Venue Double Booked WWYD

[mrcbass]

Things are different now, I suppose, but "back in the day" house bands were the thing, at least here. I played in several scenarios where we played in the same place, 6 nights a week, for years at a time. That all changes after MADD got going and got laws changed.


To me venues that can't afford to pay bands a decent amount of money don't need to try to have bands. It's no different than if they can't afford to pay their liquor or beer distributor, or for electricity to keep the doors open. Just because a venue "just don't make the money" to afford a band doesn't mean that musicians should play for chump change, in my opinion. Why is it up to the band to payroll a bar's bottom line? Does the beer supplier give them a break on the price of Bud Light? If a band doesn't value their talent then for d@mn sure no bar owner will, either. Who wants to be known as the band that will play cheap?

Very valid points that are well beyond my paygrade. But the simple fact is that a lot of venues in my market don't pay well and a lot of bands are just of caliber to get into the better ones. I don't think we get reputations as "playing for cheap" - I don't think the venues are paying that much attention. These cheap gigs CAN be very fun and for me that is the point. I'd much rather play a couple of gigs a month at low pay than 2 gigs a year for decent pay. A bar tab is effectively a discount on "Bud Light".

 

[80jazz]

Why is it up to the band to payroll a bar's bottom line? Does the beer supplier give them a break on the price of Bud Light? If a band doesn't value their talent then for d@mn sure no bar owner will, either. Who wants to be known as the band that will play cheap?

This.

If I am an alcohol salesman, cut me a piece of that action. I will even promote drink specials. Unfortunately, most places aren't interested in giving a split of the take. Too bad, as I think doing this in lieu of a cover (if this sort of thing applies to your situation) would be far more beneficial.

With respect to the situation the OP laid out, I would be concerned that I was bumped just to get someone else in. The option I saw someone post (sorry I forgot the name and/or did not note it here) would the one I pick: Roll with the punches, but at some point find another venue (or if we did have good nights there, we will have to talk a pay increase).