Jerk club manager

[Marko 1]

...

I don't think it'd be inappropriate at all to call the cops and tell them that you are being robbed - because that's exactly what's going on.

Call them - tell them that you are getting robbed by the manager of the bar and that you need a cop to come by and deal with him or arrest him for stealing your money. The minute you fulfilled your end of the deal and completed your show the money in his til that was owed to you became yours. Just because he hasn't handed it to you doesn't mean it's still his.

...

All the cops would do is say “Sorry, but it’s a matter for the courts”.

But bar owners just don’t like cops coming to the bar for a lot of reasons, so it might still be a good idea.

 

[Stilettoprefer]

This place is an all ages club, so no alcoholic beverages. Sorry I forgot to mention that in the OP (thought I did)

Just got home from rehearsal and the next gig will probably be my last with that group. I'm talking to some local musicians and working on putting together a band that won't be so full of bullsh*t. Along with the whole band thing my life is hell right now with school and whatnot (senior year stuff and getting a job) so getting rid of one stress factor sounds pretty good at the moment. Idk maybe I'm overreacting due to not being home at all except to sleep for the last month, 5 different bands (including school bands, which is 3) to learn music for, an Honors math class, stress overload and a monster migrane..... Oh and my homework load AND giving a kid at school lessons on upright bass starting next week so that I can maintain a good grade in band classes (Teacher is abusing power and jerking me around because he can)

I Think I'll take the girlfriend out for a shake or something tonight after praise team practice at church. Need a break from everything.

 

[Marko 1]

get the drummer to pay you before the gig and tell him to just keep your share after you get paid..

 

[Mystic Michael]

You can try and get things in writing, depending on how much pull you have, but if you're young and a newer band you may not have much success. And even with a contract some people will still take the chance that you won't go to the trouble/expense of suing them over a few hundred bucks.

One thing is for sure: If you don't take yourselves seriously - and by that, I mean "seriously" in the complete business sense of the term - nobody else will either.

So what if the dispute is over a measly one hundred bucks? It's the principle of the thing. And it's as good a way as any other to establish the reputation of not being a pushover.

So take the weasel to small claims court. Let him sacrifice time from his valuable business day in order to respond to a court summons - then explain to the judge or to the arbitrator why he felt it necessary to screw a band of high-school kids out of one hundred bucks.

Inflict enough inconvenience and hardship on the guy, and he'll settle right up: I guarantee it. It's a no-brainer business decision.

He'll also remember your name. And he'll know better than to ever try to jerk you around again.

MM

 

[LiquidMidnight]

One thing is for sure: If you don't take yourselves seriously - and by that, I mean "seriously" in the complete business sense of the term - nobody else will either.

So what if the dispute is over a measly one hundred bucks? It's the principle of the thing. And it's as good a way as any other to establish the reputation of not being a pushover.

+1

But this is an all-ages club, you say? Well, worry not. All-ages venues usually go down like a lead zeppelin to paraphrase the late, great Keith Moon. They always sound like a good idea, until the owners make the realization that kids don't have any money when they start losing their asses on their ventures.

 

[runmikeyrun]

This wasn't a few hundred bucks even. It was $100 (+ $ for the tickets that we sold for that show ahead of time)
And we are young, 16-18. And the other 2 groups that night are in the same age-range. But this wasn't our first show and we've played larger venues.

Go play his venue again and get him back- if he owes you $100 then take $100 out of his venue. Walk off with a couple of mics or something. If there's multiple bands there and his stuff isn't marked he'll have no way to prove who did it, even if he does call the cops.

 

[Mirios]

I would probably show up to the next gig since it is already scheduled. I would refuse to even load in let alone go on stage until payment is rendered. Not just for the previous show but for the one that night. If he doesn't want to pay, then there is no band. Hard to make money at an all ages place that doesn't have a band I would think, unless there is some other attraction there like pool tables or something. Whatever you do act confident and don't let yourself be pushed around. After that I would probably cut business with the guy.

 

[jive1]

I'm surprised that your band would even play there again if you've been stiffed. Makes me wonder if the drummer got paid from the bar, and isn't telling you or the rest of the band.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Go play his venue again and get him back- if he owes you $100 then take $100 out of his venue. Walk off with a couple of mics or something. If there's multiple bands there and his stuff isn't marked he'll have no way to prove who did it, even if he does call the cops.

No. No. No.

MM

 

[Stilettoprefer]

I'm surprised that your band would even play there again if you've been stiffed. Makes me wonder if the drummer got paid from the bar, and isn't telling you or the rest of the band.

I trust the drummer (and can kick his ass). I don't think that he would do that. He does seem to be hitting the weed pretty oftenly lately though...

I seriously can't figure out why he would have accepted another gig there though after the past experiences with that place.

Oh and if we refused to play, the other band that is performing that night would take over the slot. So not getting on stage wouldnt make any effect. And I am NOT stealing stuff.

 

[calshands]

And I am NOT stealing stuff.[/QUOTE]

Good. Because you not only have to worry about the repercussions if you get caught, you have to live with yourself. It's much nicer to look in the mirror and respect the man you see.

 

[Depth_Charge]

I seriously can't figure out why he would have accepted another gig there though after the past experiences with that place.

I do. I'm not sure about in your parts but I've been in bands where agents or owners have asked bands back to non-paying venues (usually as a 'favour'), and if the band refuse, the agent/venue stops booking them everywhere, despite the agent not getting his cut!! It's pretty much expected here that the average turnaround time on pay is 2 to 8 weeks after a gig. Do 3 gigs a week for 2 months and it soon gets pretty messy

Worse, IME at least, pressing an agent for owed pay, or asking a venue owner for payment after a gig (or worse still up front), or 'forcing' a bandleader to pay out of his own pocket instead of me waiting with him (as if its my problem) all seem like criminal behaviour around here, and people who stand up for themselves appear to get a bad rep in this biz. As a bandleader members thought it odd when I pre-paid them for a gig, or paid on the night, when they knew "the band" hadn't been paid yet. I always figured its not my employees problem I haven't been paid - they still delivered and earned their cut...

Of course, the other risk in holding to your principles is when the venue/agents complains to another band, they will happily take that gig, play for an hour more, for a hundred bucks less, wait three weeks to get paid, and think your band are "slow" for passing on the gig.

 

[saustindavis]

I would probably show up to the next gig since it is already scheduled. I would refuse to even load in let alone go on stage until payment is rendered. Not just for the previous show but for the one that night. If he doesn't want to pay, then there is no band. Hard to make money at an all ages place that doesn't have a band I would think, unless there is some other attraction there like pool tables or something. Whatever you do act confident and don't let yourself be pushed around. After that I would probably cut business with the guy.

You should show up, load in your gear, even get on stage, then get on the mic and announce that you will not play, or leave the stage, until you are paid for the last gig. That would piss some people off, and I bet you'd get your money pretty dang quick.

 

[carl h.]

Play your normal opening and then do some audience banter leading up to what a great place this is to play - lets get the manager up here for a round of applause!! Now before we go on with the show we have some business to take care of - and then get your money - on stage, on mic, in plain sight of multiple witnesses.

I caught a scumbag that way once, and took care of getting his reputation out there in one smooth shot. Oh yeah, since I had lined up the gig, the group had been paid the night of the gig. I was the one out of the entire evenings money.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Play your normal opening and then do some audience banter leading up to what a great place this is to play - lets get the manager up here for a round of applause!! Now before we go on with the show we have some business to take care of - and then get your money - on stage, on mic, in plain sight of multiple witnesses.

Now that's ballsy! Kind of a "weasel trap". I like it.

MM

 

[Southpaw5]

I hate to say it, but THIS is the problem. Some bar owner takes you guys for a bunch of punks and doesn't feel like you'll do anything about it. A typical bully.

Is this a place well-known to the local area you're in? Not much can be done about your money at this point, but the internet can ease a LOT of you pain with a horrible, scathing, well-written review.

Also, feel free to "spread the word" of this jerk's club to the online networks: Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Craigslist, etc. You in highschool? Does this place let highschool kids in? Spread the word and tell people never to go there. If a lot of his pull is younger kids, he'll get the point quick when no-one shows up.

Remember, it's not slander if it's the truth...

Taking it a step further, you could stake out in front of the club with picket signs that said "We never got paid" or "Bands DON'T PLAY HERE" or something of that nature. You could even consider talking to the bands that are scheduled to play there and tell them of your horror story. Politely ask them to boycott this location since they don't pay anyways.

+1 for Yelp in particular. After the venue's website it will get the most traffic from patrons and the venue has no control over the content.

 

[fishdreams]

Here in NYC there was an issue with a joint where over the last few months a lot of grumbling had been building up over their policies. 2 weeks ago a post-gig disagreement over money got the drummer, by all accounts a non-violent person, hit in the face with a keychain by the door person and needing stitching up in the hospital. The story and boycott call went on FB, and every musician from the scene cancelled their upcoming gigs there immedeately.

If the other musicians in your scene feel the same about this place-than a boycott shouldn't be too hard.

 

[armywalaby]

Since you haven't provided services to the bar for the 2 gigs coming up, I suggest you cancel and let them know you'll be back as soon as you're paid for your last gig. Also, let them know you'll only play gigs there in the future if you're paid upfront.

Accepting gigs should be a band decision, not just one person, especially if that person is making bad decisions.

Good luck.

You never should have left the club without pay. I threaten to start taking flatscreen TVs and neon signs down if they appear like they are trying to get out of paying.

If it happens again where your bandmates don't want to go get their money, I'd find new bandmates. Guys without backbone in this business are typically not loyal, at least IME.

 

[jacostilllives]

Always get a contract! Email contracts work too. Trust me I had to sue a bar owner here in San Francisco and we had an email contract and that held up in small claims court. This may be a California only thing so I could check with your State's law.

Long story short guy owed us 1200 dollars for 2 bands playing all night, we had it in an email correspondence that the club owner would pay us a certain amount for the time allotted. We went to get paid that night and the owner was gone and the bartender said that he would talk to him about it and get us our pay.

Once we sent several email to him asking for our money we took it to small claims. We even had producers from the Judge Alex show call us and ask for us to come on the show (we actually agreed, but the owner didn't want to do it, probably because he knew he screwed up and didn't want to be humiliated on TV. I wish I could upload the conversations I had with the producers, it was classic).

Anyway after 6 months of headache, we finally got our money plus extra for inconvenience. Long story short, get an E-mail contract or any contract for that matter and you'll be ok.

 

[pnut166]

Play your normal opening and then do some audience banter leading up to what a great place this is to play - lets get the manager up here for a round of applause!! Now before we go on with the show we have some business to take care of - and then get your money - on stage, on mic, in plain sight of multiple witnesses.

I had a similar thought. I think, at this point, the last gig`s pay is gone. If you do play there again, you`ll most likely get the shaft again. Knowing I wasn`t going to get paid, I would at least make sure the owner didn`t get the $$$ either. So, midset, thank the crowd for coming out and supporting you guys, and announce to the club owner over the mic that instead of your pay, you`d rather give a round of drinks on the house. Would work better if it was an adult club, but still...