What's your view of this gig situation?

Do you still have to pay the $200 if the door doesn't cover it?

 

I think the $5 cover and $5 parking is the reason that place isnt being filled to capacity.

I take it the parking fee doesnt count towards the door, so at 50 people the door brings in $250. So your band would receive 80% of $50 which is $40.

Plus the venue is making $5 per car that parks there, as well as all bar sales.

 

The old pay to play. Been around since dirt and about as attractive, too.

 

Sounds like you'll be playing for free. How much is the cover? At $5 per = house take + 0 to $50 for the band. Higher cover = less people. The best you can hope for is to fill it with your friends and try and get a better deal.

 

Pass... not worth the effort. Average night the band would make $50. That wouldn't even cover my band's bar tab.

 

$5 cover, venue takes first $200 and 40-50 is the average turn out, sounds like you may break even if your lucky.. Glad I don't play that venue. That being said a place to play is still a place to play as long as you don't care about making $.

 

Do the math:

The usual crowd of 40 x $5 = $200
Let's say you get 50 x $5 = $250, but then you do $50 x .2 = $10, taken away so the band only gets $40.
But for good measure you sell the place out at 100 x $5 = $500 - $200 = $300 x .2 = $60 taken away, so you make $240 total.

My original band tends to make $300 no matter how many people we bring out, and that's without a cover charge at the door.

 

Yeah agree Pay to Play BS pass in as if it was a bodily function which it will pretty much = in the long run

 

Avoid that place. Let the bad bands play there.

 

+1

Let's see... you and your band haul all your gear to the place, set up, entertain (hopefully) the patrons for a few hours, and are then expected to pay them $200 for the privilege? :scowl:

I've done gigs for a % of the bar ring in lieu of a guarantee before, but this stinks to high heaven.

BTW, I'd call all my friend's bands in the area and tell them to boycott the place as well.

 

My honest opinion of this would get me infraction points.

Suffice to say I would not be interested in pursuing any business relationship with that establishment.

 

I can't put my true views on policies like this into language appropriate for this forum.

So suffice to say, no thanks.

In fact, at $10 out of pocket before you even start drinking I'm surprised anyone goes there at all.

 

I'd tell that club owner to pound sand, and so would any other self-respecting musician.

Well, I guess I would negotiate first: They can take the first $200 off of the door if I can take the first $200 off of alchohol sales...and I need to see receipts at the end of the night.

I have a feeling this venue's gonna get a big dose of reality in a few months when it finds out it can't book talent anymore with its new pay scheme.

 

That venue should just forego the parking and the cover, allowing more people to spend it on alcohol, and pay you guys a percentage. Plus, more people would visit the bar.
Theyre actually screwing themselves and I dont think they know it. Would it be possible to try and talk to someone there and make a better offer?

 

How much was the band being paid before the change?

 

Honestly, drop these shysters like a bad habit, venues like this are NOT worth one iota of you attention or time. It's a--clowns like these that are one reason I wrote off gigging after a number of years, the expectation that you should essentially play for free is just insane and stupid.

 

It's not often I find a thread on TB with near unanimous agreement on a subject.

 

I'm sure you can find space in your town that you'll be able to rent for less than $200 a night, put on your own gig.