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Pay to Play...Literally

#3
Jamvan said:
Stepped outside for some fresh air between sets last night and was asked to pay a cover to get back in.

Of course, this was after the bar owner came up to us mid-set and offered us some shots...only to find them neatly nestled on our bar bill at the end of the night.
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Im local, where was this ? this is the kind of places I'd rather not play
 
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#5
I didn't even mention the angry lady who darn near got into a fight with me "because she has musicians in her family and her husband wants to play drums with us...RIGHT NOW!!!!"

Then she said I was f'n rude for playing while she was speaking to me. This is the stuff I didn't miss when I stepped away from playing out for a while.
 
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#7
I always bring a 2 liter soda and a 12" subway sandwich to gigs (usually left/enjoyed between sets in the car). I don't have time to wait in line at the bar between sets (or even when humping gear in and setting up) for water and don't have time to wait for food to be ordered and served. On occasion I've had venues actually understand that we're busy working and offer to expedite stuff for us and then I'm happy to leave my sandwich and/or beverage for tomorrow :) . Otherwise arf 'em :p.
 
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#9
buldog5151bass said:
I don't expect alcohol for free - just a way to pay the band less. I drink water and run a tab.
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Yeah, we usually just work it into the overall price for hiring us. Normally, it's not an issue but I found it odd and in really bad form that the owner offered us shots, only to charge us for them in the end. That's unusual for us in this place and so it just struck me funny. Not funny "ha ha" but funny odd.

RoadRanger said:
I assume you didn't? I'd not - I'd just wait until the mgmt came looking for the band ;) . OTOH when I step outside I try to make sure the door guy knows I'm in the band and will be right back...
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No, I didn't end up paying. The bouncer was actually embarrassed when I mentioned that I'm actually in the band, especially considering we'd already been playing for an hour. This is one of our normal haunts but they've had a TON of staff turnover lately so this wasn't necessarily intended to be a venue bashing thread but a "man, the bassist gets no love" thread.

We will be back there tonigh...and I will be introducing myself to all the bouncers and NOT accepting on house offered drinks!
 
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#11
Jamvan said:
Yeah, we usually just work it into the overall price for hiring us. Normally, it's not an issue but I found it odd and in really bad form that the owner offered us shots, only to charge us for them in the end. That's unusual for us in this place and so it just struck me funny. Not funny "ha ha" but funny odd.

and NOT accepting on house offered drinks!
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Hopefully the bartender just added it without the owner knowing - that is not professional at all. I've had owners offer me drinks, and were never charged for them - same as if I offered to buy someone a drink. If he offers again, say jokingly "is this going on our tab?".
 
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#17
We always got free beers from the owner. I myself didn't drink much but we had a lead singer who became an alcoholic from all the patrons buying us drinks, we were that good.. Then the freebies stopped. Our dressing room was in the utility room where they had a walk-in beer cooler and ice machine. The lead singer used to steal beers from cases in the back of the cooler as not to be missed. When they put 2 and 2 together they figured we took them and fired us. Before we ended that gig, the singer took a wiz into the ice machine. The bartenders would come back and forth scooping up the ice from the machine and take it to the bar. I would never buy another mixed drink again at that bar again.
 
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#18
dbase said:
We always got free beers from the owner. I myself didn't drink much but we had a lead singer who became an alcoholic from all the patrons buying us drinks, we were that good.. Then the freebies stopped. Our dressing room was in the utility room where they had a walk-in beer cooler and ice machine. The lead singer used to steal beers from cases in the back of the cooler as not to be missed. When they put 2 and 2 together they figured we took them and fired us. Before we ended that gig, the singer took a wiz into the ice machine. The bartenders would come back and forth scooping up the ice from the machine and take it to the bar. I would never buy another mixed drink again at that bar again.
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That is really effed up.
 
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