Members TrickyBoy Posted April 6, 2014 Members Share Posted April 6, 2014 So, as I've mentioned in previous posts things are really taking off for us. We played again last night to a completely packed house from the first song to the last. It was at a club that we play all the time. And those gigs are SO MUCH FUN! I love having people on stage all night, This month Meagan and I will play a total of 8 times (3 acoustic, 5 with the band). All of them at clubs. However.... Recently, we've broken into the casino circuit. We played 2 last month and both want us back. Our agent is already booking us casino dates in October - December. These gigs are different to say the least. Less crowd participation (though they still get involved, just not as much). Less crowd feedback. And the one other drawback is that the casinos still allow smoking, where EVERY club we play is non-smoking. (there are still smoking clubs in Louisiana, but we told our agent we won't play them) BUT... The casino gigs pay a lot more. Oh and the casino gigs are SUPER EASY. All of them provide sound and lights. Many of them provide a set for the drummer. So we set up 45 minutes before we start, play 3 sets and tear down in 15 minutes. With a baby due in August, we've already discussed that we are definitely going to keep playing. However, 6-8 nights a month is going to get reduced to 2-3. So the question is, do we focus our energy on the casino circuit, where the pay is better, the gigs are still OK, though not nearly as much fun as club gigs. Or do we focus on growing as a club band, have a blast, but accept that we're not going to make as much money. To put $$$ in perspective, the casinos are about double what we make in clubs. IDK... I love playing guitar, but if I'm honest with myself, the reason I had so much fun last night was the audience reaction. But then again, while I don't rely on gig money to live, the difference in pay is rather substantial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TIMKEYS Posted April 6, 2014 Members Share Posted April 6, 2014 I think I would just do what you want to do and not worry about it. You are going to face some downtime and will have to re enter the market, so what you do now really isn't that important. things change so fast in the band scene its kind of hard to really know how you will feel after the baby arrives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted April 6, 2014 Members Share Posted April 6, 2014 Personally, I hate casino gigs for all the reasons you mentioned. We tried a couple in the past as a way to fill in the schedule and maybe get us some public profile, but we all just had way too much of a poor time. Doesn't help that, in our case, we're coming from the opposite end where the casino gigs are a step down in pay from the private events we do. So the decision to not play gigs we didn't enjoy for less money wasn't hard to make. (Although since they were fill-in dates, it was an the extra gigs/extra money is better than an open date deal. It's not like we turned down better paying gigs to do these.) But like you, if it's not fun, then I just can't enjoy the gig. Regardless of how much it might pay. In your case, maybe the answer is to keep it mostly to the fun club gigs and toss in one or two casino gigs a month so the cut in pay isn't quite THAT drastic. And how do the other guys in the band feel about it? Remember that your decision to cut back on playing because of the baby isn't as voluntary for them as it is for you two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wesg Posted April 6, 2014 Members Share Posted April 6, 2014 I can only offer one piece of advice: once your child arrives, you will not have enough time or money. No matter what you do. So think about maximize those things when you can... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted April 6, 2014 Members Share Posted April 6, 2014 Ya just gotta decide if you can handle the crappy crowds at the higher paying gigs. It's that simple. My experience is that the higher paying the gig ON AVERAGE, the crappier the crowd...This varies sometimes but overall, I've found that to be true. As far as the gigs getting ya off and having fun, well I stopped having fun doing this cover thing many many years ago.. I do it ONLY for the $$$ These days!! I act like I'm having a blast at the gig though so noone knows but me that I can't wait to get the hell outta there!!! I have to get into some of the Casino's down your way because the one we're playing next weekend in Indiana actually pays less than our normal $300 a man gigs..Kinda bums me out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mstreck Posted April 7, 2014 Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 Why not do both and maintain a ratio of one casino gig for every two or three "fun" gigs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dan88z Posted April 7, 2014 Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 I wouldn't do the casinos if they allow smoking. That's where I draw the line on any event. It cut us out of a whole circuit but I don't care. My days of coming home stinking and having my gear stink are gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roy Brooks Posted April 7, 2014 Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 If it was me I would do the casino gigs because they pay more money. The smoking doesn't bother me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members musicmanmu Posted April 7, 2014 Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 Why not do both and maintain a ratio of one casino gig for every two or three "fun" gigs? That's what I would do...keep them both in rotation in whatever ratio works for you. Like you said, you're not dependent on the money for your main source of income. And, if you take yourself out of the club circuit for a while to focus on the 'money' gigs, will it be hard to get back into it? Just a rhetorical question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nchangin Posted April 7, 2014 Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 Tell the club owners you are rock stars now at the casino and they have to meet your $ requirements. Times change, so do business's to best meet and exceeed the needs of their clients. Of course you could just play the clubs for less cause you love your clients...that's your call, but babies are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted April 7, 2014 Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 I wouldn't do the casinos if they allow smoking. That's where I draw the line on any event. It cut us out of a whole circuit but I don't care. My days of coming home stinking and having my gear stink are gone. Ya know, I agree with this. I just flat out, don't want to play smoking bars or events anymore. No matter what the $$..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MartinC Posted April 7, 2014 Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 It's a tough call. The club gigs will keep your act sharp. I've never done a casino gig, but I'd think they would suck. Twice the money though, no loading a pa, tough call. I think for me, I'd have to do the casino gigs before the club. Does the money matter? Is it enough to make a difference in your lives? If not, do the club gigs first. But TWICE the dough would make it an easy decision to me if the money mattered. A baby at home and day gigs too-any music gig is going to be tough. Might as well fund the college education.I turned down a festival gig with a band to do a wedding solo. More than twice the money for the wedding. I took a lot of flack from the band. But they didn't pay to raise my kids........money is pretty hard to come by playing music, any that comes my way I tend to grab it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TrickyBoy Posted April 7, 2014 Author Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 I wouldn't do the casinos if they allow smoking. That's where I draw the line on any event. It cut us out of a whole circuit but I don't care. My days of coming home stinking and having my gear stink are gone. The smoking is a rub. And like I said, we've cut all clubs off our schedule that allow smoking. I feel like crap in the morning. But the casinos all have higher ceilings and better ventilation, so it's really not that bad. Every once and a while you get a group of smokers right up by the stage and it kinda sucks, but otherwise, I really don't notice it that much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted April 7, 2014 Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 No one should be allowed to smoke unless they are on fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SpaceNorman Posted April 7, 2014 Members Share Posted April 7, 2014 I just flat out, don't want to play smoking bars or events anymore. No matter what the $$.....s Count me IN with this sentiment as well. I've always hated feeling my eyes and throat burn in smoke filled bars. I hated smelling my clothes the next day. Hell, I hated getting into clean sheets when covered in the blend of sweat and tobacco smoke stickiness. Now that I've had a taste of smoke-free gigs - I'll never go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nousername Posted April 14, 2014 Members Share Posted April 14, 2014 s Count me IN with this sentiment as well. I've always hated feeling my eyes and throat burn in smoke filled bars. I hated smelling my clothes the next day. Hell, I hated getting into clean sheets when covered in the blend of sweat and tobacco smoke stickiness. Now that I've had a taste of smoke-free gigs - I'll never go back. The rest of us just shower before bed if exposed to anything like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twostone Posted April 14, 2014 Members Share Posted April 14, 2014 More likely after the kid arrives you'll want the money because your gonna have some down time for awhile. Plus when the kid gets older you'll need extra $$ for baby sitting fees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SpaceNorman Posted April 14, 2014 Members Share Posted April 14, 2014 The rest of us just shower before bed if exposed to anything like that... Granted, it's nothing that a shower can't fix - but at my house, a middle of the night shower wakes everybody up and are usually avoided if possible. I much prefer avoiding the exposure in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jeff42 Posted April 14, 2014 Members Share Posted April 14, 2014 even a late night shower doesn't fix the sore throat from all the smoke. uggh... We played a fun place last month that paid well but we probably wont go back there... why? Its a smoking bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tacdryver Posted April 22, 2014 Members Share Posted April 22, 2014 If you don't need the bar gig money, that tends to answer a number or questions about being in a band and playing out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wesg Posted April 22, 2014 Members Share Posted April 22, 2014 Can you work gas masks into your act somehow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted April 23, 2014 Members Share Posted April 23, 2014 even a late night shower doesn't fix the sore throat from all the smoke. uggh... We played a fun place last month that paid well but we probably wont go back there... why? Its a smoking bar. I was hacking all weekend and sinus drip still ensues from the effects of the disgusting smoke...I want to bow out of these once a month or so bar gigs but I think that would bow me out of the band....It's a waste of time to boot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted April 23, 2014 Members Share Posted April 23, 2014 We probably lose out on a couple of gigs a year because people want to see us play somewhere and we don't provide that opportunity unless they want to crash another gig. Do we lose gigs by not just being seen out and about and/or having a publicly known name? Maybe. It does seem that many of the bands doing the same stuff we're doing but are working more do a lot of public gigs as well. Maybe that's the reason? Maybe they are just better than we are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WynnD Posted April 23, 2014 Members Share Posted April 23, 2014 I wouldn't do the casinos if they allow smoking. That's where I draw the line on any event. It cut us out of a whole circuit but I don't care. My days of coming home stinking and having my gear stink are gone. Back when bars still allowed smoking, my keyboard cases would still stink months after the gigs. I'm so glad that Colorado no longer allows that. A few bars and most restaurants had gone non-smoking prior to passing the laws kicking the smoking outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted April 23, 2014 Members Share Posted April 23, 2014 Even most smokers I know don't like smoky bars and restaurants anymore. They want to smoke a cigarette; they don't want to wear it. Smoking has been illegal in public places in California for a couple of decades now and it's gone pretty much how I predicted it would: once people got over the initial horror of the evil gummit telling them where and where not they could smoke, they not only found that they preferred non-smoking places, but the younger kids who have grown up with the laws don't know it to be any other way. They are all perfectly fine with stepping outside for a smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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