Restaurant/bars I get. Gotta clear out the paying dinner customers first. As for pure drinking bars, those are the ones that show a little flexibility about start time. Our crowd drinks a ton. They just don't like being out past 1.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Why are the bar gig always so late ?
- Thread starter jtroska
- Start date
In Jersey it depends on the club and the crowd most of the clubs if not all we play have a built in crowd and the owners know when they people roll in, so if you want to play than you play the game the goal of course is to play to people right? That is why you aren't playing in your basement. We never play dive bars maybe 10 years ago? But our goal from the start was never to be a bar band but a Classic Rock Tribute band who puts on a high energy show we bring our "A" game with all the players top performers if your not screaming for more after one of our shows than you are dead. 
I've played classic country for the grand generation at an Eagles club the last nine years that goes 7-10 on Fridays and 7:30 to 10:30 Saturdays. Similar at some other places. The post-dinner crowd rarely makes it the whole night. Maybe, so they can home to watch the 10 o'clock news. Also did a weekly house band for a Tuesday blues jam 7-11. When they moved 8-12 the last hour always cleared, so it they adjusted to 8-11. Made it a bit easier for this 63-year-old to get up for work at 5:30am.
You guys are lucky! You should try the concerts around here!! Most don´t start before 11pm, and the headlining group can start any time between 2.30am and 5am!!
In fact, when we were younger, we used to complain that we were nearly always the opening band, or 2nd on, and we would all say how much we would like to be the headliner.
When we finally made it to the status (at least locally) of being the main act, I am too old to be drinking and partying until 4am, and then going on stage.
So while my bandmates (all younger than me) party until showtime, I go home after sound check, go to bed early, and set my alarm to wake me up with enough time to get to the gig.
Everyone asks me how I manage to stay sober so long
I once had my alarm for work go off mid set (at 6.30am)!!!
In fact, when we were younger, we used to complain that we were nearly always the opening band, or 2nd on, and we would all say how much we would like to be the headliner.
When we finally made it to the status (at least locally) of being the main act, I am too old to be drinking and partying until 4am, and then going on stage.
So while my bandmates (all younger than me) party until showtime, I go home after sound check, go to bed early, and set my alarm to wake me up with enough time to get to the gig.
Everyone asks me how I manage to stay sober so long
I once had my alarm for work go off mid set (at 6.30am)!!!
I'm not sure but that might just be one of the stupidest things that I have ever heard anyone say.
Is this just as stupid....?
Hicks and rubes are all tucked into their cozy little beds by 8:30 with warm milk and cookies. All the doors and windows locked up real tight like scared little bunnies hiding in the faint glow of a television so that they can be good and rested and make it to their little office cubicle extra early in the morning to impress the boss of the meek little bunnies.
It's tradition.
We play a couple of Restaurant/Bar/Lounges that do a 8:00 to 12:00 show. They have room for a stage so they don't have to wait until the diners finish to clear space for the band. They do ask us to play "Dinner Music" for the first set which is no problem for us as we play a wide variety of music. We start out with our mellow tunes and ramp it up as the evening progresses. We've been known to play Sinatra in the first set and Sabbath in the last! We play an occasional gig north of the Raritan River and they always start at 10:00.
Since all us us are in our mid-50's and most of our fans are around the same age, we like the early shows!
Since all us us are in our mid-50's and most of our fans are around the same age, we like the early shows!
Around here it's 10:00 pm til 2:00 am and no one goes out before 11:00-11:30, yet they're crying for the band to 'play a few more' after 2:00.
Hey - I resemble that fact! Except it's more like 9:00 or 9:30pm, I've already brushed my teeth, and the glow is from the book on my iPad as it shines on my face and my nearby 12-gauge (just in case someone else does something really stupid). As for that other crap - I work for myself and shave when I want. Arrggghhh!
Original band. Usual deal, four bands for a Friday night. We always try to snag the first slot. Our crowd is much more likely to show up at 8:00 than 10:40.
Cover band - lots of Saturday and Sunday afternoon gigs starting to show up around here. These are the gigs I'm going to go after. Two to five, before dinner.
Cover band - lots of Saturday and Sunday afternoon gigs starting to show up around here. These are the gigs I'm going to go after. Two to five, before dinner.
47 in about 3 weeks, the bar gigs here are pretty much 9pm-1am+, no intention of quiting but it is getting harder to get home at 3am. Some venues just don't get going till late.
We've had a bunch of 10-2 gigs recently.
Set 1: Ok. We play slower tunes here because crowds are not large.
Set 2: Best set. Best crowd & interest in hearing the band.
Set 3: Most folks have gone home, and we typically end up playing to the diehard drinkers huddled over their beers at the bar.
Everyone in our band is between 30 & 45 with full time jobs and families. Most of the people we invite to hear us are in the same boat. It is tough to get parents to stay out drinking until 2AM (finding a sitter, costs of sitter, etc.).
The types of people we've had shouting "one more" are the same types who would should "one more" at the juke box as well.
Set 1: Ok. We play slower tunes here because crowds are not large.
Set 2: Best set. Best crowd & interest in hearing the band.
Set 3: Most folks have gone home, and we typically end up playing to the diehard drinkers huddled over their beers at the bar.
Everyone in our band is between 30 & 45 with full time jobs and families. Most of the people we invite to hear us are in the same boat. It is tough to get parents to stay out drinking until 2AM (finding a sitter, costs of sitter, etc.).
The types of people we've had shouting "one more" are the same types who would should "one more" at the juke box as well.
I guess I'm lucky; never did the cover band, classic rock, top 40 thing. Went straight from all originals (my 20's and 30's) to a mix of very obscure blues and r&b and some original blues tunes (my 40's and 50's). During the original band years I would go straight to work with only a shower and change of clothes, no sleep at all after leaving the club at 2:30 or 3am, unloading at the rehearsal space and a little after hours activity. Sleep was unnecessary at that age.
Now, the only time things ever go much past midnight or 1am would be for a private party but those are rare events that an old timer can rest up for in advance.
Now, the only time things ever go much past midnight or 1am would be for a private party but those are rare events that an old timer can rest up for in advance.
Here in Nashville, no one comes out to the clubs/bars until 10:00pm, so that's your best time to start. There are a lot of multi-band shows here, though, so the event usually starts at 8 and ends around midnight. The audience usually complains if we end at midnight, though. Several encores are usually required (which increases the money in the tip bucket quite a bit!).
I guess it depends on your area. And also your demographic.
20-30 yr olds in college towns don't even head to the bar till 1030 /11 pm. Live bands that can cater to the younger crowd make the big money.
Outside of "town" there are alot of venues, but they tend to be a bit more low key and an 8-12 gig would be about ideal....maybe even a 7-11.
20-30 yr olds in college towns don't even head to the bar till 1030 /11 pm. Live bands that can cater to the younger crowd make the big money.
Outside of "town" there are alot of venues, but they tend to be a bit more low key and an 8-12 gig would be about ideal....maybe even a 7-11.
I first read this post on Sunday morning after getting home at 3:30 am from the Saturday night gig. Since I get up pretty early all week, my body won't let me sleep past 7:30 or so, and it can be tough sometimes.
I'm 58 and have been rocking for a very, very long time....although in my "normal" life I never stay up that late, I don't mind being late when I am playing. I guess it is just what I grew up with. In my old Memphis days we didn't go on until about midnight and played until 3...THEN we went out to the all-night club!
Nowadays, I rarely close one down unless I am playing. If I go see friends play, you can just about bet I won't stay til the last set! But if I'm occupied by playing, I'm there baby!
I'm 58 and have been rocking for a very, very long time....although in my "normal" life I never stay up that late, I don't mind being late when I am playing. I guess it is just what I grew up with. In my old Memphis days we didn't go on until about midnight and played until 3...THEN we went out to the all-night club!
Nowadays, I rarely close one down unless I am playing. If I go see friends play, you can just about bet I won't stay til the last set! But if I'm occupied by playing, I'm there baby!
+1
I'm almost 40 and don't feel "old" in the least. I don't gig every weekend though, but still, I don't think I'd have a problem, even if it was every single week.
How many bars do you have hiring bands for Sunday to Thursday gigs? Not many in my area.
