Members wheresgrant3 Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 About a year ago I posted a thread about leaving a local venue. We had played at this venue for 5 years and never felt very particularly welcome despite pulling in some record numbers. Our experience wasn't unique... in fact many local bands attest to being treated like 2nd class citizens but they stay because of it's access to it's audience. The venue is very popular in the area and has a steady stream of college students (thanks to two nearby colleges) during Spring and Fall semesters. We had played NYE a few years and our popularity was partly built on our early associations with this room. The owner, however felt that he took ownership over that fact... as if he 'built us'. Over the years we had been met with several indiscretions... mostly surrounding increasing pay. While we were able to increase pay progressively in other venues (in addition to picking up out of state agency representation) he refused to bargain, negotiate or even debate. In his eyes, he was a 'poor tavern owner' and in his words he would "never pay that much for any band... even Led Zepplin.". BTW that 'poor tavern owner' averaging 500-600 people trolling through his establishment on an average night that we played. Much less so with other bands. The discrepancy in pay was widening and it started becoming a 'business' issue when venues caught wind of what we were accepting. In 2008 we left over pay and held out for 14 months despite his repeated calls to come back and 'work something out. We agreed to comprise on $$$ gap between our lowest paid room on our roster and our previous pay To meet in the middle. We also agreed we would limit ourselves to just 4 shows a year with just two 1 hr sets (instead of three)at that agreed pay (he wanted 3 sets and every single month). That honeymoon lasted almost a year. After a few angry phonecalls from area barowners revealed that he had been bragging about our 'compromised rate' without giving the details surrounding that compromise. After putting out some fires we agreed he and his venue needed to go. We called him up, cancelled all future and remaining dates and didn't look back. The problem with such an action was (again) it left a big hole in our calendar-demographically and geographically. We immediately went to work on finding a new venue and had no problems getting interest from a handful of small places that didn't even twitch when we told them our guarantee. The problem was, none of these rooms had built in crowds and the expectation from these bars was that we could bring the audience from the previous venue to their door. We knew that would never happen. The truth was there was only one venue in the area with the capacity and the name that could easily draw the same numbers as the room we left. A huge banquet, events nightclub (25,000 sq ft) which hosts the number #1 wedding venue and a state of the art Vegas styled nightclub. It opened in 2009 and it was in direct competition (less than 1 mile) and is enormous by local club standards. The catch: They had never booked bands in the nightclub... EVER! It is a high end nightclub in every standard. Dress codes, VIP sections, vallet parking. Beautiful bar and dance floor area, huge dinner crowd and a big DJ/ dance party every weekend night. Sound system is 40,000 watts, speakers installed in the ceiling above the dance floor and the lighting is all intelligent. Place is state of the art. The thought of putting a live band in their seemed like serving hotdogs at a Caviar party. Still we knew we were the one band with the track record and enough crossover material and presentation to make it happen. So we bidded our time and put all our energy into building the opportunity for one venue. It helped that we had a track record with the owners in another venue. Last January they had opened a more casual waterfront club 25 miles away hosting live entertainment every weekend. We played the Grand Opening and have been their top band ever since. That helped open the door to discussing this new opportunity. Discussions started casually last spring and morphed into formal meetings this summer over 'what if'. Things began to pick up steam in September when both venues saw a seasonal drop off in business (they are jammed in the summertime and things slow down toward the winter). We played in October at the waterfront club and had their best non summer night all year. Over 1150 people through the door. Immediately the owner contacted us and said 'lets do this'. We called our radio station sponsor and pulled in our beer sponsor and set a date for Black Friday. Again, the reason we're able to sell this idea time and time again to nightclubs is that we are basically a hybrid band/DJ. We've been refining this events package for over 2 years now. Our DJ knows our set inside and out and their is a consistent, managed flow to everything. We agreed on the following schedule: DJ (on their system)- 10pm-10:45 Band-10:45-12am DJ 12-12:30 Band 12:30-1:45am We actually headed up early (9am) on the morning the show to load in and sound check the house PA (phenomenal system btw) without disturbing dinner guests. We were there for 3 hours tweaking everything... the events manager nervous as could be... 'Please don't blow this system!" How did the night turnout? Stellar! Friday nights have been dead. They had been averaging 25-60 people on average... we pulled a few hundred through the door and kept them past 2am. Feedback from our following and from the venue was immediate. When are we comin back? At 2:15am we met with the events manager and they want to build a night around the band... the first Friday of every month. This morning we met and booked out the entire 2012 with them (not every first Friday was available)... next Friday we meet with a photographer and they will pay for a shoot to use in promo materials. At first they wanted to make this exclusive and usually we love that idea... however we both agreed in order to build this night we need to make it consistent. They are considering trialing a band every Friday night and we gave them a short list of higher end wedding/events bands to consider (Guido... your band would be a shoo-in for this ). They want an upscale entertainment. Classy and current. No rock bands whatso ever. We do play some Journey and Bon Jovi even a snippet of Metallica... but 60% of the setlist is modern top 40... oh and RAP/Hiphop (just for you Timkeys ). Whatever bands they choose they will likely rotate in an out. Our band will be the cornerstone for the roster. This puts us in an unbelievable position for 2012. We now have four large anchor rooms that stretch from one end of a four county area to another (about 60 miles apart). All four rooms have large capacity (the smallest maxes at 450 ppl) and are destination style venues. In a time when we're seeing less and less opportunities for travel gigs to have this less than 45 minutes from our rehearsal space is golden. It's also a reminder to never settle. Had we stuck things out with the previous venue we wouldn't have been in a position to pull this off. We lost a year's worth of bookings at disappointing pay but also access to an audience in a local area. We sold this as if we were 'homeless' and needed to find the right place to land to reclaim that audience. We were lucky enough they saw the potential as we did and was willing to partner up to make it happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bnelly428 Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 As usual, love reading your posts. Keep up the good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rangefinder Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 It's encouraging to hear this type of success story in the current economic environment, and especially when it came from smart business decisions on your side. Nicely done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 9-Pin-Phoenix Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 I'm always impressed by the business sense and long term planning on the part of you and your band. There is nothing about your success that was handed to you, you guys earned it, and continue to earn it each week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 Once again, Grant, your stories are examples that not only it can be done, but how to do it. Anyone here trying to run a band who isn't reading your stuff and trying to figure out how to make bits of it apply to them is missing a great opportunity. Good stories from what is clearly one of the top cover bands in the nation. Good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wheresgrant3 Posted November 29, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 It's encouraging to hear this type of success story in the current economic environment, and especially when it came from smart business decisions on your side. Nicely done! The ironic thing is how things are ramping up at home (seeds we planted a few years back) yet in competitive markets like NJ and CT business has fallen off a cliff. In 2011 we've lost three agency/out of area rooms in New England because clubs have cut back to one band night and maybe 3-5 of their best drawing bands. We recently auditioned for a new agent for another market and positive feedback was immediate. Yet the agent is coming back with 1st time in offers of $800-1000 more than 2 1/2 hours away. Terrible. So we were consigned to really put in our energy at home. You really have to work these club owners up, have them see the potential, then cross your fingers, hold your breath and hope people turn up. Last month we played across town at a dance club that tried a Friday night band night. They contacted us before we had a commitment from this place (possibly that helped nudge these guys off the fence). This dance club has been 5 different business/same owner for 20+ years. We played and turn out was terrible. They had already gone ahead and signed expensive out of state agency bands for the remainder of the year. Turnout has been terrible for every consecutive Friday afterward and they ended bands after a short 5 week run. Never had a warm feeling about that gig... but hey, you get the call, you have the opening, and you book it. 2012 is looking terrific for us. We already have 70% of our calendar booked through Jan 2013 (60+ dates). Having this anchor the 1st Friday of every month I think will be successful. We normally we book 6-8 weeks on rotation but because this nightclub is so different and in an area we don't plan to book anywhere else nearby I'm certain we can build a night from this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wheresgrant3 Posted November 29, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 Once again, Grant, your stories are examples that not only it can be done, but how to do it. Anyone here trying to run a band who isn't reading your stuff and trying to figure out how to make bits of it apply to them is missing a great opportunity. Good stories from what is clearly one of the top cover bands in the nation. Good work! Thanks Dave... as you know it takes constant work and toil on the business end. Not an offense to any of the bands in my area but very few could cut and maintain a deal like this. They could only offer the band experience only. Most wouldn't have setlists that would have enough material to even handle a gig like this. Buck Cherry, Finger Eleven and AC/DC are not on the menu here. The sweetest part of this gig is the wedding hall attached/next door. At midnight almost every Friday we play we'll have 1/2 a wedding strolling in to keep partying. We already had two requests on Friday night and a bride and groom on stage. The referrals will be amazing. We plan to use this night as a live showcase for prospective brides. Down the road we may even be able to work a deal with the venue as a 'preferred vendor'. There's upsides in every direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jeff42 Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 Thanks Dave... as you know it takes constant work and toil on the business end. Not an offense to any of the bands in my area but very few could cut and maintain a deal like this. They could only offer the band experience only. Most wouldn't have setlists that would have enough material to even handle a gig like this. Buck Cherry, Finger Eleven and AC/DC are not on the menu here. The sweetest part of this gig is the wedding hall attached/next door. At midnight almost every Friday we play we'll have 1/2 a wedding strolling in to keep partying. We already had two requests on Friday night and a bride and groom on stage. The referrals will be amazing. We plan to use this night as a live showcase for prospective brides. Down the road we may even be able to work a deal with the venue as a 'preferred vendor'. There's upsides in every direction. Now THAT IS sweeeeeeet! Good one man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wardjames Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 Once again, Grant, your stories are examples that not only it can be done, but how to do it. Anyone here trying to run a band who isn't reading your stuff and trying to figure out how to make bits of it apply to them is missing a great opportunity. Good stories from what is clearly one of the top cover bands in the nation. Good work! +1. I really appreciate Grant's posts, Guido's posts, and all the success stories around here, because they give me ideas and motivation to apply to my band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 Now THAT IS sweeeeeeet! Good one man! Yeah, isn't it? I sure wish we had a venue around here like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FitchFY Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 Nothing but well-earned congratulations to you, sir - I hope I can catch you guys some day in a show on the northern side of your booking spectrum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jeff42 Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 Yeah, isn't it? I sure wish we had a venue around here like that. me too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TrickyBoy Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 Great post! And very timely as I am in the process of booking for next year right now. This is really only our second full year. Last year, most of our gigs were booked 4-6 weeks out. This year, I'm already booking into July. And we're really evaluating the rooms that we want to keep and those we want to cut. Last year we were very much in the mode of taking whatever gig came our way. As of now, we have 8 rooms that are definite "yes we want to play here on a regular basis" rooms. I'd like to add 4 more and then stick to an every 8 week rotation at these. That'll put us at 50-60 gigs next year, which is about all we want to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members New Trail Posted December 5, 2011 Members Share Posted December 5, 2011 That's GREAT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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