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Heckled....by the Restaurant/Bar Owner!?! Long Rant

#25
You guys have it made. Back in the old days when I used to gig, we had to bring our own hecklers.;)

I would either just ignore the guy as much as possible, or if it's a really good gig, talk to him when he is not drunk, and ask him for suggestions about songs as a way of starting a discussion about his behavior. You might be able to determine whether you can just ignore him when he does that, or decide between you and him if you will or won't play there again.
 
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#27
justjake said:
in my experience most bar owners ( 75%) are drunks and azzholes . it's the nature of the beast. to survive in this environment you need thick skin. either you blow off his poor behavior and continue on or blow off the venue.
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100% this. You're not going to change his behaviour, don't waste time calling meetings etc. You can either put up with it and get paid, or choose to not go there....I have lots of experience with alcoholics, the owner is one, behaviour is unpredictable except the part where it's boorish. If you're getting paid and there's no violence, the only risk is that someone in the crowd thinks YOU'RE the cause of the delay and spreads bad reputation your way, but that's unlikely unless one of his kids waiting on an inheritance happens to be there. People can see what's happening.
 
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#31
Joe Nerve said:
I get what the problem is - owner is a drunk - but I don't get what the problem is in fixing it? Learn and play his requests, and play them when he requests them. There are also TONS of classic rock 70s tunes that you can learn in a day. Ipad and cellphone holders make chart and lyric sheets easier to do than ever.

To be honest, I don't see anything the owner is doing that is all that horrible outside of acting like a drunken ass. Not paying you, cutting your pay at the end of the night, changing gigs up at the last minute, double booking, etc., those are the things that make for walking away. Drunken fools, even when that fool is the owner, I think are part of the job. It's best IMO to learn to roll with it.

A lot here also depends on your motives and goals as a band. Do you just want to play for fun once in a while, if so, then screw it and move along. Find another place to play. Do you want to be as successful a cover band as you can be? Then learn now to roll with lots of BS, and roll with a big fat smile on your face. Owner is boss. Do what he/she wants first, what the crowd wants second, and what you want, third. Not even sure that third part should be there.

Whatever you do, getting into any kind of argument with the owner in NOT the way to go. And if he's the drunk he seems to be, attempts at communicating/reasoning will not be all that helpful either.
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The down side is if they play what the owner wants and they lose the crowd, the owner will still blame them. This may be a no win situation.
 
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#32
catcauphonic said:
That would be ideal, but in my experience what the manager says to you on the side may be different than what he's willing to say in front of the owner.
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But he's putting it all on you to deal with the owner. That's not fair. I would ask the manager to use every bit of interpersonal skills he has to go to bat for you with the owner. He might do it if you ask. If you don't ask, it's the same old same old and nothing changes.
 
#34
Stumbo said:
Have a sit down with the owner and manager during the day. Start the meeting with "Based in our recent successful gigs at your restaurant...".
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... based on recent successful gigs, and in light of certain events, you want payment in advance and you will stop playing and go away if bar owner comes again onstage to physically stop the band.

In writing.
 
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#36
BassBrass said:
Exactly, actually have some fun with it. Interject some joyful chaos and do not fear. Bow to him Asian style and say okay-dokey! And say Yes Sir! we will do this you ask! with a huge grin on your face. DO speak to you manager about buffering the guy. This weekend IS a full moon so don't engage angrily with anybody
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That's absolutely how I handle it. Life's to short to engage in any kind of a battle with folks like this. Bar owner/managers or not!
 
#37
Don't sweat it. My old man was playing a blues bar one weekend and his band took an intermission. The owner wanted his brother-in-law to set in with the band. Number 1, dude was a cheeseball trying to impress some business associates or something. Number 2, it was a hardcore blues band way over the guys head. Needless to say, the singer told the owner negative. The band got fired in between sets. The bass player was the last guy to find out. The staff was visibly upset with such boldness.
 

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