Oof…my band just got fired!

[Bullitt5135]

We just got an email from a local brewery we played at last weekend. It was our second time there, and both times went well in our opinion…in that we brought a sizable crowd and a bunch of new business to a venue that normally does not host live music. Apparently, we did too good of a job last weekend, as the brewery was understaffed and deep in the weeds most of the night. People were waiting in line 15+ minutes just to order a beer, and then 10+ minutes in another line waiting for it to be served. Orders were getting lost. Guests were scolded for ordering food at the bar and taking it outside to the patio where we were playing. According to the manager, some people got impatient, and some of the staff took that as “abuse”. From what I witnessed myself between sets and knowing our crowd, nobody was drunk and belligerent (just thirsty, since they were standing around waiting forever for a drink).

Long story short, the manager emailed us saying she’s decided to cancel our three remaining events on the calendar. It’s too bad. We had a good rapport with the manager. They are in a unique position to be the only venue in the area offering live music outdoors in the summer. From the start, we have offered to work with her to make the events successful not just for us, but for other acts as well. Our goal was to help grow a little local music scene. Our singer managed high volume restaurants for years, and he had some simple ideas for streamlining their service on event nights to keep the staff happy and the beer flowing. They just aren’t equipped to handle the increased business at this time, and have decided that live music brings in too many people. On a positive note, I see more golf in my future.

 

[pepj]

Sounds mad to me.
Venue needs to sort out those logistics and you'd think that would be a scenario most would kill for.

Seeing large queues for services drive people away, imv.

 

[Johnny Fingers]

I see a rise in price for a beer.

 

[Pulverizor]

Time to open your own bar!

 

[Nashrakh]

Sounds like a great business decision. Reminds me of one steady gig I lost because the staff didn't feel like moving tables around anymore.

 

[Auggieinks]

Maybe this:

. Our singer managed high volume restaurants for years, and he had some simple ideas for streamlining their service on event nights to keep the staff happy and the beer flowing

Some people don't like outside advice and take it personal

 

[Ekulati]

What kinda music you play? Maybe mix in some yacht rock!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Ask to sit down and speak with the owner. Get more facts.

 

[jimmydean]

Let me get this straight , this place canceled your gigs because it brings in too many people ? If this was a cartoon from the 1940's , a cat would be saying "now I've heard everything"
as it shot itself in the head.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Is there an "owner" in all of this? They can't keep up with the increased client volume...and revenue assumedly...so they fire the band?

Use this on your behalf when marketing the act to other venues..."we draw a crowd".

Riis

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Classic case of a manager getting mad at the symptom instead of the actual issue. They need more staff and/or taps - not less customers.

If you guys do have a good relationship with the manager, it might be worth having the band leader stop by for a beer and a chat. I don’t think the manager is thinking through this clearly. If you don’t have a good relationship then I wouldn’t bother.

 

[Five or Six]

She didn't fire the band, she fired the bar!

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Unfortunately - it sounds like "sign of the times".

Businesses (especially small businesses) can't hire staff, and many have had to scale back by cutting hours, limiting menu or product options, etc..
They are faced with a decision to scale back or risk delivering a sub-par product and customer experience, which results in losing customers and damaging their reputation.
It seems counter-intuitive, but that's been the reality since covid for many businesses.
It's very likely that this is what played in to their decision.
(no pun intended)

 

[Zooberwerx]

Whatever you do, don't burn any bridges.

As an owner, if a single night's receipts were $10k instead of the customary $3-4k, that would catch my attention and certainly merit investigation. If my manager slaughtered the cash-cow, killed the goose that laid the golden egg, etc. by firing the band. we would have words.

Riis

 

[RichardW]

This reminds me of the Yogi Berra quotation about a restaurant: "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too popular."

 

[ga_edwards]

Sounds like the manager couldn't organise a piss up in brewery!

 

[portpc]

There's a similar plot twist in the Winery entertainment business in my neck of the woods.

Many of them stopped having bands instead choosing to cut the budget & book inner - reflective yawn-inducing acoustic types and label that as live entertainment.

Too many crowds were simply enjoying the music and not going thru the wine tasting protocol at the bar.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

We just got an email from a local brewery we played at last weekend. It was our second time there, and both times went well in our opinion…in that we brought a sizable crowd and a bunch of new business to a venue that normally does not host live music. Apparently, we did too good of a job last weekend, as the brewery was understaffed and deep in the weeds most of the night. People were waiting in line 15+ minutes just to order a beer, and then 10+ minutes in another line waiting for it to be served. Orders were getting lost. Guests were scolded for ordering food at the bar and taking it outside to the patio where we were playing. According to the manager, some people got impatient, and some of the staff took that as “abuse”. From what I witnessed myself between sets and knowing our crowd, nobody was drunk and belligerent (just thirsty, since they were standing around waiting forever for a drink).

Long story short, the manager emailed us saying she’s decided to cancel our three remaining events on the calendar. It’s too bad. We had a good rapport with the manager. They are in a unique position to be the only venue in the area offering live music outdoors in the summer. From the start, we have offered to work with her to make the events successful not just for us, but for other acts as well. Our goal was to help grow a little local music scene. Our singer managed high volume restaurants for years, and he had some simple ideas for streamlining their service on event nights to keep the staff happy and the beer flowing. They just aren’t equipped to handle the increased business at this time, and have decided that live music brings in too many people. On a positive note, I see more golf in my future.

So, your band got the blame for a business exceeding their normal volume, and rather than trying to capitalize on the situation, they took the easy route and got rid of excess business generating catalyst.
Goofy but sadly not surprising.

 

[Reedt2000]

Ha! Never been fired for having too much of a draw

 

[gln1955]

Unfortunately - it sounds like "sign of the times".

Businesses (especially small businesses) can't hire staff, and many have had to scale back by cutting hours, limiting menu or product options, etc..
They are faced with a decision to scale back or risk delivering a sub-par product and customer experience, which results in losing customers and damaging their reputation.
It seems counter-intuitive, but that's been the reality since covid for many businesses.
It's very likely that this is what played in to their decision.
(no pun intended)

This is happening all the time around here. They just need to pay the staff more. If the brewery in this case is having trouble staffing the bar, they could double the staff salaries for those nights and still come out way ahead. Throwing away business is just not a smart long term strategy.