• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Making The Best 4 Hour Bar Gig

#261
I came to realize very quickly we are LIQUOR SALESMAN who happen to play music.
If you see which bands are successful, it is the band that brings the party not the band of amazingly talented musicians. They are not mutually exclusive. If you are lucky, you will find a band that happens to be both.
 
#264
At 54 I still like playing the 4 hour bar gigs. What makes it more interesting (and dare I say fun) is:
- Differing set list every gig. Some theme nights, like a set list in chronological order or a country set, a pop set, and an 80's rock set.
- Decent musicians who know how to make an old song sound new again. I like putting a spin on the music - if you want to hear it like the original artist then I'll put on a CD for you. Most of the people I play with are better than me, but there are things I do reasonably well. In the end it's all a learning experience.
- Comfortable... Shoes, clothes, food and drink, bass. I have a couple good beers on gig night. Quality over quantity. I play a comfortable bass, meaning about 10 lb. and a wide strap. Clothes need to be a little better than I expect the audience to be wearing, but still comfortable enough to allow me to move my gear and move about with a bass on my shoulder (suit coats are out). Shoes need to be supportive enough to allow a 210 lb guy to jump around and look like a fool. People come to see a show.

Out of my control, but desirable
- A good crowd. This is partly in our control through our interaction with the people in the room from stage. Promotion is a way to get your regulars out to see you, and knowing a few of the regulars gives you someone to talk to on breaks.
- An easy load in. Difficult load in's mean I run a risk of injury before we start. I am very careful loading in, and I save stupid human tricks for after the gig.


The list of questions:

Are you even in a band?
Yes, FlightRisk.

When were you in a band?
Late '70, then again since 1992.

What kind of band?
Cover bands (mostly). Classic rock, country, pop, and bluegrass.

What is your gigging experience if any, once a month, 5-6 a month, who knows?
Typically 16-24 four hour gigs a year. In 2012 we did two in the same day (first on in the afternoon sun on a flatbed trailer, second in a bar). I don't recommend this. I also play in church once or twice a month.
 
#265
pbagley said:
The list of questions:

Are you even in a band?
Yes, FlightRisk.

When were you in a band?
Late '70, then again since 1992.

What kind of band?
Cover bands (mostly). Classic rock, country, pop, and bluegrass.

What is your gigging experience if any, once a month, 5-6 a month, who knows?
Typically 16-24 four hour gigs a year. In 2012 we did two in the same day (first on in the afternoon sun on a flatbed trailer, second in a bar). I don't recommend this. I also play in church once or twice a month.
Click to expand...

Thanks for answering the questions. I wish you continued success with Flight Risk.

By the way, I agree with you regarding easy load in. The best are festival gigs where you can drive your car under the tent and pull up right next to the stage.

Blue
 
#267
jive1 said:
Alcohol sales is what it all boils down to for a bar. It's what they make money from. Everything else in the bar is there to improve alcohol sales.
Click to expand...

+1

Our band is a fairly typical bar coverband. We're all good musicians but none of us is any sort of virtuoso shredder type. We usually get pretty good response and get asked back to places we play because we do what we're supposed to...that is sound good while respecting volume levels...be the main attraction without blowing the doors off the place....and most importantly sell alcohol. We're supposed to get people to buy drinks, let loose and have fun....and buy more drinks.

Part of why it works is because we party WITH the people and make them be part of the deal and drink and have fun. We don't get so staggering drunk we sound bad or anything but we're certainly not some group of stone cold sober "event coordinators". We drink with the crowd, we get them to buy more drinks, they like it and they make the cash register ring.

This results in us getting asked back, and getting our own beers comp'd nearly every time.
 
#269
will33 said:
+1

Part of why it works is because we party WITH the people and make them be part of the deal and drink and have fun. We don't get so staggering drunk we sound bad or anything but we're certainly not some group of stone cold sober "event coordinators". We drink with the crowd, we get them to buy more drinks, they like it and they make the cash register ring.

This results in us getting asked back, and getting our own beers comp'd nearly every time.
Click to expand...

Me, I don't drink on the job or off the job that matter. It doesn't spoil the party or decrease alcohol sales.

Blue
 
#271
bluewine said:
Maybe, my point, for my band alcohol sales is a part of of the equation for being re-booked, not the whole equation.

Blue
Click to expand...

If we're talking about keeping our host bar in the black, then perhaps we should think about set list construction. It is great to have a full dance floor all night, but it's better for your employers if you pace things a bit. By that I mean that you have 2 or 3 up-tempo songs to fill the dance floor in a row, then a slow number. Repeat for the rest of the night. The fast dance songs get people, especially the girls, out working up a powerful thirst. The slow songs get the couples out for a slow dance while the rest have a chance to rehydrate. Everyone is happy.
 
#272
modulusman said:
If a couple of bands start playing the same venues as you but sell twice as much alcohol you would probably not be playing there as much.
Click to expand...

Maybe, however that hasn't happened and doubt it will. I would say we have had most of our existing business for over 7 years. If that was going to happen it would have happened by now.

We do a good job with selling alcohol, that's why we have a 7 year history with some of these venues.

My point, alcohol is not the sole reason or bench mark for my band being re-booked.

Blue
 
#273
pbagley said:
If we're talking about keeping our host bar in the black, then perhaps we should think about set list construction. It is great to have a full dance floor all night, but it's better for your employers if you pace things a bit. By that I mean that you have 2 or 3 up-tempo songs to fill the dance floor in a row, then a slow number. Repeat for the rest of the night. The fast dance songs get people, especially the girls, out working up a powerful thirst. The slow songs get the couples out for a slow dance while the rest have a chance to rehydrate. Everyone is happy.
Click to expand...

Hi PBagley,

No, this is merely a difference in opinion were talking here.

Blue
 
#275
bluewine said:
Me, I don't drink on the job or off the job that matter. It doesn't spoil the party or decrease alcohol sales.

Blue
Click to expand...

Well, if somebody doesn't drink or doesn't want to we certainly don't force them. :)

But, we're not uptight about it either. Think about it...average adult, especially one who's used to drinking, has a beer or 2 after work during the week, goes out on Saturday night, etc. can metabolize 1 serving of alcohol per hour. It's a 4-piece band and a 4 hour gig. We can go through quite a few beers and absolutely none of us are "drunk", nobody's playing suffers, etc.

People enjoy it, it's just part of being at a bar for the night.
 
#276
will33 said:
Well, if somebody doesn't drink or doesn't want to we certainly don't force them. :)

But, we're not uptight about it either. Think about it...average adult, especially one who's used to drinking, has a beer or 2 after work during the week, goes out on Saturday night, etc. can metabolize 1 serving of alcohol per hour. It's a 4-piece band and a 4 hour gig. We can go through quite a few beers and absolutely none of us are "drunk", nobody's playing suffers, etc.

People enjoy it, it's just part of being at a bar for the night.
Click to expand...

That's seems reasonable to me.

Blue
 
#277
jive1 said:
Agreed. I'd love an excuse to eat a sandwich on stage.

But, I have used my wireless to grab food off a customer's plate before...
Click to expand...

You put a nice Reuben in front of me and you'd better believe I'm chowing down on that. Song be damned! :D

Personally, I don't think that alcohol (or food) sales are "part" of the equation.....they are the answer to it.

The point of any establishment is to make money, or sell their products. If there is no cover charge to get in, then the people coming by had better be buying something, otherwise they are simply an expense (water use, toilet paper, hand soap, etc.). For a bar with no cover or door charge, the only money made is made in beverage and victual sales. So musicianship and quality of the band is secondary to crowd draw and the purchasing habits of the customers.

Now, if you're playing in a place that has a door charge, I can see where quality of the band might carry some weight against alcohol sales because there is some money to be made just by having people come in. But, in my area, I have to say that most people would rather go to a bar with a lesser band and pay no cover charge. Especially if they plan to have a couple wobbly pops. Saving the door charge gives them money for another beer.
 
#278
All of this talk about Alchohol sales is a no brainer to me. Your playing in a bar and people are there to drink, so sell it to them by promoting it. If your a cover band and you think for one second that your band is the main reason patrons are there, then your mistaken. The more Alchohol sales the better for the bar. The more money the bar makes when you play, the more you can raise the price for your services next show with that bar. Supply and demand. If a bar makes $10,000 in Alchohol sales, guess what? We ain't playin for $600 next time. Probably more like $800-$1000, which is still small compared to what the bar will make.
 
#279
Rooster009 said:
All of this talk about Alchohol sales is a no brainer to me. Your playing in a bar and people are there to drink, so sell it to them by promoting it. If your a cover band and you think for one second that your band is the main reason patrons are there, then your mistaken. The more Alchohol sales the better for the bar. The more money the bar makes when you play, the more you can raise the price for your services next show with that bar. Supply and demand. If a bar makes $10,000 in Alchohol sales, guess what? We ain't playin for $600 next time. Probably more like $800-$1000, which is still small compared to what the bar will make.
Click to expand...

I don't know about how much of that loot bar owners are going to share with the band.

We have good relationships with our customers. When the bar has done particularly well I can sight a few examples where we were given an extra "C Note" on top of our fee.

Blue
 
#280
An extra 100 is always good. The bars in our area know to treat us and other bands fairly. If we work our butts off and get the crowd to drink more, we have never had a problem with any venue paying us substantially better from then on out.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back