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Oof…my band just got fired!

#41
RichSnyder said:
I don't know about your state, but Maryland has weird laws about serving food and running a microbrewery. They mostly do food trucks to get around the serving food limitations and then there are restrictions on where the beer can be consumed, etc. It makes no sense on the surface, but bigger crowds do not always equal more profit. More revenue? Almost certainly, but not necessarily more profit.
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I have no idea. If there are restrictions, it was not clearly specified on the menu...and it is the same menu for indoors and outdoors. I *think* they were trying to limit the menu for walk-up orders to quick turnaround items. Whatever the case, it was not clearly communicated.

Like I said, we had a good rapport with the GM going into this. An idea we suggested: next time for our events, limit the patio sales to canned beer only. We could communicate that in advance and from the stage. Load up a big ice chest with a few of the best-sellers and set up a tap-to-pay POS. They could also do no food service outside unless people order online and pick up the order inside. Either that or offer a very limited menu. This would free up a lot of bandwidth for inexperienced staff who were working the whole patio trying to take orders, serve customers, clear tables, etc. The intent wasn't to change their entire business model, it was simply to streamline things for the once every six weeks they host a special, high-volume event.
 
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#44
ebo said:
Could they have a different house clientele that didn't enjoy the music and crowds and vocalized that to the management? If you bring in a large outside crowd that disrupts the existing client base that might cause some concern. Bars and restaurants need to find their niche to compete. The niche you want them to be might not be the one they want to be. I've tried bringing in music to a place that didn't have it (and I thought would be perfect for it) and got shut down. I thought they were being shortsighted like your place might be doing, but it wasn't my call.
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This is my theory too.
 
#45
J-Bass RMR said:
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)
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I agree. I work with lots of other local businesses, and this is largely what most of them are going through. Cant find/keep staff and most of the ones you can get are not high performers. You end up with negativity from patrons. And, since there are no guarantees on how many people a band will draw, its not like you can just hire more people for band nights (well you could but if its then slow...) Probably seems counter-intuitive to alot of us, but its the reality right now.
 
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#47
portpc said:
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.
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I've seen a few duo acoustic acts and they are so boring.
 
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#49
Carl Hillman said:
Bar/restaurant manager logic is its own animal.

I once had a restauranteur cancel a years-long Sunday night jazz gig that brought in a steady and sizable crowd (that ate, drank, and tipped) because it "was becoming too much about the music".
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I've seen this happen where I am as well. They complain when you don't bring in enough people, and then complain when you do. We had a venue locally that couldn't decide if it wanted to be a music venue with a restaurant on the side, or a restaurant with a music venue on the side. Ultimately, both ends of it suffered.
 
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#51
It seems clearer..
Band produces a good night and overwhelms ztaff on the night.

Experienced hands on medical leave so the ship is dodgy.
Instead of fixing issue, take easy and short term way out of not inviting same scenario with bands.
Therefore, no extra cost on bar staff as stand-in probably not paid to cope or adapt.

I doubt the owner will see it like that though if they becomes aware of the issue and how it was dealt with...??
 
#52
Bullitt5135 said:
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.
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Wow. That is a first for me. Awesome that you all tried to work with the manager. Kudos!!

I can totally understand the venue being unprepared for the onslaught. No doubt the additional business was appreciated. Keep in mind, this is a service industry and if you can't provide service at an acceptable level, it's a problem. Hopefully they can get the details down to handle a larger volume of customers in the future.
 
#56
sounds like you did all you could to eliminate issues upfront, and you did your job well at the playdown...they were unprepared!

it would be great to iron out the issues (for the future), but working with a shell-shocked site/bar manager is near impossible IME --- she will only become 'entrenched'...she's too 'underpowered'.

best of luck with your future gigs, @Bullitt5135! :thumbsup:
 
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#57
Smooth_bass88 said:
-band plays gig
-too many people show up
-staff can't handle the volume
-band loses gig

that is a very interesting sequence
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Honestly, it just speaks to how disposable local live music is these days. Especially post-pandemic when a lot of gigs just never returned. It's dangerous, especially when a band was hired to entertain, then fired for doing a good job, and very well could lose the gig to an iPhone plugged into Spotify to save the owners the 'trouble' moving forward. I've seen it happen WAY too many times, even in a town/city which 'loves live music and supports art.'
 
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#59
portpc said:
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.
Click to expand...

Haha, I'm also from your neck of the woods, I heard about this, I actually helped with a winery for a charity event near me one day and saw some duo acoustic acts setting up. From my understanding it added to the "vibe." I understand why they do it though it's suppose to be background music for people to wine and dine to not be the focus point. I don't understand it, more of an acoustic folk or irish session guy but hey that's why I don't go to those places personally. I also don't hate it, it's just not my thing but some acoustic duo can be great.
 

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