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Getting gigs at crappy bars?

RicPlaya

RicPlaya

Apr 22, 2003
2,703
163
51
The Mitten
#1
I'm not trying to be derogitory but I don't have a mullet, I am under 30 years old, workout, and the rest of the guys in my band are the same. By no means am I a In Synch type guy. My question is we do play a good mix of tunes new and old but these bar owners think I am some pretty boy or something and don't want to book us. I don't want to play the bigger venues till we get a little tighter but I am sure we could book a gig at any of these places that cater to more modern music and a more diverse crowd besides all older people, or bikers etc. Not that there is anything wrong with that we def have all kinds of people in our fan base and try to cater to everyone but it seems we turn a lot of these bar owners away, they think we are yuppies or too young I can't out my finger on it. But we give these guys a demo with a good mix of new and old tunes but no luck booking at any of these local dumps, what does it take to book a gig in a crappy bar? What do these owners at these rougher establishments look for? I know it's a weird question, thanks.
 
#2
RicPlaya said:
I'm not trying to be derogitory but I don't have a mullet, I am under 30 years old, workout, and the rest of the guys in my band are the same. By no means am I a In Synch type guy. My question is we do play a good mix of tunes new and old but these bar owners think I am some pretty boy or something and don't want to book us. I don't want to play the bigger venues till we get a little tighter but I am sure we could book a gig at any of these places that cater to more modern music and a more diverse crowd besides all older people, or bikers etc. Not that there is anything wrong with that we def have all kinds of people in our fan base and try to cater to everyone but it seems we turn a lot of these bar owners away, they think we are yuppies or too young I can't out my finger on it. But we give these guys a demo with a good mix of new and old tunes but no luck booking at any of these local dumps, what does it take to book a gig in a crappy bar? What do these owners at these rougher establishments look for? I know it's a weird question, thanks.
Click to expand...
Familiarity.


Make the patrons comfortable = more bar money. (Whatever) about you guys does not do that I guess.
 
#4
RicPlaya said:
...what does it take to book a gig in a crappy bar? What do these owners at these rougher establishments look for? I know it's a weird question, thanks.
Click to expand...
The "rougher" establishments main source of business is usually their "regulars". The owners of these places won't hire a band that they think might drive out the "regulars" because it's not too hard for them to find somewhere else to drink. If your band can play 4 hours of Blues, Southern Rock, and a few dance tunes for the ladies, you'll probably get booked as much as you want. I would suggest you make a demo with Sweet Home Alabama, Old Time Rock & Roll, Keep Your Hands to Yourself, and Mustang Sally as highlight tunes. Wonderful Tonight and Rolling Stones' tunes also go over very well.

Good luck...
 
#5
If they aren't into your image, it may be difficult to get in as a lot of junkier club owners seem to have tunnel vision... especially when it comes to original bands.

You might try getting opening gigs with other bands that play in there. If you do well at those, they'll book you.

PS: You wouldn't be talking about the Old Miami Tavern, would you, by any chance? ;)
 
#7
Gotta agree with Slater here; if the owner thinks your music selection (I got the impression you're a cover band; correct if I'm wrong) wouldn't appeal to regulars, you likely won't get much of a shot; that's just generally smart business on the owners' part. If you're going for crappy bars, the pretty-boy image won't help either.

thrash_jazz said:
PS: You wouldn't be talking about the Old Miami Tavern, would you, by any chance? ;)
Click to expand...
Yea, hopefully you're not against naming names...what establishments have you tried?
 
#8
I agree with just about all the above, and I've got a little to add....

The ONLY thing they care about is how much money they're gonna bring in at the bar. Chances are they have regular bands that play there and there's no reason they should take a gamble on an unknown band - ESPECIALLY when you yourself say you look as if you don't fit. You also said you need to tighten things up before you hit the bigger bars. That doesn't sound like a band I'd want to book. even if you're not saying that, I venture to bet something about your attitude is - and they can smell it.

If you want to play these places you're going to have to give them a GOOD reason to book you. Offering to open for another band for free just so they can hear you is a good idea and could be very much worth the time investment. Something we recently started doing that's working really well is selling ourselves to the same types of bars for $240. we're 3 peice so it comes out to $80 a man. we've been asked back every time so far. they seem willing to take a gamble when you cost a lot less than the other bands they're booking.

I've also learned that you need to be very friendly, accomodating, patient, no, relentless, and NOT TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY. i flat out can't do it, thank god my guitarist Randy can. i've gotten hung up on in mid sentence 3 or 4 times and i want to burn the bars down and kill the idiot bartenders that do it. Randy somehow laughs it off and tries again the next week. it really isn't anything personal. half the time they're drunk, and they get lots and lots of calls from unkown people wanting to play their bars. they get burned a lot with bands that suck and empty the places for them on what would have otherwise been a good night. they also then have to deal with a band that wants to get paid for emptying their bar and is probably going to give them a hard time.

i'm learning lots about this and i'm beginning to see where they're coming from. if you go into it with the above understanding and you're a good, tight band - i think you'll do alright. your looks won't matter.
 
#12
Thanks everyone, trust me I am faaar from being pretty! I'm actually a bigger, bald dude with a long gotee. I don't think we have a bad attitude or it could be bleeding through. We are a cover band and I think the bars are worried about the regulars more. This has happened at a couple of places I don't want to mention any names in case we do eventualy get a gig at one of them. I just think I don't have a look that would appeal to thier crowd, and a lot of time these people seem high or drunk all the time when we talk to them and very unprofessonal so I'm not sure if we want to play at all of them. We are very professonal and that may scare them off. We get over 100 people we bring to every one of our shows, but I'm not older and I think these guys think i will play all Blink 182 or some nu metal crap when all i want to do is crank out some war pigs. I just don't think a lot of these people even care, we even had a band playing at one of these bars play our demo over the PA and they all liked it and the ladies started dancing to the demo. It's funny how the big time bars in my area bug us to play all the time but we just want to get a little more gig savy first before we hit the "big time" venues and we can't book a gig at some of the less known rougher places, it's crazy. I'll keep trying, I'm going to another bar tomorrow. This bar seems to have a good diversity of bands that play there and one of the waitresses thinks I'm a hot stud so she can introduce me to the owner :bassist:
 
#13
Best of luck to you. Really, just ask what they need and want, straight up. I help my local club owner judge who to book, and the main thing is we want bands who are real, not trying to say whatever they think we want to hear.

I've been in bands that played big venues really early on, it might be OK just to go that route. If you bring in 100 people, and play the first set, the club's already way ahead.
 
#18
Mostly I agree with Slater on this one. But Schwinn hit the nail on the head - drink there. Stop by some of these places for a beer at least once a week and get to know some of the regulars and the folks that work there. Make sure you always tip the bartenders. Go check out some of the other bands that play there and talk to them on breaks. Sit in for a couple of tunes if they offer. Eventually people will start asking "how come your band doesn't play here?"
 
#19
A good way to get experience and a following is to set up your own shows.

Rent out a hall or get a park permit when things warm up, do posters, email, newspaper advert...share the night with other like-minded bands.

Play parties, Frats and Sororities. Do that cheap.

Anyway, do whatever you can to get a buzz going before you take it to the bars. Or skip the bars all together. You'll have more fun playing music to people who really want to hear you than playing to people who put up with you while they down a few beers and try to hook up.

Putting on your own shows also teaches you a ton about promotion...which will help you later on anyway. You also don't have to be as concerned about what songs you play or how loud you are.

Think outside of the bar!
 

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