We walked out Tuesday

[KeysBear]

After we had completely set up our gear the club owner walked up to us and said he was confused because we weren't the band the agent had promised was coming. Somebody had messed up somewhere. So, the owner said I'm not going to pay you but you can stick around and play if you want.

Without hesitation we started packing up.

Then the owner's son came up to us and wanted to know what was wrong. I told him we don't play for free.

The owner came back and said something about f**ing agents and I told him the agent was proabably sitting in a bar somewhere talking about f**ing owners.

In my book the owner was a scammer or he wouldn't have let us set up.

[Jimi Ray Halen]

That's why I started using contracts. It's a bit of a pita but there ain't no f'ing around once they sign their name.

I found a contract form here on HC.

[fastplant]

That's messed up big time, you did the right thing. The owner definitely wanted to take advantage of you. How did he know you weren't the band the agent promised anyway?

[KeysBear]

 

Originally posted by fastplant That's messed up big time, you did the right thing. The owner definitely wanted to take advantage of you. How did he know you weren't the band the agent promised anyway?

 

Thing is we've known this agent for years. Yeah, he's a flake sometimes but he's never before led us into something that screwed up. It was a last minute deal where the agent called us the same afternoon. We had played at that club for a month before so the owner knew who we were. The owner's story was that the agent had promised him a new band that would bring a crowd of 50-60 people on a Tuesday night. I think when it was only ten minutes before we started and there were only a dozen people there the owner got greedy. He lost out because we had a lot of people coming over the next couple of hours. We just called as many as we could and told them not to bother.

[Lee Flier]

Geez that's just messed up. Glad you guys stood your ground and walked out - a lot of bands probably wouldn't have, and the jerk would've gotten exactly what he wanted.

[fastplant]

 

Originally posted by KeysBear Thing is we've known this agent for years. Yeah, he's a flake sometimes but he's never before led us into something that screwed up. It was a last minute deal where the agent called us the same afternoon. We had played at that club for a month before so the owner knew who we were. The owner's story was that the agent had promised him a new band that would bring a crowd of 50-60 people on a Tuesday night. I think when it was only ten minutes before we started and there were only a dozen people there the owner got greedy. He lost out because we had a lot of people coming over the next couple of hours. We just called as many as we could and told them not to bother.

 

 

No band will ever promise a crowd of 50-60 on a Tuesday. That owner is an idiot if he thinks otherwise.

[wheresgrant3]

 

Originally posted by fastplant No band will ever promise a crowd of 50-60 on a Tuesday. That owner is an idiot if he thinks otherwise.

 

 

+1 to that comment!!!

 

... unless you are playing in a special market (where people don't have jobs the next day) or you are a Tribute act, it's unlikely for any band to draw even a 1/4 what they draw on the weekend. We turn down weekday gigs all the time, not becuase they don't pay (we actually charge more for the effort) but becuase we know we will never draw more than a fraction of what we draw on the weekend in our market. It's not good business for either party... the band or the club owner.

[Guitar Centaur]

So, I'm assuming from your moniker and your location that you're based in the Keys?

 

How is the musical climate down there? I'm hoping to retire in the area, and also hope to be able to hook up with players and keep my chops up once I have all that time on my hands.

 

Is there a big market for bands down there? I'm not too worried about pay, as I won't be in it for any payday.

[KeysBear]

One of my comments back to the owner was that any band who could deliver 50-60 people on a Tuesday night could be booked at any club in town. He's been in the business for around 20 years and knows better than to make a stupid comment like that or to expect any band to make such a promise. The whole story was bogus.

It is soooo right that when people have to work the next day it's going to cut back your following.

[jackcheez]

So, the owner said I'm not going to pay you but you can stick around and play if you want.

This is my surprised look

[KeysBear]

 

Originally posted by Crustycabs So, I'm assuming from your moniker and your location that you're based in the Keys? How is the musical climate down there? I'm hoping to retire in the area, and also hope to be able to hook up with players and keep my chops up once I have all that time on my hands. Is there a big market for bands down there? I'm not too worried about pay, as I won't be in it for any payday.

 

Well, I got the Keys thing going when I lived on a sailboat at a Key Largo marina. Sax and synths both have keys and I'm just a big bear type of guy. Now I live in the Fort Lauderdale area but our band has played our share of Keys gigs at Gilberts Tiki Bar, The Caribbean Club, Coconuts (all Key Largo), Big Pine House of Music (Big Pine Key), and various Key West haunts. A friend of ours plays regularly at Holiday Isle. I'm sure you'll be working all you want.

If you settle in the upper Keys you can still work in the S. Miami area. If you go all the way to Key West you'll probably just wander around in shorts and sandals holding a beer and not care if you play anyway.

[ShoNuf]

Viva La Revolucion!!!!

 

That makes me feel powerful just hearing that you did it. For the most part I think that owners are slime balls. I understand they have to make money, but they rely on us as much as we rely on them.

 

Owners treating their talent that way is like a lamprey yelling at the shark it's attached to for swimming in the wrong direction.

[fastplant]

 

Originally posted by ShoNuf Viva La Revolucion!!!! That makes me feel powerful just hearing that you did it. For the most part I think that owners are slime balls. I understand they have to make money, but they rely on us as much as we rely on them. Owners treating their talent that way is like a lamprey yelling at the shark it's attached to for swimming in the wrong direction.

 

 

 

I think most owners rely on bands more than the bands rely on them. I'd have no problem being yelled at by a bar owner for not bringing enough people if they even ATTEMPTED to bring a crowd themselves. It's like they have no idea how to get people into their bar so they depend on the band for every soul in the bar.

 

Attention Bar Owners: There's a little thing called "promotion." Look into it.

[KeysBear]

Heh, the booking gods felt our pain and shined down on us. We picked up quality gigs for Friday (local) and Saturday (an hour's drive to cover another band's cancellation). If we can make it through August which can be a little slow down here we are booked pretty solid from September through New Year's.

[Base]

I think you should have stayed and played for free...

 

Sounds like a great time to try out some of those punk or thrash metal covers you've all been wanting to do for a while, or maybe a 3-hour experimental jam, I'm sure he wouldn't have minded the un-rehearsedness as he was getting a band for free that night. Heck, maybe for a change you could have all swapped instruments, frequently, to see if you can play them too

[Tedster]

Yeah, Base, that would have been the ticket!!! Only perhaps play your best stuff until the crowd gets thick, and then play...

 

FFFEEEEEEELLLINGSSS!!! WOH WOH WOH FEEEEEELINGGGSS!!!

 

Only play it as a polka. A twenty minute long version of the "Feelings Polka" in Am...with an extended blues solo in some other key.

 

Seriously, though...you should have said..."What were you going to pay the other band?"

[JBJ]

this is exactly what the guy in the disaster turned to opportunity thread shoulda done.

 

who cares if you piss off an unscrupulous promoter? you have to "be an ass" at times in this game or else you'll get walked all over.

 

I take up the brunt of those duties for my band cause I have no shame

 

I even sort out bitches that are trying to take one out of my bro when he's promoting gigs

[Guitar Centaur]

Originally posted by KeysBear If you go all the way to Key West you'll probably just wander around in shorts and sandals holding a beer and not care if you play anyway.

 

hehehe!

 

Damn, I can't wait! I need to hit the lottery!

 

[Hollow body]

 

Originally posted by fastplant I think most owners rely on bands more than the bands rely on them. I'd have no problem being yelled at by a bar owner for not bringing enough people if they even ATTEMPTED to bring a crowd themselves. It's like they have no idea how to get people into their bar so they depend on the band for every soul in the bar. Attention Bar Owners: There's a little thing called "promotion." Look into it.

 

 

Yeah, what's up with that? I'm in the house band hosting a local Sunday jam. The club owner bitches because we don't pack the room on a summer Sunday evening. His idea of promotion? Hang a sheet of paper on the door that says "Blues jam Sunday 5:00". Sheesh.

[KeysBear]

 

Originally posted by Base I think you should have stayed and played for free... Sounds like a great time to try out some of those punk or thrash metal covers you've all been wanting to do for a while, or maybe a 3-hour experimental jam, I'm sure he wouldn't have minded the un-rehearsedness as he was getting a band for free that night. Heck, maybe for a change you could have all swapped instruments, frequently, to see if you can play them too

 

 

 

Originally posted by Tedster Yeah, Base, that would have been the ticket!!! Only perhaps play your best stuff until the crowd gets thick, and then play... FFFEEEEEEELLLINGSSS!!! WOH WOH WOH FEEEEEELINGGGSS!!! Only play it as a polka. A twenty minute long version of the "Feelings Polka" in Am...with an extended blues solo in some other key. Seriously, though...you should have said..."What were you going to pay the other band?"

 

Great idea!

 

Set list:

 

Chicken Dance

Hokey Pokey

If You're Happy and You Know It

Feelings (of course)

Barney Theme Song

Billy Don't Be a Hero

The Night Chicago Died

My Ding a Ling (extended version)

Tribute to Boy George Medley

Best of Old School Nokia Ring Tones

Golden Moments of Mic Feedback

[Tedster]

And top it off with a heavy metal rendition of "99 bottles of beer"

[Guitar Centaur]

Originally posted by Tedster And top it off with a heavy metal rendition of "99 bottles of beer"

 

Mind if I borrow this idea? It might just fly around here!

 

[KeysBear]

 

Originally posted by Tedster And top it off with a heavy metal rendition of "99 bottles of beer"

 

Perfect choice to round out the heavy metal set that of course includes

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Row Row Row Your Boat

Moon River, and

Kum Ba Ya

 

 

Try the veal, it's excellent....

[Narcosynthesis]

 

Originally posted by Tedster And top it off with a heavy metal rendition of "99 bottles of beer"

 

 

i think a soundscape based freeform jazz version may be more suitable, possibly extended to 499 bottles if it gets a good reception

 

and of course the tuning song

 

and possibly a competition to create the most horrible sounding chords possible

 

David

[MDLMUSIC]

Did a gig a few weeks back where there was nobody in the bar after the first set. I asked the bartender if she wanted us to pack up early and she said we'd be getting our regular pay so we could either go home or stay and practice. Since we never practice, the bandmates and I decided this was the way to go.

 

Worked out ten new songs I'd been thinking about for a while. Got paid to practice and the bartender gave us free beers.

 

The bartender told us it was the most interesting night she'd had in a long time, kind of like watching that Beatles documentary where they work out their songs before they became hits.