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Do you get your drinks comped?

Do you get your drinks comped

  • Yes, all our drinks

    Votes: 30 19.4%

  • Yes, some of drinks

    Votes: 96 61.9%

  • Nope, gotta pay for all of them

    Votes: 18 11.6%

  • Carrots

    Votes: 11 7.1%
  • Total voters
    155
#21
Depends on the venue. Sometimes it's any and all for free, sometimes 1/2 price, sometimes full tab. This is also applies to food. The bigger clubs in my area like Ramshead and 8x10 have free food and drinks but bars are pretty variable. Festivals usually give you a pile of drink/food tickets.

I guess the crux of the biscuit is the free part is diminishing. Definitely less free now than even 5 years ago. Sign of the times I guess.
 
#22
All depends on the size of the crowd and the money made by the joint .... on a good, busy night we don't see any tab at the end, average night we get a discount (usually about 50%) and if it's really slow, we pay just like everyone else. This is for both food and drinks.

It's well worth your while to get to know the bartenders, lots of stuff comes our way "under the table" .... :cool:
 
#25
It's different everywhere I play. Some places comp all your drinks. Others give each a member a set amount. And other places make you pay.

My favorite is when play at this New Orleans bistro, we get drinks and food!
 
#28
jive1 said:
Back in the day, I remember getting all my drinks comped, at least well and draft. Then clubs cut it down to one a set, or a set tab. And nowadays, I always seem to get a tab at the end of the night.

Is it that way for everyone else?
Click to expand...

Sometimes. Insofar as my own personal consumption is concerned, I don't worry about it, as never have more than two beers a gig anymore. But, in principle, and to a degree, I think the band should be allowed to have a few drinks "on the house", and such a concession, is in no way unreasonable.

I would mention there can often be a wide discrepancy in consumption, which should play into this. I've known some bands/people who can put away some serious, serious amount of beverages, and this is neither good for the music, nor the club, the band, nor other drivers on the road-post gig...

But in general, the payscale and the comping of drinks has been greatly reduced to cut "overhead". Or that is which was formerly negotiated and thought of as "compensation" for musical services rendered.

:hmm:
 
#32
every week i play a place that feeds us & gives me more booze than i should consume. another place gives us 50% off food & more booze than i should consume. then there are about 12 or so places that just mainline booze directly into our viens. another has this bartender that just walks up to me & pours shots in my mouth as i am playing. life is good.

only large clubs give drink tickets or make you buy & those clubs usually have the beer tub in the back for us. & after talking up the waitresses & bartenders you can usually get it most of your drinks for free. you just have to be really social.
 
#33
It seems to range from nothing to damn near anything you want to drink or eat. Its a good idea to tip even if the drinks are free. A tip, never ever run a tab if you are payin'. Pay as you go that way you won't be buyin' drinks for people you don't know or a drunk band-mate. I almost always bring a cooler with bottled water, tea, etc, and of course a flask. I learned a long time ago not to get wasted at a gig. Fell off a Coke machine that was next to the stage with a brand new 1966 Gibson EB-2D. No damage except to my pride. Must say tho' it was a lesson I learned more than once. Plus, your gear will weigh twice as much after four sets and a six pack... ha ha ha... Have Fun!!!
 
#34
that is a good point about tabs. a while ago a large club gave us drink tickets & we were the opener & we ran though those tickets in a heartbeat. so i started a tab for myself, just myself & after about 3 drinks i collected my 60 dollar tab!!!!!!!!! so if your lead singer is broke don't do tabs!
 
#37
pointbass said:
All depends on the size of the crowd and the money made by the joint .... on a good, busy night we don't see any tab at the end, average night we get a discount (usually about 50%) and if it's really slow, we pay just like everyone else. This is for both food and drinks.

It's well worth your while to get to know the bartenders, lots of stuff comes our way "under the table" .... :cool:
Click to expand...

This reflects my experience as well.
 
#40
Most venues give us free draft/domestic all night.

One doesn't give us **** (but they pay decent at least)

A few also do like $50-100 bar tab for the band. (I hate this as some of us drink more than others, and often times the bar screws up/changes the number based on who is working/when the night manager comes in)

One gave us 2 drinks each (so I made them whiskey on the rocks :D)....it was also carpeted, what kinda bar is carpeted? Smelled funny, like a carpet soaked in a kegs of coors light and then stuck in a basement.

One gave us free dinner and $50 in drinks (and last year it was free dinner and all you can drink)

Usually if the club tries to screw us or change our drink arrangement last minute the bar tender gets screwed, as both my guitarists refuse to give out the usual band tip if they get shafted by the management.
 

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