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We're firing a club


TrickyBoy

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So we played a gig last night at a club we have played in the past and at the end of the night they asked us to "work with him" because it was a bad night.  The owner tries something like this almost every time we play there and we're all fed up with it.  So....  we politely said "no we won't work with you" and got paid our full amount.  After the show we (the band members) all talked for a minute and agreed that it's in our best interest to cancel the one remaining show we have there (in mid-May) and part ways with this establishment.

 

Honestly never really enjoyed playing there, even on good nights.  It's a smokey hole.  Somn now we have a weekend date to fill.  Haha

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TrickyBoy wrote:

 

 

So we played a gig last night at a club we have played in the past and at the end of the night they asked us to "work with him" because it was a bad night.  The owner tries something like this almost every time we play there and we're all fed up with it.  So....  we politely said "no we won't work with you" and got paid our full amount.  After the show we (the band members) all talked for a minute and agreed that it's in our best interest to cancel the one remaining show we have there (in mid-May) and part ways with this establishment.

 

 

 

Honestly never really enjoyed playing there, even on good nights.  It's a smokey hole.  Somn now we have a weekend date to fill.  Haha

 

I would say that almost every time a club owner has ever "asked us to work with them", it's resulted in us pulling those dates within a day or two of the situation.

 

First off.. you don't "work with" the beer companies if no one buys the beer. You don't "work with" the landlord and the power company if you didn't make enough to justify rent and lights for the night. Not only that.. but if you want me to "work with" you.. what percentage are you wanting to cut our pay? Are you willing to add that same percentage in bar sales to our pay the next night we play there? 

 

Not only that... but let's say that a band was playing for the door at a bar (something we never do, but bare with me). That band made like $10... but the tab they spent ended up being $150 for the band. Is that owner gonna "work with" the band because they didn't make the money that they planned on making? I doubt it....

 

Secondly... we're playing enough clubs now that DO get it. Folks who understand how this works and is supposed to work. And strangely enough, the more money we're making at a gig, the less chance we'll have any problems whatsoever with management. Go figure, right?

 

 

 

It's such an insult to me when a club owner does this, at least I feel it is. I'm running a professional, legitimate business. I'm providing a service... why would you not feel obligated to pay what we agreed on?

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I have no problem "working" with any club owner as long as he lets me know before I finish for the night. I'll pro-rate you if I'm going home early. Don't expect to keep me for three or four hous and then cut you a break. Sorry...not going to happen.

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TrickyBoy wrote:

 

 

So we played a gig last night at a club we have played in the past and at the end of the night they asked us to "work with him" because it was a bad night.  The owner tries something like this almost every time we play there and we're all fed up with it.  So....  we politely said "no we won't work with you" and got paid our full amount.  After the show we (the band members) all talked for a minute and agreed that it's in our best interest to cancel the one remaining show we have there (in mid-May) and part ways with this establishment.

 

 

 

Honestly never really enjoyed playing there, even on good nights.  It's a smokey hole.  Somn now we have a weekend date to fill.  Haha

 

If you won't work with the owner, why should he let you back out of your agreement for one more show? Look at it from both sides. If it's only one more show, then play it out and part ways. Maybe he'll run a more successful bar in the future and remember that you honored your part the same way you expect him to honor his part.

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I agree with your post Wynn but there isn't a chance in hell I'd get to a gig three hours early. If I couldn't get setup down to 90 minutes or less I'd just rent gear.

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A solo act is different than a band though. That being said I was able to set everything up after loading in, in about an hour, with no lights. Load in took about 45 minutes.

 

 

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TrickyBoy wrote:

 

 

You know, I'm, thinking of getting rid of the majority of clubs that allow smoking as well.  I'm getting sick of waking up feeling like someone {censored} in my lungs!

 

I hear ya. It has been so damn awesome since they banned smoking pretty much everywhere here in Michigan. The only gigs we get stuck with smokers now are casinos...and we don't play 'em that often.

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The smoking ban went into effect in town back in August 2011. It became statewide (like nearby Minnesota) this past November. While it makes playing (and especially singing!) much more enjoyable, I did notice a big drop in bar attendance since the bans. I only hope it's a temporary situation.

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StratGuy22 wrote:

I agree with your post Wynn but there isn't a chance in hell I'd get to a gig three hours early. If I couldn't get setup down to 90 minutes or less I'd just rent gear.

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A solo act is different than a band though. That being said I was able to set everything up after loading in, in about an hour, with no lights. Load in took about 45 minutes.

 


I do both...I'm just smarter now and book mostly solo gigs  ;)  There is still no way that I'd arrive at a venue three hours early.

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StratGuy22 wrote:

 

I agree with your post Wynn but there isn't a chance in hell I'd get to a gig three hours early. If I couldn't get setup down to 90 minutes or less I'd just rent gear.

 

--------------------------------------------

 

 

 

A solo act is different than a band though. That being said I was able to set everything up after loading in, in about an hour, with no lights. Load in took about 45 minutes.

 

 

 


 

 

Huh? Why would it be quicker to set up rented equipment that you are unfamiliar with? We usually get to gigs about 2 1/2 hours before showtime.

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TrickyBoy wrote:

 

 

You know, I'm, thinking of getting rid of the majority of clubs that allow smoking as well.  I'm getting sick of waking up feeling like someone {censored} in my lungs!

 

Can't blame you. I remember those days when the gear smelled like stale cigs, the gig van smelled like it, and my eyes, lungs, and nasal passages stung until about Tuesday. Fortunately the 3 area states I play in are all smoke-free these days. 

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This part was a quote from Potts Can't quote worth a {censored} via mobile.

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I agree with your post Wynn but there isn't a chance in hell I'd get to a gig three hours early. If I couldn't get setup down to 90 minutes or less I'd just rent gear.

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Potts is a solo guy, so I was pointing out that a full band takes longer to set up than a solo guy.

 

 

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StratGuy22 wrote:

 

This part was a quote from Potts Can't quote worth a {censored} via mobile.

 

------------

 

I agree with your post Wynn but there isn't a chance in hell I'd get to a gig three hours early. If I couldn't get setup down to 90 minutes or less I'd just rent gear.

 

----------------------

 

Potts is a solo guy, so I was pointing out that a full band takes longer to set up than a solo guy.

 

 

 


 

its pretty close for me vs our band. Maybe 15 minutes shorter for a solo gig.

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