Should I talk to the band about this?

[bassbully]

Facts are most every town or city has "those bars" in "that area." If you go there and play there you know something could go down at anytime, inside or outside. If the bar has security monitors on the parking lot and entrances its one of "those bars" in my neck of the woods and experience. If you cant go out front to smoke or get some air between sets without drug dealers and hookers bothering you its one of "those clubs"

Been there done that wont do it again. bands that need those gigs and are willing to go there ...great! Me and my guys ..Nope!

 

[totallyfrozen]

"Hit him with a banjo"

^^This post FTW!^^

 

[rekesbass]

I don't know about your state but,generally it is the bartenders call to stop serving these "patrons" who are clearly drunk and disrupting other patrons(and hired help\entertainment),and if they don't, it could come to legal action and result in the bar loosing it's liquor license(meaning out of business)...also I find it hard to believe they do not have a bouncer or a bar back who can diffuse a situation.this bar owner\tender sounds like a twit and needs to educated on their legal liability in these matters..

 

[carlthegroover]

Interesting stories shared in this thread. I haven't played live yet (and probably not in a few months until I get at least decent enough), but it surely sounds like a heck of an experience for someone who doesn't have prior musicianship background... or friends, like me.

Good thing I know how slip away effectively from situations... and I'm getting rather good at kickboxing, too.

That might help when my butt, or my gear, is on the line.

 

[Tony In Philly]

The most obvious alternative is to play to hipsters in a coffee house. Sound enticing? No, I didn't think so.

 

[40Hz]

About all I can say (based on my own experience) are three things:

1. Any place where fights break out regularly, it's only a matter of time before someone shows up with a gun.

(Usually it's the same loudmouth who tried to pick a fight three nights earlier and got his ass handed back to him.)

2. There's nothing noble about getting killed in a bar brawl.

3. Life may be cheap. But mine is worth a lot more than what I take in for a bar booking. At least as far as I'm concerned.

I don't try to dictate to a bar what should or shouldn't be allowed. But I do feel very strongly that when my band is playing we be treated with the same concern given to a regular employee of the establishment. Because we're working for the place.

Most places, you hassle a barmaid, you'll be out on the street so fast your head will spin. And likely it'll be hurting too if you didn't go quietly. That's why there's something called a bouncer.

I think a band deserves and should expect that same level of protection provided they're not deliberately provoking trouble from the patrons.

Just my 2¢ anyway.

 

[cnltb]

Had a gig last night at a local bar. We have played this bar several time now and every time we have at least one issue with a bar patron. It is usually just a drunk who makes a wise ass comment or obnoxious repetitive request. Last night we had these things happen plus a guy who wouldn't take no for an answer when he asked if he could sing with us. The guitar player told him we no because we didn't know him and we weren't hosting an open mic night. The guy even went over to the bartender and complained to her about it. As we were packing up at the end of the night a fight broke out that started in the bar and ended up in front of the bar right where we were loading up our gear. Anyway it is getting to the point I don't want to play this bar any more. It's not in the best part of town and some of the people are less than desirable types. They already have us booked for two more two night gigs during the summer. I don't think the other guys in the band have as much of an issue with this place as I do. I don't want to let them down by refusing to play there but I just don't feel comfortable playing this bar any more. Any thoughts on how to handle this would be appreciated!

Of course you should address this with your bandmates.
That was the question, right?

 

[ohskigod]

1. Any place where fights break out regularly, it's only a matter of time before someone shows up with a gun.

.

ding ding ding...we have a winnah!!!

Funny thing about violence, it has a habit of escalating.

to me, this isnt a debate about playing in bars....yes, bars will have the occasional fight, it happens.

if one location has a fight....directly involving your band....every time you play there? Thats a fail. Is this Roadhouse?

No money is worth what I assume is the very crappy feeling of 4" of steel being shoved into your kidney. Thankfully i dont speak from experience on that, and i like to think it is because I make good decisions regarding these things.