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

#41
bassmonkeee said:
Seriously? You have some ridiculous internet fantasies if you really think you would kick the owner of the bar off his own stage.

You are either willing to put up with a volatile unpredictable drunk, or you aren't. No meeting with the manager and the owner is going to fix this. I take that back--when the owner says, " who the Hell are you to lecture me in my own bar?" The decision will be made for you.
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The Rolling Stones were asked to play at one of Trumps Casinos a while back while they were passing through New Jersey. They agreed only if it was written into the contract that Trump would not go up on stage for any reason during their performance, nor even attend the concert. Trump still showed up and went up on stage during the performance. :rollno:
 
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#42
What chaos! I guess either way next gig is AN ADVENTURE!
:)
I can see learning some 70's songs -but man what if he doesnt like those?! Who the hell stops a band and heckles them in the middle of the set.
I would have a tough time with that -i get angry dammit!
Good luck man.
 
#43
Joe Nerve said:
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.
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justjake said:
it's the nature of the beast. to survive in this environment you need thick skin.
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^^^ in order to work as musicians = we learn to deal with these situations!

all the advice about quitting the gig/venue is being given by folks who obviously don't gig in the first place!

OP: good luck on your quest for thicker skin! :thumbsup:
 
#44
Sounds like a situation where the owner is the biggest liability to the business. Treating your establishment as your own little party pad is usually bad form. Also, my groups have turned down regular gigs due to a controlling/annoying owner on a couple of occasions.

To those that recommend trying to "hash it out" between the manager and owner, that is bad advice in my opinion. Their working relationship is none of your business, you essentially have little difference to a plumber being hired to fix a pipe. It's not your place in my opinion.

Ultimately, you decide if the cost of this super annoying guy outweighs the benefit of the gig. Unless i was truly desperate for the money, i would likely stop playing there. I also would not take action on learning a bunch of new tunes to satisfy this one guy at this one establishment.
 
#46
JRA said:
^^^ in order to work as musicians = we learn to deal with these situations!

all the advice about quitting the gig/venue is being given by folks who obviously don't gig in the first place!

OP: good luck on your quest for thicker skin! :thumbsup:
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I think it comes down to whether you need the gig or not. For those that depend on it for their livelihood, yeah suck it up and get paid until it bursts on it's own. For folks like me that gig and get paid, but have a day job that actually pays the bills, i don't need this kind of crap.
 
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#48
Having tended bar for drunk owners in the past, you have two options:

1) Play enough 70's songs to shut him up.
2) Quit.

His manager is only trying to pacify you, but will never go against the owner in any conversation- he is just trying to keep a paycheck. The drunk owns the place, so does employ you. If you lead with 70's stuff, he may be a happy drunk and leave you alone. Just agree with him, give him a thumbs up, and roll with it. Believe me, you are not the only ones that realizes he is a drunk.
 
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#49
i agree with Joe Nerve ...

learn more 70's tunes ... announce before you play each one that they are a Special Request from the Owner ( Mr Drunkdik or whatever his name is ) ...

and/or ... ask the audience to write down the top 10 songs they'd like to hear .. !? everyone will see what the audience wants to hear .. ! regardless of what the Owner might think , the audience ringing up the cash register , IS paying the bills ( which would include his drinks )
 
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#50
Learn some 70's tunes, play your normal set until he asks you to play some 70's tunes, then, announce loudly that the next song you're playing is for the owner and launch into it. Pacify his drunken ego. I can't imagine it would happen more than a couple times a night. Drunks are annoying but they're also easily distracted and can't maintain focus for the entire 4 hours you're playing.
 
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#51
DavC said:
i agree with Joe Nerve ...

learn more 70's tunes ... announce before you play each one that they are a Special Request from the Owner ( Mr Drunkdik or whatever his name is ) ...
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Jamvan said:
Learn some 70's tunes, play your normal set until he asks you to play some 70's tunes, then, announce loudly that the next song you're playing is for the owner and launch into it. Pacify his drunken ego. I can't imagine it would happen more than a couple times a night. Drunks are annoying but they're also easily distracted and can't maintain focus for the entire 4 hours you're playing.
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Haha! Great minds think alike.
 
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#53
I live by my own standards. My standards say it's not worth the aggravation putting up with a drunk. I don't care what he owns. I'd be outta there and I wouldn't come back. This situation will only deteriorate to the point of some kind of mishap or tragedy. Is that Gig or the money it pays really worth it? If it is to you by all means continue to play there. I myself would not be playing that Gig.
 
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#57
Engle said:
Joe is right. Drunks are part of the deal when you play in a bar. And sometimes they are the owner.
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True. But the goal is to generate customer revenue. Therefor you give the customers what they want. Not pander to some dickhead drunk owner that is only interested in his own needs.

The management says they are doing fine and to take no notice of the owner.

But the owner is the owner...so he will continue to be an alcoholic pain-in-the-ass.

Maybe give John Taffer a call...:cool:
 
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#58
When dealing with a business' owner(s) being unreasonable, Benjamin Disraeli's golden maxim: "Never complain, never explain." is the best strategy to adopt.

If the guy is steadily drinking (and we can safely assume it's on more evenings than just the ones your band is playing) he's probably at that point where he's in a different place and hearing different music than the rest of the people in attendance. That's a no-win discussion to get drawn into.

I'd be inclined to let him rant and not say anything. Drunks don't want a discussion. They only want to talk and have the other person "just shut up and listen." They eventually run out of steam all on their own as long as you don't stoke the fire by responding.

Like my GF says: "There's no arguing with crazy people."
 
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#59
I was thinking about this, and it occurred to me that I don't have the faintest idea what kind of music any of the owners or managers of the establishments we play at like to hear. None of them care what we are playing if it draws and entertains a crowd. Lucky me I guess.

I like the suggestions to announce a special song for the owner when he gets unbearable. You said it pays well, so I assume you want to keep playing there.
 
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