Members rodclement Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 Man...my night was so weird that I needed to start a new thread, separate from the Bose thread... The Red Cadillac was a new venue for us, so I got there 2 hours before start time, introduce myself, meet the manager, he shows me the place, the gear, etc. I unload, set-up, all is good! Owner arrives, I meet him, place is packed! Food is great, service is great, good night is brewing! I ask the owner what he would like us to do, he says just play, have fun! I ask him about repertoire, volume...he replies, this is a loud bar, play loud! By the way, he says, I love hard rock! Great! The Bose unit is weird but adequate, my lack of knowledge about it surely prevented me from getting more from it but overall, the sound was better than I would have expected. So we start playing... All is great, people are aplauding loudly, requesting more tunes, singing along! What a great night, best night of the year so far! We play a one hour set and take a break, staff is happy, owners wife is happy, owner is nowhere to be seen. We take 15 min. and come back, it is now 9:15pm, we start playing and the place lights up, people are dancing, girls are going nuts, it's a party now! One drunk girl is getting out of hand and comes up rubbing on me, I have no worries, she is hot! She grabs my crotch as I am singing so I politely make her siy back down since this is not that kind of place and she is getting out of hand! More people come up, servers are dancing, great time...or so I think! In the corner, the owner signals he watnts a break so I acknowledge but his wife signals me to do one more, so we do! Then she signals one more...everyone is dancing so we oblige! Then I see the owner going nuts so we take a break... He comes up to me and starts blabbing that when he says stop, we are to stop! I explain to him that his wife, who is beside him, told us to play more! He now is mad, we are to loud and people are getting rowdy! Now I am lost, he asked us to play loud and the place is packed with people having a great time! He also ssays that we played to long, we should do 30min. and break! I tell him, no problem, just let me know what you want instead of telling me to play loud in his loud bar! The owner is adamant about us calming it down, he doesn't want people dancing, and jumping up and down anymore...no problem! We start the last set with slow tunes, background tunes...then we play Rod Stewart "maggie mae" and all the girls come up to dance again, me and the guitar player look at each other kinda like "oh {censored}"! People are having fun again... We finish the song and go into another slow tune, to clear the floor. One of the girls comes up and asks me to play more dance tunes and I keep on giving her excuses, now I am satrting to look bad, it seems like we don't want to oblige, it is starting to look like we are the douche bags in the story! The girl tells me that she knows the owner and wants us to make them dance again so I tell her to ask him if it's ok, she goes to him and has a conversation with him, we are now playing "let It Be"...the owner comes up to me and starts yelling at me, "how dare I tell his patrons that he didn't want us to play danceable music!" I am looking at him amazed! What am I supposed to tell her? That we don't want to make hem happy!? {censored} that! Owner tells me that he should kick our asses for putting him in a bad position in his place! I stop singing, turn around and shut down the PA, we are done! He is now left there talking to my back while I pack and finally walks away! Best gig of the year, also the worst gig of the year! I gave out dozens of cards, got plenty of tips, and had mostly fun so the night was worth it! I packed up and left so i have no idea if we got paid or not, nor do I care to find out! We moslty play bars for exposure and not for the {censored} pay we get. Bottom line is that I did everything I could to communicate with him, i asked about voume, repertoire, sets, etc and all I got was play loud, it's a loud bar and I love hard rock! That was it! Now, we are one guitar, and one singer! But we bring it! We get people dancing, we involve the audience, we take requests, etc but still just a duo! If this guy wanted back ground music, he should have hired a different band! Or should have told us that when asked! Wen I was leaving the guyus wife asked me if she could count on us for a montly gig! I politely told her that I didn't think her venue was for us and thanked her! Can you believe it!? Looking forward to speaking with my guitar player tomorrow and find out if we got paid or not, curious but I had to leave before I did something stupid! One last thing, this place specializes in Tequila, and infused tequila drinks! They serve them by the pitcher, people got loud and dancing not because we were enticing them to "get wild", but because the venue gladly over served a lot of patrons! Upwards and onwards...good night everyone! Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Miko Man Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 Too weird for words. If this was the 80's (or 90's), I would have guessed that it was a problem with the owner's nose, but who knows? Glad you made through the night without violence occuring. Mark C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members heath_eld Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 Thats pretty funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members YeahDoIt Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 So what do you do when an audience member wants more exciting music but the manager tells you to calm people down? How to handle this situation without offending anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eyesore Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 people are strange......right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 Might the owner be bi-polar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Voltan Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 Might the owner be bi-polar? "might be"??? sounds like he desnt have the formula for his bathtub prozac quite right yet... *twitches* well played rod! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 I've had the "gig from heaven" and the "gig from hell" but it seems you've had both in one night. I guess you just chalk that one up to experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 14, 2012 Moderators Share Posted April 14, 2012 If it were me, I'd go back and talk to the guy when the place isn't full. Explain that you were getting mixed messages from his wife, the audience and him and that you were trying to do what he asked, but didn't want to blow off his patrons and were unsure where the wife's input fit in. In the light of day, and with a calmer atmosphere, you may be able to work something out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 sounds to me like the guy was power-tripping for some reason. It's HIS joint and HE'S gonna control the band and the crowd and once he unable to get you to stop on demand, he was determined to regain control over HIS bar. Obviously he had SOME sort of bug up his ass--who knows what or why. Could have been ANYTHING. He could have had a fight with his wife earlier; the girl who came up and rubbed on you might have been some patron he always had the hots for and he was jealous...who knows? People are strange and some people really shouldn't be in positions of power for such reasons. I lost a casino gig once in a duo I was in years ago because I unknowingly "let" a pit boss's wife flirt with me during a break. I didn't know who she was; I didn't instigate it. But he was pissed and he had the power so we lost the gig. Also played a bar awhile back where the manager comes up with a piece of paper and says "these are the break times. Stick to them." No problem. We do. Afterwards he's pissed because he says we should have sensed the crowd was picking up and should have played through the breaks. Sorry. Normally we would have done that, but didn't think you wanted us to. No problem. Next time we play, the crowd is filling up, we DO play through the break, end up having a great night and the guy is pissed because we didn't stick to the schedule. Some gigs just ain't worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 Drinking makes such fools of people, and people are such fools to begin with, that it's compounding a felony. Robert Benchley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingerpicker Posted April 14, 2012 Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 I played a restaurant/lounge gig where the owner was telling me to "turn it up--be lively" So i do just that. People start dancing and he comes up mid-song tells me "These people cant dance here, tell them to dance over there." And points to a corner away from the music. I did what he said, of course noone listened and he continued to get angry so we played more mellow so no dancing. So did ya get paid? Also I totally think you need to go there when its slow and talk to the owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rodclement Posted April 14, 2012 Author Members Share Posted April 14, 2012 OK so I spoke to the guitar player today...here goes... We got paid and our tab fully comped...when he paid us the guitar player told him thanks and sorry it didn't work out...the owner looks at him like a deer in the headlight like he has no idea what he is talking about! He says it's one of the best register nights he has ever had...when can we come back!? Really!? WTF! I guess ego and attitude goes down the drain when the cash is flowing into your register, no?! I told the guitar player that I won't play there again unless we get 50% more pay, and a signed contract that stipulates breaks, set lenghts, and WHO THE {censored} IS IN CHARGE OF MAKING DECISIONS ON THE NIGHT OF THE GIG! Good question asked about how to handle something like this with patrons that want to dance but the venue doesn't want it to happen...I choose to follow the direction of management but I refuse to ignore people that are there having fun and tipping, they should know who is limiting their fun, it's the venue, not me! I have worked very hard to be the band that delivers, with great attitude, involving people, making it fun! If the pwner wants me to be boring, you can bet your ass people will know who's directions I am following, they can take it up with him! Got 4 new newsletter registrations today and over 30% in traffic spike on the website so all in all the night was great! Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted April 15, 2012 Moderators Share Posted April 15, 2012 okay, so...he's a looney...now you know what you are dealing with...tell the guitar player to handle the owner, and you will deal with the wife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 If it were me, I'd go back and talk to the guy when the place isn't full. Explain that you were getting mixed messages from his wife, the audience and him and that you were trying to do what he asked, but didn't want to blow off his patrons and were unsure where the wife's input fit in. In the light of day, and with a calmer atmosphere, you may be able to work something out. Excellent advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ptkbass Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 I do think the guy is a coke head, Rod My initial thoughts as well. And learning not to apply logic to an illogical situation is what I learned in my first marriage.... You sure can try to catch him in the pre-happy hours and nail down a set of rules/guidelines and it may be worth it, just as long as you're ready, willing, and able to deal with the craziness that will return. Don't be surprised by it the second time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 okay, so...he's a looney...now you know what you are dealing with...tell the guitar player to handle the owner, and you will deal with the wife let the guitar player handle the wife too, thinks I she's probably looney too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Christhee68 Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 I wonder if the owner has his bar set up for Google alerts that let him know every time his business is mentioned on the internet. I'm sure it's unlikely that he's reading some musicians forum, but you never know, he could possibly come across your post stating that the owner of said establishment is a coke head. Just sayin... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingerpicker Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 just do some rails with hm b4 the gig so everyone is on the same page . . . . . CHA CHA CHA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SusieP Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 Crazy gig!My advice would usually be to follow instructions from whoever is paying you at the end of the night - but when it's a husband and wife team booking you and they are giving different instructions it makes it impossible for you. So, I'd go with what you said earlier to your Duo partner - written contract with set times and breaks written down - and something about which one of the owners calls the shots. If it's on the contract, you are covered. But some gigs just aren't worth the hassle.But when you need the Bucks, sometimes you have to put up with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 I agree, some gigs just aren't worth the trouble. Others you can work out a happy compromise. But when the are not worth it, I simply raise my price. If they want to pay me for the trouble, that's fine with me, if they no longer want to hire me because I'm too expensive, that's OK too. I always listen to the person who contracted my services. Whether he/she is right or wrong. Depending on the entertainment purchaser, and his/her personality, I'll tactfully make suggestions to try to help, letting them know I'm interested in their welfare and profits, and if they disagree, I'll do what they ask of me. If I don't like it, next time I raise the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 If it were me, I'd go back and talk to the guy when the place isn't full. Explain that you were getting mixed messages from his wife, the audience and him and that you were trying to do what he asked, but didn't want to blow off his patrons and were unsure where the wife's input fit in. In the light of day, and with a calmer atmosphere, you may be able to work something out.that makes the most sense for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members glepko Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 awesome! awesome? this is a two piece 'acoustic' guitar act, right? sounds like a rockin good cover band experience from the 80's/90's! best wishes for any future dates there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rodclement Posted April 15, 2012 Author Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 Well, there are two good reasons to play there again, it's a happening place, always full of fun/good looking girls! Second reason is the exposure, full house = lots of people to book private gigs, the real money in our business! Only way I play there again is if my conditions I laid out in the previous post get met, if not, no go! I love the idea of meeting with the guy on an off hour and going over things but honestly, I like the idea of letting the guitar player deal with him even better! Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OneEng Posted April 15, 2012 Members Share Posted April 15, 2012 I had an Eagles bar gig years back where the dance floor was packed, and everyone was lovin on the music. The owner told us to turn it down because some of the people didn't like it (the few sitting and not dancing). We turned it down then the OTHER owner told us he was getting complaints that we weren't loud enough now I got yelled at by two different people several times through that night (over 10 years ago), and haven't played an Eagles club ever again despite that particular club pleading for me to return. As others have said ..... some venue's are just not worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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