Getting overpaid - owner wants it back

[Runnerman]

There is a bunch here we don't know. You've obviously worked in the same professional"working band" environment I have. It takes time to build a successful band. Nowadays, only one screw up can tear it down. No matter what, its integrity. I realize this is a bar band situation but, it shouldn't matter. My question would be? How long has this gone on with the band deciding screw it or, has the money been returned? Maybe I missed that?

So to answer this. We found out last night by text from the BL that she had asked for it back. I'm not sure we even got paid on it yet, its probably in the band bank account still. I'd need to check. The gig was a couple of weeks ago, and like I said in an earlier post, I remember the BL saying something to me about the money situation as I was walking by toting a PA speaker or something, said we got more than was agreed with a smile on his face. I guess for me learning about her reaction last night, I've honestly been thinking about it and why I posted. (of course the drummer said screw them...right away...I haven't responded yet)

I don't want to paint the BL as a bad person here. He's honest and I've been working with him for 13-14 years.

 

[gln1955]

So to answer this. We found out last night by text from the BL that she had asked for it back. I'm not sure we even got paid on it yet, its probably in the band bank account still. I'd need to check. The gig was a couple of weeks ago, and like I said in an earlier post, I remember the BL saying something to me about the money situation as I was walking by toting a PA speaker or something, said we got more than was agreed with a smile on his face. I guess for me learning about her reaction last night, I've honestly been thinking about it and why I posted. (of course the drummer said screw them...right away...I haven't responded yet)

I don't want to paint the BL as a bad person here. He's honest and I've been working with him for 13-14 years.

Does it really matter who said what to who? It comes down to you either refund the money and keep the relationship with the venue or keep the money and never play there again and possibly other places the owner networks with.

 

[basseux]

It's 100 dollar on how much ?

 

[Aledal]

Offer them a $100 discount on the next gig, get booked again and if you bring the same crowd surely everyone would be happy?

 

[gidbass]

This is a new one on me. We did a nice gig a few weeks ago. First time at the place. It was a warm spell that night here in NC. Club had the front doors open and a good crowd cycled in and out from the street, good vibes and a fun evening. After load out the bar manager paid our BL and gave him $100 more than was agreed on with the club owner. Said he loved our playing and thanked us. BL thought...that's pretty cool, and since we had pulled a good crowd he didn't think anything of it and took the cash.

A couple days later the owner called and said my guy over paid you $100. What do you want to do about it? The BL just told her we thought you appreciated our playing and the crowd we brought in so we accepted it. She made him feel like we did something wrong and we owe her something. Do we? Should we offer to discount another gig?

To me, the $100 isn't worth as much as the potential to play the gig there again as it sounds like it was a good gig. I'd personally pay it back and just chalk it up to a misunderstanding.

Good Luck!

 

[39-Bassist]

Contract says that amount then give the money back especially if you want a good reputation and asked to go back.

 

[james condino]

F@#$ places like that; the $$$ is yours.@$$hole self aggrandizing entitled nobody bar owners....Four people spent three years learning tunes, gave up a half day of real work, and showed up with $30,000 in equipment and helped the bar sell a $#!tload of alcohol, but somehow they feel ripped off over $100?????????????????

Any place that would retroactively ask for money back is somewhere that I would never play at again and I would make sure that the entire regional community knows this is the way they act.

 

[5StringBlues]

So much speculation! Bottom line: A contract is a contract.

 

[JazznFunk]

Does it really matter who said what to who? It comes down to you either refund the money and keep the relationship with the venue or keep the money and never play there again and possibly other places the owner networks with.

The band could easily tell other venues what the situation is and how aggressively X venue approached them to recover $100. I wouldn't play this venue again if this happened to a band I was in. At this point it is as much the band's word and interpretation (and the intent/understanding of the manager on duty) vs the bar owner - who wasn't even on the premises when the exchange was made. Regardless, this is an issue that should never have come back on the band in the first place.

 

[P. Aaron]

If a club owner is sweating $100 the club is NOT in good shape.

That's what I was thinking.

Many clubs run on thin margins and we mostly understand this stuff. Especially in the food-hospitality services. BUT, it really seems odd for the club to ask for it back officially. The manager could just mention it in passing in a light-hearted way. Bands understand these types of messages and would likely play a bit longer over the next few gigs or, skip a bar tab for a show or two.

We have 2 clubs where we do a regular rotation. We are reluctant to take on many more, preferring instead, festivals, civic gigs and private party hires.

It's wise to limit club gigs for numerous reasons.

Never, ever fall for the house band offer or labeling from any venue. It's the eventual kiss of death.

 

[gln1955]

The band could easily tell other venues what the situation is and how aggressively X venue approached them to recover $100. I wouldn't play this venue again if this happened to a band I was in. At this point it is as much the band's word and interpretation (and the intent/understanding of the manager on duty) vs the bar owner - who wasn't even on the premises when the exchange was made. Regardless, this is an issue that should never have come back on the band in the first place.

All that may be true but it still comes down to whether the band wants to burn that bridge.

 

[JazznFunk]

All that may be true but it still comes down to whether the band wants to burn that bridge.

The bridge isn't theirs to burn really. The venue is burning the bridge by not saying 'Hey - we obviously had a miscommunication on our end at the end of the night. The mistake is ours. We understand that you interpreted it as a tip. The next time you play here, we'll be sure we handle the pay process differently at the end of the night.'

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

We did a nice gig...

Awww ​

First time at the place...good vibes and a fun evening.

Nice.​

After load out the bar manager paid our BL and gave him $100 more than was agreed on with the club owner.

I pay wait staff that way all the time. It's called tipping, and it's become rather popular lately for all kinds of services. $100 sounds like it was in the tip range for that gig.

Also, maybe he gave the BL *$200* more ​

Said he loved our playing and thanked us.

To which the BL might reply, "Thanks. We'd love to return!"​

A couple days later the owner called and said my guy over paid you $100. What do you want to do about it?

Reply, "What do you think I (the BL who already paid my guys, the band) ought to do?"​

The BL just told her we thought you appreciated our playing and the crowd we brought in so we accepted it. She made him feel like we did something wrong and we owe her something.

That. That there is the problem with the story.
Stop having feelings !​

Should we offer to discount another gig?

No. Or as my teens say, "No-wuh!"​

 

[Ellery]

you could offer a $100 credit toward your next booking.

^^^THIS^^^
If they weren't going to book you again anyway, screw 'em!

 

[Lee Moses]

It is very much normal to assume that the 100$ extra was given in good faith of thanking for a good gig and for a healthy crowd of people listening.

That's exactly what I said. I'm not sure how you are correcting me here.

Yes, we can discuss whether paying back the hundred is appropriate or not, but it's not legally bonding in any way. From a legal perspective, if the club owner wants his money back, he/she will have to hit the club manager who issued the payment in the first place. It is what it is, the rest is just purely good will.

Again, I agree. I'm not talking about the legality of it; I'm talking about the morality/ethicality of it. Plenty of slimy people do slimy things that are still legal. Personally, I'm not one to choose the slimy road and I have no respect for someone who does.

 

[alex1fly]

Great follow up to this thread will be to lament how musicians aren't treated as professionals.

 

[MoireBass]

Great follow up to this thread will be to lament how musicians aren't treated as professionals.

See post #138 for the reason why that is.

 

[Gluvhand]

I don't necessarily care what the agreed upon contract/payment amount was. To me, that's the minimum to be paid, and, I think it's safe to say, we've all accepted more than agreed on at one time or another. If the manager offered up an unauthorized tip and is getting heat I'd give it back but I also wouldn't play there again.

 

[retslock]

Pay it back if you want to work there again.

 

[thisSNsucks]

I mean if the venue is making it seem like you guys are in the wrong for accepting, they might not book you there again anyway.

If it were me I’d just give it back and apologize by saying we assumed it was a tip for doing a good job because that’s what other venues in the area have done for us (probably a lie but hey, make them feel a little crappy about asking for money back).