Bad Clients pi$$ me Off!! Band Guys will know what I'm talking about!

[Racerbvd]

Any one who is in a band or books bands has been where I am
We had a new club open up a few months ago, I had been talking to one of the owners since before they opened. They said they wanted a nice, family, sports bar, with an over 35 clientele. This place is in a high traffic area, you have to really be stupid to screw it up. They started off, for the most part strong, a few well known, and liked bartenders, good food & drinks, but then changed & let the money makers go. As some of you know, I work in entertainment, and have worked in it for over 20 years. They say they want the affluent, older crowd, but start off with heavy metal bands (this area is starving for a place for 40 & over to go with Jazz and other good music, currently, only a few "private" clubs cater to that) so between head banging & kitchen help filling the juke box with rap, fewer people were showing up, ad that the people the band brought in were getting in fights, breaking things and the police had to be called more than once (I had to break up a fight one night as the owner hid). Well, I get bands booked after they had so much trouble with what their young manager had booked, I worked this out before Christmas, first band was to play tonight (I offered them a DJ for NYE at a cut rate as the party he was booked for was canceled at the last minute and HE JUST WENT THROUGH A NASTY DIVORCE, they said the had a guy who was willing to DJ on NYE for $200, and if I would match that, yea right
Well, I stop by today to see how the owner who I had booked with (who had a heart attack on NYE, most likely when he saw what he was getting for $200) and hasn't been around. Well, I see they have another band setting up, the manager that I had been working with was fired (I saw that coming, but I think that it happened in a different way than I thought) the owner that I was working with is gone and the "new manager says he knows of no one who has been booked, there is no calander (I print out calanders for my clients, they had a few copies for the next 3 months) but is booked up until June?? The new manager, who runs night clubs (a 25 year old) tells me that he doesn't pay bands, he lets them collect a cover charge at the door, when I asked about the regulars who may not want to pay at the door, he says

if they won't pay to get in, they can leave, I don't care if I lose them

We aren't talking a high tech club, hot strippers or anything like that, just a regular type place that use to be a Ryans Streak House
As one who has been in the business for 22 years, and a local who grew up in the area, I know what works & doesn't, but for these assclowns not to call & tell me that my guys (the guys who where playing tonight have played for the Clintons at a major Dem "retreat" that we book the entertainment for every year (that is how come I can say how big of a ***** Hill is) Super Bowl parties for major nationally known people, so we aren't talking garage bands here.
Yea, I'm in a great mood, I got to spend part of tonight calling my people telling them that their gigs have been cancled, and now, I have to find replacement work (which I don't mind, I just hate when idiots cause extra work)

This has been a very bad week for me
If anyone wants to open a nice bar, this place will be closing before too long as if they keep this up, they won't be able to pay their rent.

[Hugh R]

When I was in college, there was this jazz, soft rock club (and this was 1978 when disco was big) that got OK attendance. Then the owner got the bright idea to open a laundromat in the empty store front next door, and pay a guy to sit on a chair in the laundromat and keep and eye on things. The guy was effing brilliant. The college kids came on weeknights, drank socialized and every 1/2 hour or so would go change their laundry. I think the guy made a fortune.

[Jeff]

Sudsy Malone's in Cincinnati is also in the same format.

Sorry about your week Byron.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Sorry to hear. If he wants to run the place into the ground, you have to step back and let him.

A woman my wife works part-time for (different type of business) has exactly this same fundamental problem. She doesn't get in the product that her customers and target market wants, she gets in what SHE wants. Huge, huge, huge, HUGE mistake in business. You don't sell what YOU like, you sell what your customers like (or what your target customer base likes).

She probably won't be along much longer either, sadly.

[rouxroux]

And THAT'S why I never play w/o a contract.

[targa911S]

Been a working musician for 40+ years. Seen it happen a million times. Club owners....BAH! If the booze and drugs don't get em, the hoes and bad biz practices will. Just move on there is nothing new here.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by rouxroux

And THAT'S why I never play w/o a contract.

Hard to get one of those sometimes. Even at that it doesn't guarantee you will be paid, it just says you will be there and HOPE you get paid. Sure you can sue them ...but it's easier to just put a brick through the window some day.

[john walker's workshop]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

When I was in college, there was this jazz, soft rock club (and this was 1978 when disco was big) that got OK attendance. Then the owner got the bright idea to open a laundromat in the empty store front next door, and pay a guy to sit on a chair in the laundromat and keep and eye on things. The guy was effing brilliant. The college kids came on weeknights, drank socialized and every 1/2 hour or so would go change their laundry. I think the guy made a fortune.

there was a place like that in seattle. called "sit and spin".

[rouxroux]

Originally Posted by targa911S

Hard to get one of those sometimes. Even at that it doesn't guarantee you will be paid, it just says you will be there and HOPE you get paid. Sure you can sue them ...but it's easier to just put a brick through the window some day.

I guess it makes a difference when you're an AFM musician and don't play "dives" anyway. Also refused to play a "tour" show that is on the unfair list.

[911Rob]

What'ya gonna do?

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by rouxroux

I guess it makes a difference when you're an AFM musician and don't play "dives" anyway. Also refused to play a "tour" show that is on the unfair list.

Oh ...excuse me. I guess I'm not a REAL musician.

[dhoward]

Me neither.
Guess we've been faking all along....

[targa911S]

Trombone players....sigh.

[rouxroux]

No, not trying to be "flippant", but I've found that having a strong local helps out. especially in dealing with larger venues. I gave up the "smokey bar scene" over 20 years ago...Could not stand it anymore. Also the way around here to get the best show calls (at least in this market).

[dhoward]

Just havin some fun!

[targa911S]

Yeah, just having some "scabby" fun.

[dhoward]

I resemble that remark.

Besides, I didn't realize the whole AFM thing was coming from a 'spit monkey'.

[targa911S]

I don't know but I have played at Disney World a dozen times, House of Blues twice, opened shows for BB King, Robert Cray, Tower of Power, The Starship...and on and on. Nobody EVER asked me for my card. I did a bit of work with FL promoters and they never asked anything about any union. Now granted I have played my share of S@#tholes too, as Dan can relate to also I'm sure. But has it held me back? I don't think so. I've been a bassist for over 40 years and never even seen a union rep.

I'm not putting you down mind you, do what you like. I still get at least scale anyway.

[dhoward]

More than one scene from the Blues Brothers.
Makes for good stories later on...
That's what keeps it interesting.
Never really tried to make it a career though. Maybe that's the difference.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

What'ya gonna do?

Well, I found out a bit more last night, turns out the new GM is a liar (big surprise) As the owner (that he said wasn't an owner) is just taking some time off, and since he wanted an adult crowd, not a bunch kids, and now a latin night to attract the illegals. Not a good match to the sports bar next door that holds bike nights. The GM bull *****ted the owners who have never owned a bar before, since the club he was running, was, lost the lease (they paid their rent on time, but the hotel didn't like the police presences and trouble. I'm meeting with the owner of biker bar this week. It is pretty cool that the guys who play on PPOT are blues & jazz guys

One other thing, you need to know your area & clientele, the Jacksonville, FL. area, club owners don't pay much, and with all the garage (mostly garbage) bands coming out of the woodwork, willing to play for next to nothing or nothing and cheap owners who use that low end as a base, kills it for the real bands. Our people won't play for the door, and unless it is for a special favor, doesn't play at the bottom of the scale, most of them have been playing over 20 years. We too are doing more & more corporate, but some of the guys still enjoy & want to play bars, and it would be nice to have a good one close to home. Any one recognize this old guy between myself & and old girlfriend???