• 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.

Pay to Play...Literally

#22
That's super lame. At least last night the venue I played was upfront about charging us for everything. It's been a long time since I had to pay for my soda at a gig. Last night got hit for $2.50 for a soda gun ginger ale, something that costs the club 20 or 30 cents at most. I'll be fine with not playing there again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hintz
#23
We had a club owner hire us for $300 plus the door, but by end of the evening his recollection was the door minus the three hundred and miscellaneous other expenses including the bartab, then the "you boys drank a lot of my beer tonite" bs and a much lower fee. When we complained they said they loved us, but have younger bands that bring bigger drinkers. Haven't been back there since....hey, everyone's hurting, but c'mon man!!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: hintz
#26
Sounds like you had to pay to DRINK, but not to PLAY. The bouncer made a mistake that didn't cost you a penny, AND he corrected himself. How did the bar owner know what kinda shots you wanted? Did he/she say something like," Hey guys, you want some shots?" cuz thats a red-flag question when your bands payin to drink. Especially if it come from the owner...he aint runnin a bar to make muffins.
 
#27
HolmeBass said:
That's super lame. At least last night the venue I played was upfront about charging us for everything. It's been a long time since I had to pay for my soda at a gig. Last night got hit for $2.50 for a soda gun ginger ale, something that costs the club 20 or 30 cents at most. I'll be fine with not playing there again.
Click to expand...
Just bring your own, less hassle. When I'm doing sound I'll bring a 2 liter right in when I'm loading in or out - never had anybody bitch. I try to remember to put it out in the van once I'm set up and re-hydrated but sometimes don't - but do try to keep it out-of-sight.
 
#28
Jamvan said:
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.
Click to expand...

Damn, that's messed up!! I really don't get people (in general), especially drunks(since I rarely drink), I would've told her to go find an open jam so her drummer husband can go play rockstar somewhere else, but I'm sure that wouldn't have gone over well in your situation....

I've heard some doozies' from drunks before, the best was out in Wisconsin some lady came up to me after sound check and was telling me how talented her son was at football and that *anyone* could play music, like we all just randomly move are hands around and magic sounds come flowing out with no skill or practice needed!!?? I just humored her drunk ass and agreed "Gee, your son *must* indeed be very talented unlike me, yeah, anyone *can* play music definitely!!";)

I doubt she picked up on my sarcasm, she probably walked away thinking I reaffirmed what she believed to be true...she was blitzed!!

Sorry for derail, to OP that sounds like a terrible gig, if the owner "buys" drinks I wouldn't expect to be billed for it, usuallythats like a thank you or something...

I've had ones where they expected the band to move tables/chairs after, real BS, like "hey, you want me to barback too, like get some ice for ya??"...
 
  • Like
Reactions: kcole4001
#30
firechariot said:
Sounds like you had to pay to DRINK, but not to PLAY. The bouncer made a mistake that didn't cost you a penny, AND he corrected himself. How did the bar owner know what kinda shots you wanted? Did he/she say something like," Hey guys, you want some shots?" cuz thats a red-flag question when your bands payin to drink. Especially if it come from the owner...he aint runnin a bar to make muffins.
Click to expand...
:eyebrow:
 
#32
kcole4001 said:
I find people in general are messed up, the drink just makes 'em louder and more aggressive.
There are many reasons I'm anti-social, and that's one of 'em.
Click to expand...

Same here!! This site is the most social I get...some people think its weird that I play music at all because I'm kinda introverted, I love to play but I'm no schmoozer I guess!

Or boozer for that matter...
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassstrangler and kcole4001
#38
Sad set of posts regarding experiences playing live and what to expect to pay or be paid. Yeah, business is business, but as long as there are bands that will "buy in" to their playing opportunity, the more this will continue. Posing a question here, not a new one...I'm well aware that playing live for us as performers has it's rewards and detractors, but I have to wonder if amateur artists utilized the internet for "exposure" and "just said no" en masse to venues that seemingly raped them of their compensation (I understand the fully where the responsibility lies in understanding the terms of performance), they might save a lot of up front cash and effort in the quest for recognition. And the venues would either be put "on-notice" regarding live performances or have to change their public offering, including paying all fees required for performances by dj's playing "anything". If your contribution to a band is a hobby and you have the time, money and perseverance (and everyone in the band is on-board), then my words are meaningless. However, when you are ready to weigh the full sense of the business and who is investing in it at the local, regional level and what you can really expect from it based upon your right-now commitment, be careful. Live performance, it's a money and time-pit. You may get more strokes, if that's what really fuels your desire to continue (not money), by doing it online.
 
#39
Some time after my Brother started gigging he asked me how to (politely/diplomatically) tell a patron why they couldn't get up and jam with the band. (I'll grant you that this is probably an exercise in futility if they are really hammered.)
Anyway, tell said person, that the establishments liability insurance doesn't permit patrons on the stage, as the drum kit and cables constitute a trip hazard. Oh yeah, OSHA recognizes the stage area as a work area, as well, so OSHA doesn't allow them up there either. Is any of that true, or actually applicable? Beats me, I'm just a Bass player, certainly not a lawyer.
My Brother said he has used those reasons, and that they usually worked.
Cheers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: satchmobass

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back