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East Tennessee Talkbass

#2,141
Chicken Dog said:
The 40 minute drive out isn't too bad - it's the drive back at 3:00am that is rough. Nice folks out there, but not much of a crowd to speak of. Quite frankly, I'm not sure how some of these establishments can afford to hire bands. I don't see how they are making enough to pay the band from any food or drink margin, when it looks like the entire gross revenue would barely break them even.
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We could talk about that all night, really. I managed to get myself snagged at a red light camera on Kingston Pike coming home from Paul's Oasis in July. Said right on the ticket - 3:17 Am, speed 21 MPH. I probably didn't even realize I was at a stop light I'm so tired by that hour ... and I was hauling ass at (drum roll) 21 MPH ...

For the life of me I can't understand how some of these places stay open either. There is one West Knoxville place is particular that we don't even try to get gigs at any more because the bar staff sucks, they have no people in the place and the atmosphere is crap. The last time we played there the manager gave me a line at the start that was approximately "well, if we don't have a good night I don't know how much we are going to pay you." to which (me being a very direct small business owner who doesn't take any **** when it comes to money) I said "you're going to pay us the miserable amount of $ promised, or we're going to have the cops here to mediate a dispute, sport". No more gigs at that shithole - I told Dave don't bother, period.

Ah, the glam life of the bass guitar.
 
#2,143
Dan Horboychuk said:
Just curious what kind of money do cover bands make at bar/ club gigs in Knoxville area?
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For Fri-Sat nights - my experience playing 3-5 gigs a month for the last few years here - the low is $250-$300. Average is $400 range. My 2 bands get between $350 and $500 with the skew towards the higher end - we basically won't play for less than $350 and even at $350 there has to be a good reason. For new places, we offer them a first-time rate at $350 if they've never seen us with the understanding that if they want us back it's going to be higher - and we've got dates booked at 10 or 12 different places so this approach has definitely paid off. We have multiple clubs on the books at $500. I know people in other bands that are pulling $600-$700 consistently, but that's for acts that have been around for more years or have a specific hook to what they are doing that sets them apart from others.

Weeknights, it's less. We're basically not playing weeknights at all. One of my 2 bands has a Thursday gig in October, and I don't recall when the last weeknight gig at a bar or club we played might have been. Most places do not have bands weeknights - a few, some are Thur-Sat, but many are Fri-Sat.

Plenty of competition for gigs. There are lots of places to play, and there are lots of bands here.
 
#2,147
Wow, a lot of responses since I checked in here last...

I don't think room is a problem if you want to bring loads of gear. We may designate the stage for amps and the floor space for basses if it comes to that.

The main problem with the sanctuary, is the floor has a slight incline the further from the stage you go, we traditionally use that area to park cases and stuff that won't fall over. I would not want to park a bass on a stand on an incline for obvious reasons.

I sincerely hope this is a problem, we will work it out!

I'll let Rusty know we are having it, but he is gigging a LOT, and last time it was brought up, I told Richard and Rusty that I didn't think I had time to even host one this year.

If we have good attendance, it would be a perfect opportunity to discuss bringing in a speaker for the next one. We definitely would have to discuss compensation for anyone speaking, be it an instructor, luthier, artist, clinician, etc.
 
#2,151
Gig report: Odell Brummett and the Renegade Band tore it up tonight at the V club. Record crowd for us 107 paid through the door, kept the dance floor full from first song. We have a very nice following there, wish we could move them all with us whenever we play Maryville, etc.

Will be a Six Pockets next Saturday, hope some friends show, that's a big place!
 
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#2,160
A week from tomorrow is the next GTG, thought I'd copy and paste the directions. Spread the word and plan to attend, should be a fun time as always!

Saturday October 18th from noon to 3:00 PM.

Have to cut it off at 3, I have a gig that evening that's a long haul, so I have to be on the road no later than 3:30.

Three hours is a good amount of quality GTG time though, so mark your calendars!

Address:

River Oaks Community Church 1220 Brown School Rd. Maryville, TN 37804

Please post if you plan to attend, and if you don't mind, list gear you'll be bringing.
Also, list any gear you might be interested in selling or trading. Great opportunity to try and buy!
 

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