I'm not a gigging player (yet) but thought this an interesting perspective. I'd be curious what the resident pros think.

http://onstagemagazine.com/open-letter-from-a-bar-owner-to-musicians/

Years ago, when I just started playing out, I was about 14 or 15 years old, an older musician told me this while we were on a gig and it remains true to this day. Sure there are some exceptions but in general this is the golden rule of working in bars.
About ten years ago a dear friend of mine started a tribute band, the band they were emulating was largely regional, had a few hits, I was dubious about them getting a draw BUT their tribute band packs bars, people drink a lot, they are pro in their demeanor and actions and so the bar owners love them and look forward. to having them back

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
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I'm sorry guys, but I strongly disagree with this. It's not my job as a musician to sell drinks for a bar, never was, never will be. That's the owners problem. I'm there to entertain the patrons and sell my music.
Regardless of whether they buy drinks or not. If I bring in a hundred paying customers, that are there to hear my music, I'm providing the bar the oportunity to sell alcohol on the back of our popularity to our crowd. A crowd that just as easily could be at another venue if we were playing there instead. On top of everything else musicians have to go through to even play in the first place, they shouldn't be expected to sell the booze for a bar, that's both disrespectful to the musician and offensive on several levels. Again, that's the owners problem, the same way I don't expect them to maintain my gear. Should I also make sure the bartenders get tipped too, to make up for the owners refusal to pay a living wage to the barstaff? Or how about the coat check girl? should I make sure people check thier coats, or maybe they're not selling enough beer nuts and I should be pushing those as well.
Also the idea that if someone offers me a drink and I should order the most expensive shot even if I don't want it is really messed up. If someone is kindly offering me a drink I'm not about to fleece them and try to upsell them as this guy suggests, that's just really f'd up and shows where he's really coming from.

In most cases musicians aren't really being paid a fair wage anyway, and they're are expected to bring the crowd and advertise. nine times out of ten are expected to cram into a corner by a bathroom or pool table through a crummy sound system with a sound guy that hasn't a clue.
Quite frankly a lot of "music venues" treat music like an after thought and treat musicians like they should feel privilaged to be allowed to play while being treated like pee-ons. I won't stand for that and neither should anyone else that takes thier music seriously.
My 2 cents.

https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
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Last edited: May 10, 2013 15:12:08

I don't disagree with Victor. Actually, those are my personal feelings. Now my feelings vs. the reality of most active businesses is a different story. But we have been doing this long enough now that we know the places to play where we will be treated fairly. But there are always those nights trying out a new venue where it is a risk.

The important thing is to go by word of mouth with other bands. The venues that treat bands well are known and will treat you with the same respect you treat them. The only thing in this article I would never disagree with is acting professional, as you should be if you think enough of your music to take it to the public.

The funny thing here is that there are a few venues that take no cover and pay off the bar. These are 'band friendly' venues and you are almost always guaranteed to make more from the bar than you ever would from door. Even more, we have played there enough that we aren't penalized for an 'off night'. They always make sure we are well paid and never question how many free drinks we get. Even more, if we request it, they will have pizza and a cheap hotel waiting for us. Mind you, these venues hold a grand total of 65-75 people...They are holes in the wall....Now, what is the excuse of larger venues?

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

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CrazyAces wrote:

psychonaut, I never indicated that I thought a band should peddle beer or drinks for a bar or bar owner, all I'm saying is that if the bar sells the least drinks the night your band plays because you don't have a following or draw you probably won't be asked back.

I didn't say you said it, that's what the bar owner in the article said.

Bar owners typically aren't in business to sell music, they're in business to sell drinks.

Correct, but it's thier business, not mine. I'm there to sell music not drinks. I don't expect the bar staff to sell my albums, they shouldn't expect bands to sell drinks

https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com

Indeed! There were some parts of the open letter that I disagreed with. But the top shelf liquor whoring part was outright offensive.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
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Yes, many of us can relate. But I also have a feeling the calibur of band this guy deals with is a crap in most circumstances. I see a lot of Ed Hardy clothing and a lot of 'underbite singing'.

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

Yayeuh!

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

This barman's open letter reeks of entitlement. My bet his wife left him and his employees can't stand his 'what's mine is mine and what's yours is mine' attitude. Music purely as liquor sales. Dark.

Squink Out!

It does seem that in the past the owners of venues having live music looked at it as something more than just a way to sell a few more alcoholic drinks. They could hire good bands, pay them fairly well, and still make a profit.