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Some Hard Truths About Gigging
- Thread starter tunewriter
- Start date
Yep, this is all well put.
Like it or not, if you are playing covers in bars, you are there to help the business owner sell drinks.
Where else do you play your covers if you don't like this situation?
Like it or not, if you are playing covers in bars, you are there to help the business owner sell drinks.
Where else do you play your covers if you don't like this situation?
I often considered buying a bar that would feature live music, and I've given his old article plenty of thought.
Were I to have a bar, I'd have zero interest in running a "roadhouse" whose entire goal is to move as much raw booze as possible; Truth is I'd likely just serve good beer and small-menu food, and want to have bands that *I* like playing. I know enough about the bar industry to know that you can make a *ton* of money if you have honest employees and reasonable rent (and you don't enjoy too much of your own product). But this piece does bring up some good points, including expecting at least modestly professinal conduct; I, for one, would not hire a band full of baseball cap / cell-phone staring slackers.
Were I to have a bar, I'd have zero interest in running a "roadhouse" whose entire goal is to move as much raw booze as possible; Truth is I'd likely just serve good beer and small-menu food, and want to have bands that *I* like playing. I know enough about the bar industry to know that you can make a *ton* of money if you have honest employees and reasonable rent (and you don't enjoy too much of your own product). But this piece does bring up some good points, including expecting at least modestly professinal conduct; I, for one, would not hire a band full of baseball cap / cell-phone staring slackers.
True , but I've seen episodes where they ditch live music to gain more seating or add a kitchen area. It's a gamble in many cases. But yes, poor service, poor quality drinks, theft and bad management are the big problems. What kills me is it seems like these folks haven't ever seen the show. Always the same problems. Weird.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
It is not easy to make money running a restaurant/bar. They have a higher rate of failure than just about any other business. If you have inexpensive food you need to turn over tables, not have the customers sitting there watching the band. That means you have to do one of two things: sell them drinks, or charge a cover. Your friends who come to hear you, sit at a table and nurse a beer or coke is not helping.
The owner already is fighting to make money. If he is going to hire a band, he has to cover your fee, plus make up that tables cannot be turned over as fast, plus he probably has fewer tables due to bandstand and/or dancefloor. If you can do that, you will be hired back. If not, you won't. It is not up to him to underwrite your musical hobby/career.
The owner already is fighting to make money. If he is going to hire a band, he has to cover your fee, plus make up that tables cannot be turned over as fast, plus he probably has fewer tables due to bandstand and/or dancefloor. If you can do that, you will be hired back. If not, you won't. It is not up to him to underwrite your musical hobby/career.
It's a problem. My personal rule is to always dress a little better than I think the customers will. I shine my shoes, comb my hair, sometimes do a jacket and tie. Give 'em(hopefully) something to look at as well as hear. Like Bob here :
yep, if you are playing in small local bars, then yes, you are selling beer.
You don't sell beer, you don't come back.
I learned this many years ago.
personally, I would never invest my hard earned money in a service establishment like a bar/restaurant.
You don't sell beer, you don't come back.
I learned this many years ago.
personally, I would never invest my hard earned money in a service establishment like a bar/restaurant.
Been doing this a long long time, A bar has to be successful whether they have a band or not. It is a business with tons of competition in your same area. As a owner you need to step up your game to be successful in any business not just a club. A bar as mention in the article has already failed if they are demanding outsiders (a band) to come in and fix their lack of success. "Live Entertainment" can be an asset to a club and people enjoying themselves are destined to stay longer and spend more money. But live entertainment should only be 20% or 30% in the scheme of things. The 70 or 80% needs to be you doing what you need to do to make "your place" successful. I have not seen any club last that demands the bands to pack their place with 200 or 300 people on a weekend that is absolutely empty when they have no bands
they fail period. Many times when a club owner brought that story I would ask what is your built in crowd like and the story was just that a story I roll in the place on a Sat night no band and the place is dead I talk it up with what ever locals usually two of three old people who practically live there and bartenders is this place usually this slow? And they are like no it is usually packed when we have a band in here. Yeah no kidding. You can't expect a band to be your fix all to your inability to make your business a success. I have seen clubs in remote areas where you wouldn't think you would find people an the place is jumping band or no band that is a business man who has done is homework put himself out there and has created a place where people enjoy being and will go out of there way to get there. As entertainers we can only add to your success will do our 20 or 30% and you need to do the rest. If you don't believe this, then you need to go back to school and get a refresher course in Business Administration because maybe you forgot the part apart being proactive rather then reactive.
they fail period. Many times when a club owner brought that story I would ask what is your built in crowd like and the story was just that a story I roll in the place on a Sat night no band and the place is dead I talk it up with what ever locals usually two of three old people who practically live there and bartenders is this place usually this slow? And they are like no it is usually packed when we have a band in here. Yeah no kidding. You can't expect a band to be your fix all to your inability to make your business a success. I have seen clubs in remote areas where you wouldn't think you would find people an the place is jumping band or no band that is a business man who has done is homework put himself out there and has created a place where people enjoy being and will go out of there way to get there. As entertainers we can only add to your success will do our 20 or 30% and you need to do the rest. If you don't believe this, then you need to go back to school and get a refresher course in Business Administration because maybe you forgot the part apart being proactive rather then reactive.
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The OP article is certainly testimony of one perspective, and useful reading in that respect.
First thing I will add is IMO EVERY gigging bass player should spend at least a year fronting a working band and being responsible for getting gigs and working with club owners. It is most educational. And, it will generally prevent you from becoming too much of a prima Donna in your working career.
That said, and based on my experience, there are many club owner personalities and types of club businesses. Running a bar and/or restaurant is a VERY tough business. Some operators are good at it, some aren't. Some are jerks about it, some are not. The club owner who penned this article is a little more in the former type IME; though that doesn't discount the validity of many of his points.
I know for a fact that a business owner can be respectful of their contractors while being smart about running the business. Those two things are not disjoint; though many owners become tough nuts to deal with as the result of their perceptions of their competitive situations. This is not constructive business behavior; but, it is common, and working bands will run into it. Moniti meliora sequamur (being advised, we can move forward better).
First thing I will add is IMO EVERY gigging bass player should spend at least a year fronting a working band and being responsible for getting gigs and working with club owners. It is most educational. And, it will generally prevent you from becoming too much of a prima Donna in your working career.
That said, and based on my experience, there are many club owner personalities and types of club businesses. Running a bar and/or restaurant is a VERY tough business. Some operators are good at it, some aren't. Some are jerks about it, some are not. The club owner who penned this article is a little more in the former type IME; though that doesn't discount the validity of many of his points.
I know for a fact that a business owner can be respectful of their contractors while being smart about running the business. Those two things are not disjoint; though many owners become tough nuts to deal with as the result of their perceptions of their competitive situations. This is not constructive business behavior; but, it is common, and working bands will run into it. Moniti meliora sequamur (being advised, we can move forward better).
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The bar owner's letter expresses simple logic. Your job isn't to worry about the waitstaff or anything else - it's to provide an advantage and benefit for the establishment.
I don't know why anyone would question what he writes. It's obvious.
I don't know why anyone would question what he writes. It's obvious.
A well staffed and well run establishment will be successful! Band has nothing to do with it. My band is there to entertain and have the bootys shaking all night. If the band is good, folks will show up and stay and eat and drink and dance! One band I was in, we attracted so many folks they had to turn people away. One time we actually got shut down at one spot due to over crowding and folks drinking outside the confines of the establishment. There were so many people out that night it was a borderline mob!
Any bar owner/manager complaining about a band not 'selling' drinks has no idea what they're doing. Been there, done that. Played many one nighters at dive bars that were literally dumps with horrible service.
Any bar owner/manager complaining about a band not 'selling' drinks has no idea what they're doing. Been there, done that. Played many one nighters at dive bars that were literally dumps with horrible service.
