnight and 23 when we shut it down at 1:30.

[Session1969]

Last night , my buddies band packed this little bar that can hold around 50-60 people. The bar owner was so happy about the turnout that he doubled their pay. Probably from fifty a man to a hundred but hey, better than a poke in the eye !

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by Session1969

Last night , my buddies band packed this little bar that can hold around 50-60 people. The bar owner was so happy about the turnout that he doubled their pay. Probably from fifty a man to a hundred but hey, better than a poke in the eye !

How about this for a kick in the crotch. The last time we played this bar ( we have played there at least 50 times) we drew less people then we did last night and they paid us more. The last time we played there they claimed they rang $2500 in alcohol. Last night they claimed it was $800. I called BS. No friggin' way there were 70 people there and they only rang $800. It is very likely we won't be playing there again.

[Gravy4001]

We draw anything from 5 people to 75+. Depends on the situation. We've been very lucky to play clubs with great built-in crowds and with a killer song selection we keep the clubs packed until last call. Obviously we prefer that kind of place where we don't have to worry about pressuring our friends and family to come out every weekend. When we're going into a place that has absolutely no built-in crowd, then we pull out all the stops and promote like crazy. It really comes down to having the right connections. There are always a few people who "control" a large group so if you can get a few of them on board you are set, just don't over do it and burn them out.

[edbass]

Originally Posted by Richland123

My standard response when a club owner/manager asks if my band has a following is - "Does your club have a following? Do people like to come here whether my band or any other band is here or not?" They don't know what to say because most of them do little or nothing to attract people to their club and do nothing to make their place a good and fun place to eat, drink, etc. Plus, since my band plays a large geographic area, people are not going to travel 1 - 2 hours and we play at many private clubs that are only open to members and guests and we can't "Bring other people" but they just can't seem to figure that out.

Great attitude, I'll bet that goes over well with the local venues...
I don't think it's club owner/manager who has an issue figuring things out.

It's a business, and the basic concept of this business is to make the registers ring; take in more revenue than you shell out, just like any business. The only way to do that is to bring people through the door.
If the bar already has a built in crowd, why on earth would the club owner/manager flush hard earned money down the toilet paying YOU, particularly with your above displayed "'tude"?

Once you "figure that out", I'll betcha you will get a lot more bar/club work.

[Richland123]

Originally Posted by edbass

Great attitude, I'll bet that goes over well with the local venues...
I don't think it's club owner/manager who has an issue figuring things out.

It's a business, and the basic concept of this business is to make the registers ring; take in more revenue than you shell out, just like any business. The only way to do that is to bring people through the door.
If the bar already has a built in crowd, why on earth would the club owner/manager flush hard earned money down the toilet paying YOU, particularly with your above displayed "'tude"?

Once you "figure that out", I'll betcha you will get a lot more bar/club work.

It is a business and most of them (not all) don't know how to run one. That is the issue.

I have been very successful for 43 years in bands and I DO KNOW HOW TO FIGURE IT OUT!

[edbass]

Originally Posted by Richland123

It is a business and most of them (not all) don't know how to run one. That is the issue.

I have been very successful for 43 years in bands and I DO KNOW HOW TO FIGURE IT OUT!

Maybe I misunderstood your position on good business vs. bad business, because what I think you are trying to say doesn't sound very "figured out" to me.

I don’t want to accidentally berate your viewpoint so let's clarify;
The way I understand your "point" is that in your opinion the club owner/managers that DO worry about if a band that they are paying draws any people to their establishment are the club owner/managers that DO NOT know how to run a business, while the club owner/managers that are willing to pay you to bring NOBODY to their cash registers are the ones that DO know how to run a business.

Or do I have it backward?

[Richland123]

Originally Posted by edbass

Maybe I misunderstood your position on good business vs. bad business, because what I think you are trying to say doesn't sound very "figured out" to me.

To clarify. As I stated previously, we play at many "Private Clubs" that are only open to members and guests and we can't "Bring other people" and they can't figure that out.

If a "Private Club" only permits "Their members and guests" to attend dances and events, how does my band or any other band's followers matter when they ARE NOT permitted into the "Private Club" anyway? I could have 500 people in a town who want to see my band but can't get into the club.

[edbass]

Originally Posted by Richland123

To clarify. As I stated previously, we play at many "Private Clubs" that are only open to members and guests and we can't "Bring other people" and they can't figure that out.

If a "Private Club" only permits "Their members and guests" to attend dances and events, how does my band or any other band's followers matter when they ARE NOT permitted into the "Private Club" anyway? I could have 500 people in a town who want to see my band but can't get into the club.

Now I’m really confused; who can’t figure out what? Is “they” the club owner/managers? Is what they can’t figure out the fact that private clubs/events don’t allow uninvited guests, or is it that they can’t figure out that if they knew how to run a club they would pay you to bring nobody to their venue?

A lot of the bands I’ve been in over the past 4 decades have actually developed a strong public club following by playing private events and gaining fans that then show up at other public venues and spend money.
In your opinion would you say that’s a “win-win”, or are you of the belief that simultaneously developing a following and playing a lot of private events are mutually exclusive activities?

I’m not trying to dog you, I’m just trying to get my head around a self professed veteran gigging player having this attitude;

Originally Posted by Richland123

My standard response when a club owner/manager asks if my band has a following is - "Does your club have a following? Do people like to come here whether my band or any other band is here or not?"

It’s truly nothing personal but to me that sounds like something a club gigging newb, or someone that truly hasn’t “figured out” how the public club thing works would say.

If I were the club owner/manager I wouldn’t have anything to say either.
I would just end the conversation about you playing my venue right then and there and quit wasting both of our time.
I’m not saying it’s right or good, or that a large percentage of club owner/managers aren’t idiots; a whole lot of them are, and I’m not saying that anyone has to like it.

But… that’s the way the business is; love it or leave it.