so true!
my main band was hired once for a casual dining/drinking place, supposed to play between 9 and midnight. Even 'though we kept the volume down (using an electronic drumkit etc), our music is not exactly soothing background. A couple of tables asked to be moved away from the improvised stage, unsurprisingly, as they were to have a meal and chat. It was embarrasing for us to be there, to be honest. We finished the gig (later in the night it got a lot better, volume was turned up and people danced) but the interesting thing was that it was *us* who had to tell the venue that it may not be a good idea to host this kind of gigs at that time of the day... some venue managers don't seem to be very much in tune. Others think that hiring the cheapest 4 guys with guitars will be a hit, and get surprised when the audience doesn't really get into the music they're murdering...