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Playing a bar while underage

#21
the mighty mighty bosstones used to do it. they had this friend of the band named ben carr who the bar owner said would have to leave because he wasn't in the band. thinking quickly, lead singer dicky barrett told the bar owner that ben was in the band, and he told ben to just get up on stage and jump around. he did, and to this day, ben carr is a bosstone.
 
#22
There's a lot of bars in and around Chicago that don't let anyone underage in, even if they're in a band. When I was 18 and looking to join a band I was rejected a couple times because I wasn't at least 21. So I went and got myself a fake ID (easy to find around these parts) for $75. I used it dozens of times, both while gigging and while just out looking to get drunk. Only failed once, the doorman simply looked at it and said 'Not gonna happen' and gave it back.

I believe owning a fake is a felony so if you go this route be careful. I always carried two wallets, one to show the doorman and one in case I was questioned by the police 'honestly officer, I snuck in the back, the bouncer must've seen someone else with a fake'.
 
#23
This is all when I was 13. The man who taught me bass was actually a guitarist. He noticed that the bassist that he was playing with was really not meant to play bass. So he offered me to play with him a some bar. Of course I asked my parents who disapproved. Fortunately the day of the bar gig, my parents went out to dinner with some family friends. So I got my bass and my teacher and I played at the bar. I got a lot of positive feedback from the small audience.
 
#24
MurvintheWalrus said:
Now how has anyone MODERN DAYS Millenium and forward, gotten to play a bar or club while they were under 21 like 16-21? Do you have to play with older people and sneak in and out or do you make an agree ment. Also anyone in the greater columbus ohio region with experience or hook ups please PM me. Also any good stories of playing a bar underage would be cool. Im trying to kill two birds with one stone, so this might be in the wrong section. Anyway, post away...
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here in New Delhi, India, a lot of my friends and I have played a lot of times at bars and pubs being underage which i still am (dunno?) they never really seem to check up with the band. but with the long hair and all no one really comes up and bothers the band at all :ninja:
 
#26
MurvintheWalrus said:
Now how has anyone MODERN DAYS Millenium and forward, gotten to play a bar or club while they were under 21 like 16-21? Do you have to play with older people and sneak in and out or do you make an agree ment. Also anyone in the greater columbus ohio region with experience or hook ups please PM me. Also any good stories of playing a bar underage would be cool. Im trying to kill two birds with one stone, so this might be in the wrong section. Anyway, post away...
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My last cover band I was in did it a lot. I was 18 and our drummer was 16. Most places didn't care, but we were (not to sound arrogant) a pretty good group. Not like your average kids just screwing around. Our guitarist was 23 and keyboardist/vocalist was 33 so we were all over the board.

Not only were all places cool with us playing there, most even gave us free drinks. Just don't invite other underage people. We always got that caveat.

Our last gig as a band was at this artsy band bar, and there were cops outside the whole time. I was walking out with beers in my hand to talk to people and they were none the wiser to any of it :P.

Oh, and X's on your hands if you're playing is extremely lame. I'm glad everywhere here has been cool about it...
 
#27
The first proper gigging band I was in whilst at school (16-18) usually only made money on the door take. We found our most profitable gigs were playing Saturday afternoons, in one particular bar that wasn't too strict about age.

We could usually muster a crowd of over 50 people, by getting friends and so forth along. Sometimes the bar staff would chuck out a load of obvious under-18s, most of whom would come back round the front and pay us on the door to get in again :D

If it was raining we'd get up to 150 kids in, and would jack up the price in anticipation...those were the most profitable gigs we ever played!

I very much doubt that'd happen today - all the decent independent bars and pubs seem to have disappeared or become part of corporate chains, and so many more places in town seem to have bouncers these days. Plus I notice bar staff asking for ID from folks I'd take to be early 20s...though I guess that's partly a sign of getting old.

It's no wonder there's so much complaining about the 'binge drinking' culture - seems like by denying younger kids the chance to have a few drinks on a weekend, they save all there pent-up desire for when they hit 18, then just go off on one for a few years.

I'm sure this must negatively affect the ability of young bands to just go out and play new music diy-style; doing your own promotion, building a PA from nothing and learning how to do sound etc.

It amazes me in the more corporate music venues to see dreadful bands playing in room under 100 capacity, yet with full house PA, drums miked up, blasting an awful sound so loud that if there were any dynamics in the music, you'd never hear them.
 
#29
I was supposed to play a gig last night but the bouncer kicked me out of the bar. I had it oked with the bar staff and owner but one bouncer wouldn't listen to me and tossed me out the back of the bar. My band had to cancel the gig because even the bar owner couldent talk any sense in to some hard headed door man. Last week I was drinking at a bar after we played across town. It's really a place to place thing.
 
#31
I recently played in a local club/bar with my band (high school kids 16 and 17). We got the gig through someone not associated with the venue and there were a couple other bands. Basically when we were loading in the bartender was like "you guys are under age right" and then, "but you're 18" which we said yes to and he didn't question at all. Then he put X's on our hands and it was fine from there on. This was in Mass
 
#32
I have never had a club owner or manager ask about the ages of the band members. I was in a band where our light guy was under age and in another where the drummer was. In both cases, the clubs not only never asked, they actually served them drinks.

In some states, New Hampshire for example, it isn't an issue because according to the law, bands are considered employees while they are playing and not allowed to drink. However, there are some clubs who do let bands drink anyway.
 
#33
q1014 said:
I played in a bar im 14 talked to the bartender let her know what was up and then no one asked any question played pool with some friends got drinks (coke) from the bartender and played music its about letting the owner know whats up and not acting like a child
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Well you type like a child.

OT: I'm pretty sure that's not an issue, as long as you be upfront. You can't get into trouble for just being there.
 
#35
not sure if this is mentioned, but there are laws that apply here.

In TX a parent or legal guardian must be present, but it's also up to the club owner. Most will say no.

In TN is a no kids after 8PM. And if the club allows smoking it's 21 and over period.

If they allow it and happen to get inspected they'll could loose their license.
 
#36
Id definately be truthful about your age with the establishment owner for sure.

After all..... there was this guitarist named George Harrison who didnt way back in 1961 or so.... Look what happend to him...... What the heck was the name of that band? :)
 

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