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We got bumped for a DJ


jeff42

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A college bar where we play(ed) has cancelled an upcoming gig we had with them in lieu of a DJ. It was a great little place to play but I was told "kids" dont want to pay a $2 cover so no more bands. When I asked why not just not charge a cover I was met with How can we pay the band? I even offered to work with them price wise for this last gig but no luck...

We were the last hold out because apparently we did well for the bar but I guess our time has come. 

This is I think the only place we had left on our schedule that charged a cover and I have seen people turn around when asked to pay...

and now to save a few bucks he is going with a dj that will work for less

Meh. Another one gone I guess.... It isn't going to kill us though cuz our schedule is pretty full still but its one LESS place we have. 

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guido61 wrote:

 

 

Crazy the reluctance to pay a cover charge.   I mean, TWO BUCKS???   Geez, like that's charging a quarter back when we were kids.

 

 

 

Like I said I dont think any place we play charges one any more. I can remember a few places a year or two ago that did and I saw on many occasions decent sized groups of people get stopped at the door, asked to pay and then watch them turn around and leave. sucks and I dont have an answer cuz I see it both ways. on one hand I say drop the cover get the people in and sell them drinks! But on the other hand if this is how they have to pay the entertainment I get it... (BTW we do get a flat fee at this place) 

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jeff42 wrote:

 

 

A college bar where we play(ed) has cancelled an upcoming gig we had with them in lieu of a DJ. It was a great little place to play but I was told "kids" dont want to pay a $2 cover so no more bands. When I asked why not just not charge a cover I was met with How can we pay the band? I even offered to work with them price wise for this last gig but no luck...

 

We were the last hold out because apparently we did well for the bar but I guess our time has come. 

 

This is I think the only place we had left on our schedule that charged a cover and I have seen people turn around when asked to pay...

 

and now to save a few bucks he is going with a dj that will work for less

 

Meh. Another one gone I guess.... It isn't going to kill us though cuz our schedule is pretty full still but its one LESS place we have. 

 

I would guess his problems run a little deeper than just the music budget.    Many places tend to get in pretty deep trouble before they start bailing to keep from sinking.   its a rough business.

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I wonder how much of it has to do with people just flat out not carrying cash as much as they used to?  I know when I go out I use my debit card for everything.  I hardly ever carry cash.  If I go somewhere, get to the door, and there's a cover then I'm turning around too.  Not because I don't want to spend the $2 - $10, I just don't have it on me (and I'm not hunting down an ATM, getting cash, then going back to the club).

 

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jeff42 wrote:

 

 

A college bar where we play(ed) has cancelled an upcoming gig we had with them in lieu of a DJ. It was a great little place to play but I was told "kids" dont want to pay a $2 cover so no more bands. When I asked why not just not charge a cover I was met with How can we pay the band? I even offered to work with them price wise for this last gig but no luck...

 

We were the last hold out because apparently we did well for the bar but I guess our time has come. 

 

This is I think the only place we had left on our schedule that charged a cover and I have seen people turn around when asked to pay...

 

and now to save a few bucks he is going with a dj that will work for less

 

Meh. Another one gone I guess.... It isn't going to kill us though cuz our schedule is pretty full still but its one LESS place we have. 

 

We've had this happen and you just have to accept it as an economic reality. To start, even when NUTS was popular and still packing a college bar the bar had to lay out $1600 to our band... more security, more bartenders. Yeah, it looks like 300 college kids are in the bar but drafts are $1.50 and every student is spending $20-30 at best. It's different for nightclubs where patrons spend more than $40-50 and a mixed drink goes for $7-9. I've watched college kids at our own gigs walk in, look around, see a band playing and walk right back out. 

As a rule... unless it's some hardcore, alt, punk band scrapping by for $100 a band is not what draws and keeps college kids in college bars. 

 

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Kevin T wrote:

I was told in an ol der thread good bands dont loose gigs to DJs.
:(

I don't know tough topic to cover, but business is business. Live music get's stagnant same band, same set, same order, after a couple years or x time something has to change.  A DJ's set list changes weekly, and it takes .5 a second to "learn" a song. And if the crowd is in their 20's that's an average attention span of about 1 second per person or when they get a text or a facecrack post. 

 

 

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jeff42 wrote:

 

 

A college bar where we play(ed) has cancelled an upcoming gig we had with them in lieu of a DJ. It was a great little place to play but I was told "kids" dont want to pay a $2 cover so no more bands. ....

 

 

Places here all charge a $5 cover, even for DJ's.  My guess is that this bar is already financially in trouble, so changing from a band to a DJ to save money is a real last ditch effort.  Chances are this bar may be out of business anyway in a few months!  Don't they have to pay the DJ?

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New Trail wrote:

 


jeff42 wrote:

 

 

A college bar where we play(ed) has cancelled an upcoming gig we had with them in lieu of a DJ. It was a great little place to play but I was told "kids" dont want to pay a $2 cover so no more bands. ....

 

 

 

 

Places here all charge a $5 cover, even for DJ's.  My guess is that this bar is already financially in trouble, so changing from a band to a DJ to save money is a real last ditch effort.  Chances are this bar may be out of business anyway in a few months!  Don't they have to pay the DJ?

My guess is they are paying him next to nothing.

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F that!! Build it into the cost of doing business..Even though I play covers again, I'll admitI'm not going to pay a cover charge to see a cover band. SORRY FOLKS! I don't consider it artistic enough...I will pay a cover to see an original artist that I respect though. 

 


guido61 wrote:

 

 

Crazy the reluctance to pay a cover charge.   I mean, TWO BUCKS???   Geez, like that's charging a quarter back when we were kids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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