INdian reservation casino gigs?

My band recently received an offer to potentially work at a casino on an Indian reservation. Does anyone have any experience playing these type of gigs? I have questions about the pay of course & the type of requirements the band might need to play there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This can be a pretty lucrative gig from what I've heard, all things considered. I'm sure it's pretty much the same as any big hotel gig. A lot of it depends on where they'll have you playing. Most casinos have a main room, where the big touring shows are, and little lounge areas scattered about here and there where you'll see "Murph & the MagicTones" kind of group, usually. If you can swing getting an opening act gig in the big room opening for some name entertainer, then you can get some big bucks. Playing the lounges is pretty much like playing any other small bar or piano lounge. You probably won't make a lot of money, but you'll be seen by tons of people. Also, the lounges usually have decibel limits, so you'll have to be conscious of that. Think of it as like playing in one of those bars in an airport. Make sure you have a prominently displayed tip jar; it'll help the bottom line. The bad news is that you'll have to put up with drunks, hecklers, and other riff-raff, but you get that in any bar you play in. The good news is that sometimes you work out free hotel rooms and meals for the band. They can do that because if they can keep you in-house, you'll probably gamble away whatever cash you make (and then some!). At any rate, it's a free vacation for the band wives & kiddos and beats sleeping in the van.

Give it a shot. It could open some new doors for your band. Lots of folks with bucks like to gamble, and they also hire bands for functions. It might be worth the trouble just to be seen.

Good luck!

Pretty much your standard cover gig. Possibly more depressing since people are there to gamble and you're less than the usual background noise.

But...these things do pay well.

Well we are definately going to give it a shot & see what it yields. We have nothing to lose other than the gas to travel over there. IF we could get a gig where it pays enought to do 1-3 days a week there it could be pretty good. I figure if the local clubs pay these bands from Monterrey enough to travel here for one night a week ($1,800 per night) a casino should be able to offer the same for us. We just need to be prepared.

Which in this case will include leaving your checkbook and ATM card at home.

David I hadn't thought of that. I don't gamble but I never thought about OTHER people. Makes a lot of sense for the casino. Some ill begotten bassist or drummer is out there thinking he can double to triple his money & ends in the morning broke off his ass. NOt a bad business for the casino.