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Do you get your drinks comped?
- Thread starter jive1
- Start date
I don't drink anymore, and most places seem to comp me a soft drink. Come to think of it, my bandmates prefer to drink something other than draft, like a premium bottle or top shelf liquor, so that's probably one of the reasons we seem to end up with a tab at the end of the night.
We usually get a bar allowance, and I never use it. Whenever I get myself involved, I end up paying $40 for two beers at the end of the night...
I get comped from bartenders and bar owners at the bars I play even when I am not playing. Most of the time.
My secret? Glad you asked. I kiss up. Like this:
1) I kick each of the bartenders a ten spot out of our tip jar at the end of the night.
2) I tip the door man before the gig (so he will tell the folks that ask "who is playing?" to come on in)
3) I usually record the show and come in a few days later with the cd and edit the first track to be me thanking the venue and bar owner or booking person for having us play. They really seem to like that.
4) I thank the bar tenders on mic every other break and remind the crowd to take care of them with tips.
My secret? Glad you asked. I kiss up. Like this:
1) I kick each of the bartenders a ten spot out of our tip jar at the end of the night.
2) I tip the door man before the gig (so he will tell the folks that ask "who is playing?" to come on in)
3) I usually record the show and come in a few days later with the cd and edit the first track to be me thanking the venue and bar owner or booking person for having us play. They really seem to like that.
4) I thank the bar tenders on mic every other break and remind the crowd to take care of them with tips.
For all you guys that bring flasks. If all the people in the audience did the same thing then the bar would sell less alcohol. They then couldn't afford to hire bands. Just sayin.
The patrons are there to spend money. I am there to make money. Your comparing the patrons to a working musician bringing a flask is irrelevant.When a bar won't comp a drink or two, I bring a flask. That way I don't spend any of the dough I am there to earn.
The patrons are there to spend money. I am there to make money. Your comparing the patrons to a working musician bringing a flask is irrelevant.When a bar won't comp a drink or two, I bring a flask. That way I don't spend any of the dough I am there to earn.
Right, so at the end of the night the bar ringout is less because you are not buying drinks. Where I live if they catch someone in the audience bringing alcohol into the bar they take it or kick the person out. Why should it be any different because you're in the band?
You dont bring it in, you drink it outside.
Though, I have played a few bars where they did not object to me bringing in a can from my 12 pack or a tallboy.
We get comped at certain places but sometimes it seems like they sure as hell don't like to do it--at least not the bartenders and waitstaff. Sometimes there's an almost contemptuous attitude when I ask for a drink and then mention that I'm with the band. If they're nice, I tip a buck a beer. If they're crappy about it, nada.
It depends on the place, some places give us a case in a bustub for the night; some places charge us for drinks. At the places that charge for drinks, sometimes ill get suprised with a 120 tab at the end of the night, so for those bars, ill bring a flask.
One club give's us two drinks and a good meal or you can have the two drinks skip the meal and get 3 more drinks But if you have ever seen me you would know I don't skip meal's and the food there rocks. We get discounts and a free drink or two allot and one club gave us all the drafts we wanted all night. There were some of the best local micro brew's..some with high alcohol %...woo wee that was fun!
But if you have ever seen me you would know I don't skip meal's and the food there rocks. We get discounts and a free drink or two allot and one club gave us all the drafts we wanted all night. There were some of the best local micro brew's..some with high alcohol %...woo wee that was fun!Like most, it varies... We never ask for drinks, but if we're on the road, we'll negotiate at least a meal for each band member in addition to our guarantee to offset travel costs. Most of the venues we play at will at least give us something, the better ones have a good sized cooler of domestics in the green room, and the best one keeps it full all night (we like playing there). There are a few places we play that don't give the band drink tickets or a discount or anything like that, but in my experience, the better places to play generally take better care of the bands (i.e., not only drinks, but they pay better and are better run/organized) and it's a better experience all around.
The audiences' booze habits has no relevance to the op question. I can take a sip of scotch outside between sets. Are you saying I am obligated to buy booze from the bar? Like I said, I am there to make money....not spend it on a bar tab. My answer is, I bring a flask if the bar doesn't comp.
Should've asked a different poll for cover vs original bands :_)
Cover band, it varies. One place gives us a $25 tab, which since all I drink is soda and water I never use (they comp soda and water). Another place is one well drink per person per set. Another place hasn't told us but never charges us (with two non drinkers and two light drinkers, we don't take much). Another place charged us for water (!!! needless to say, that was our last gig there).
My other band always tipped the bartender out of tips. Honestly, there's not enough tips now to do that (nights we don't even make $10....made $2 last night and did give that to the bar.... However, if anyone gets a drink they do tip a buck. We don't have doormen here at the place we play.
I am noticing that it seems the generation of bands before us ruined the open bar thing.....now the venues squeak at everything (can't really blame em). But comeon, at least give us the same discount you give your waitstaff....
We always remind the audience to tip the bartender and try to mention their names. Usually someone will quietly joke into the mic "and the band..".
As a non drinker, personally I could care less if they comped us for alcoholic drinks. I don't eat at gigs (makes me feel bleh...) so the no comped meals doesn't bother me either. Butttt if the rest of the band wants it, I go with them. And the places that won't even give a soda or water for free are now on the blacklist.
I've also been noticing the places that comp us the least also pay the least.....and aren't doing so well....wonder which one is the cause and the effect...
Cover band, it varies. One place gives us a $25 tab, which since all I drink is soda and water I never use (they comp soda and water). Another place is one well drink per person per set. Another place hasn't told us but never charges us (with two non drinkers and two light drinkers, we don't take much). Another place charged us for water (!!! needless to say, that was our last gig there).
My other band always tipped the bartender out of tips. Honestly, there's not enough tips now to do that (nights we don't even make $10....made $2 last night and did give that to the bar.... However, if anyone gets a drink they do tip a buck. We don't have doormen here at the place we play.
I am noticing that it seems the generation of bands before us ruined the open bar thing.....now the venues squeak at everything (can't really blame em). But comeon, at least give us the same discount you give your waitstaff....
We always remind the audience to tip the bartender and try to mention their names. Usually someone will quietly joke into the mic "and the band..".
As a non drinker, personally I could care less if they comped us for alcoholic drinks. I don't eat at gigs (makes me feel bleh...) so the no comped meals doesn't bother me either. Butttt if the rest of the band wants it, I go with them. And the places that won't even give a soda or water for free are now on the blacklist.
I've also been noticing the places that comp us the least also pay the least.....and aren't doing so well....wonder which one is the cause and the effect...
