Gig Bombed
Well, it's been a long time since we have played to the bartenders, but tonight it happened. We were playing a small venue out of town. We showed up around 7 pm to setup - nobody there. Come 9 pm, still nobody in the house. We start playing just the same and a few people started trickling in. Slowly built up a small crowd until about midnight. Then the few people that were there started leaving. By 12:30, it was pretty much game over. The bartender cut us loose 15 minutes early, about 12:45, and thanked us.
Actually, both him and the manager were apologizing to the band about the poor turnout. It was a combination of events with bad weather all week that only broke this afternoon. Also, poor scheduling on their part because there was a major country festival concert going on this weekend down the road and most of their patrons were out there.
Our music was good. We played well and sang well. Those who were there enjoyed the show. But it was really tough for us to play in front of an empty house. It's been a long time since that has happened to us. I think all bands thrive on the energy of the crowd, and it is really work when you are playing to an empty house.
It's nice to know that I'm working with guys that are able to hold it together on a dead night like tonight. Even though we were not getting much love from the empty house, we still played our hearts out and gave it all we could.
In the end, the management apologized for the lack of people there tonight, they said we played great, and they even threw in a tip for the band plus they lined up after show shots for us. I know they felt bad. I guess there no such thing as a bad gig as long as you get paid at the end. But it is a bit disheartening to play to an empty house. Don't know if you guys can relate, but I'm just ready for bed tonight whereas most after show nights I'm still all juiced up from all the energy and it takes me forever to unwind. Not tonight. Take care.
Actually, both him and the manager were apologizing to the band about the poor turnout. It was a combination of events with bad weather all week that only broke this afternoon. Also, poor scheduling on their part because there was a major country festival concert going on this weekend down the road and most of their patrons were out there.
Our music was good. We played well and sang well. Those who were there enjoyed the show. But it was really tough for us to play in front of an empty house. It's been a long time since that has happened to us. I think all bands thrive on the energy of the crowd, and it is really work when you are playing to an empty house.
It's nice to know that I'm working with guys that are able to hold it together on a dead night like tonight. Even though we were not getting much love from the empty house, we still played our hearts out and gave it all we could.
In the end, the management apologized for the lack of people there tonight, they said we played great, and they even threw in a tip for the band plus they lined up after show shots for us. I know they felt bad. I guess there no such thing as a bad gig as long as you get paid at the end. But it is a bit disheartening to play to an empty house. Don't know if you guys can relate, but I'm just ready for bed tonight whereas most after show nights I'm still all juiced up from all the energy and it takes me forever to unwind. Not tonight. Take care.
Comments
That said - no, I can't relate. I can't even PAY anyone to listen to me play, so being paid regardless would be not so bad. And at least you had a \"date\" for after the show. But I'm sure it was a letdown anyway. But don't sweat it - from the sounds of it, you guys are terrific and I'm sure the next gig will juice you guys up - and pay the bill!
And then there was the big country music festival in a nearby town that sucked most of the other patrons away from the bar. Before we even started that night, the manager was apologizing to us that she had made a mistake scheduling a band because she had not looked at the date of the festival going on. It is her first year as manager and she is still learning the business. Anyway, when she told the owner she booked a band for this weekend, I guess the owner was not too happy because past experience has proven to be a dead weekend for them during that festival. So, before we even started, we knew it was going to be a long night. And it was.
Well, it was a letdown for us in terms of attendance. We ended up getting paid more than our normal gig rate with the big tip they threw in. Also, the guys appreciated the free shots at the end of the night. I hope we get asked back there again someday, but maybe for a bigger event/holiday. Part of playing to an empty house is knowing that the venue is not making money while still paying the band. Of course, the venue has to take care of itself, but we always feel better when the house has a good night and we are part of that. Usually, that's the way it works.
We did manage to book an outdoor gig for July in the other town where the music festival was going on this weekend. It will be the first time we have played there. But, as an outdoor gig, it will be weather dependant. If it rains, the show is off because they have no cover for the band or patrons. So at least we have something to look forward to in the next few weeks.
BTW, last summer I think we only had one gig. Summers are usually really slow. This summer we managed to book about 8 gigs, which pretty much fills up our open schedule, which is nice. We have booked most of our open weekends through August. So, the band is actually doing much better this summer than last. Looking forward to better gigs. Take care.
Bottom line!!!
At least they didn't try to rip you off at the end of the show. Forget about it and move on.
Doesn't sound so sweet to me! Thanks for the story on how bad it can really get! I'm sure that was a dissapointment for your band. There are lots of things out of the control of the band and/or house. Sometimes you just have to live with it and go with the flow.
Speaking of power outages, we were doing a final sound check 5 minutes pre-show at a show this year and the power popped for all downtown. Spent about 15 minutes in the dark before the power came back up. Blew one speaker and one of my amps was dead when we got the power back. Had to rewire everything to my backup amp and work with that the rest of the night. Negative money that night when you consider the damage.
Yeah, it's all Rock 'n' Roll and memories....
Yep, paid too. Had the multi-track recorder running, so maybe we got some good takes from the night.
And, although I don't want to put all bar owners/managers in the same boat, I just don't trust the house to be honest with the amount of money they claim they took in for the night. The only time we agreed to a minimum plus percentage agreement, the manager told us a bogus number for the till and only paid us the minimum. We thought we were getting ripped off. We found out a couple weeks later that the house took in twice as much as the manager told us, and that the manager had written off the band for twice as much as she paid us - she pocketed the extra money.
The bandmember that scheduled that gig for us trusted this manager, but after that experience, there was no more trust going on and we just set our rate, take it or leave it.
I don't think the boys would be too happy with showing up for a gig, waiting to play, not playing, and then packing back up and going home without pay. That would be a one time deal for us too.
Having said that, we have just booked our first outdoor gig that will be weather dependent. We are getting a good gig rate plus food. It could be a fun night. However, if we get there and it rains - it might all be for nothing. There is no indoor backup in case of bad weather. But we had the night open, we are getting paid more than normal, it's a shorter gig, free food, could be lots of fun for us.
That said, never bargain your rate. You set your rate and go from there. When have you seen a pro photographer cut his rate?
Being up front with mgt and owners sets the standard of who decides what... if he don't like your rate, find the free players. Believe me, your band will be much better for it and will not get jacked around. Owners look for inexperience and will low ball any band negotiation. Tell them what you provide and that is a fixed rate. The only negotiations to do imo are if you receive multiple bookings over the same weekend... like a FRI SAT deal, maybe knock off $50-100 (provided the band agrees). Subsequent booking are not negotiated rates either. If anything and that owner earnings were greater with your band, you can actually raise your rate.
Outdoor events- That's up to your group but the best way is to discuss it like this with mgt.... Weather permitting or not, you are sealing a date with THEM.. when you could be playing elsewhere. Your confirmation and option to get booked the same day somewhere else are NIL at best. In that case, negotiate a Rain or Shine deal. If they cancel that day, they owe you full amount for the gig. Not your fault, not theirs.... it's just business. If they cancel you out any other day before the event date, you get HALF the pay.
MGT and most owner have dealt with pro level bands before and know the circumstances of contract or no wiggle room deals with serious performers. They know how fairs, and public events sponsored are paid. Don't let them fool you for a minute. That's part of their game.
If you are a good band, they'll know it. They will accept your terms of payment but also expect higher level of performance. Give that to them and they will book you again. If you low ball yourself or negotiate \"just to play\" you'll get burned by a lot of mgt and club owners. They want to save some green too... you have to decide how that goes.
Around here, DJ's charge 400-500 for a simple public event. That's one dude with a simple rig and a couple lights. A full band doing covers should be able to get 300 or more for that same event. Once you start letting them book you for DJ prices, expect the same elsewhere. Word travels too.
When our band plays, we have a lot of sound equip, detailed lighting rigs and a general following of an email list with a couple thousand people on board. Most gigs we can get 10% of that following to show. Club owners know this, and there are no negotiations. When we started it wasn't that way and we played a few freebies, but those days were few since the guys in the band Been There Done That type deal and were not messing around with owners.
Your following speaks for your band in most cases. Promote things as such. A DJ typically does not have a \"following\" as much as live musicians provide. Around here, they are losing their work and having to negotiate their prices since the small club owners can easily get their own PC and set it to run random mp3's of popular music.
Yeah, this outdoor gig could go either way. And we took it with the bad weather clause and no pay if the gig does not happen. But we have been trying to break into that town for a year now and this was our first chance. If the gig goes well, we will be paid more for actually less playing time at the event. Plus, and more importantly, I hope we leave a good impression with the locals and open up a new market for us in that area.
I have talked to the guys about getting a manager for the band to go out and make the contacts, book the gigs, and keep the band's schedule full. But it's not like we are in a big city with many options. I've talked to a few guys that want to run sound for us, but nobody around here wants to manage/book bands for a percentage. I know that would help us in the long run, but we really don't have any band management services around here. So we do our own bookings. But I would really like to just focus on the \"music\" and pay someone else to concentrate on the \"business\" aspects.
I really felt bad for them. As you all know, its harder then heck playing in front of a handful of people. I can easily play infront of 500. But 5 just kills me.
The girls for BLparade still played amazingly well.
Timing is everything. I played in a TEX-MEX band for a while in Kansas and we were playing for the door one Saturday nite. Same thing....5 or 10 people showed up. it was an early night that night.
chin up!
\"Fear is victory's fuel\". (not sure, but I think it was Erwin Rommell!!)
EDIT:
Nup. It was Albert Speer. :oops:
Never had a wedding gig. Now I'm afraid to even think about it in the future.
Never had that kind of problem, but it was funny. Hey, but we do get that from time to time from certain clubs where they serve food. For that I say, here's an idea, stop serving food when the dance floor opens up and a band is playing.
We were eating at a sports bar during a game. Met some friends and what not to cheer on local team. Even with this, there were a few in the bar that complained the \"people\" were too loud and some using profanity. It's a sports bar on game day!!!! duh
It's even worse when you have gigs at one of those clubs and you have to be extra mindful of family dinner time before you play. IOW, be quiet and no certain languages used.... I remember our drummer cut his hand setting up and said Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudgggeee. Mgt said a group of people complained about profanity.
Why do people take their kids to Sports Bars? Seriously!
I think they should take their kids to a Denny's at 3AM for breakfast. Then they can hear all the potty mouth they want to!
Usually we have people asking for encores. We might do one extra song, but I think it's always best to leave them wanting. I'd rather play one song too few and have them asking for more than one song too many and end the night with nobody left on the floor.
Well, that one gig was bad timing for the venue. They made a mistake in booking us that particular weekend and told us before we even started that they expected a really slow night. And it was. Well, we got let out early, but the venue kicked in an extra bonus for the band, bought us all another round of drinks at the end of the night and thanked us many times. I'm sure they felt bad, and it was not much fun playing to a mostly empty house. Oh well, it's all behind us now.