Getting tougher out there..

[theplumber]

Played one of the last,for me,gigs with my current band in Paisley last night. At the end of the gig when getting paid I had a word with the owner about gigs going forward as this was the last one that the band had in the diary. She told me due to the Fridays falling away,bands letting her down,bands asking too much money(whatever that was...wasn't us!) and a few other factors that the pub would only be putting on 52 live band gigs next year. She said she had been run off her feet recently and had not started booking for next year but would be offering us 2 gigs. She said there was so many bands chasing gigs in her pub.Not what we wanted to hear though she did chuck in that the band could do any of the 4 charity gigs that the pub puts on. The bands get a very small fee for playing and you usually get an hour slot . Played it a couple of times and its not worth the bother due to change overs.etc. She wasn't too happy when she found out that the band lineup was changing as me and the drummer are both leaving at the same time. I explained that the band have just about sorted out replacements which will be as good,if not better than us but she moaned a bit and stated she would have to see videos before she books the band again...fair enough I suppose. A few bar folk have told me this kind of thing has happened and the ''new'' band turns out crap. She then went on to say she though we were not loud enough today and she could only hear one singer! When the singer and keyboard guy came and joined the conversation she did not actually know which one was the singer! When I explained that there is 4 of us singing in the band as we do harmonies she said again...so who is the singer then?  Anyway it won't be a worry for me in that band but will have a knock on affect if and when I do join another band. Though after all the ups and downs gig wise recently I am having thoughts of just playing along to records and staying in on a weekend! But this is the second time in a few weeks we have heard the same thing from one of our venues. Another city centre one offered 3 bookings for next year. Again that's down to them and I know some bands will get more depending on how many punters come out to see them.

Edited October 13 by theplumber

[Jack]

It's weird at the moment. I certainly feel as though it's getting harder and harder in pub gig world, more bands playing in fewer places, and the places that are still going are barely holding on. I've definitely done plenty of gigs recently where I've thought that we won't have brought our fee back into the pub in terms of extra drinks sold.

 

On the other hand it seems as though function work is getting more lucrative and there are more opportunities. Every wedding is a debt-inducing 3 day affair at a luxurious country house, every awards ceremony needs to have the dancefloor and every office party has a band before the DJ. 

[odysseus]

There are fewer and fewer venues down my way as time goes on. As it is a popular holiday area, a lot of pubs find that they can make more money by putting a couple of extra dining tables where the bands used to play, rather than paying a band. The holiday makers will turn up, eat, drink and spend money regardless of whether there's a band on or not, it would seem. 

[jezzaboy]

One of the "problems" with the pub @theplumber has described above is they have decided to change a lot of the bands, the punters are not to happy about this and are drifting to other places in the town. I have played the place many times over the years and we are the first victims of the Friday cancelations. 

 

Also they are putting on special events and charging between £10 and £15 for tribute bands which has angered one of the towns larger venue`s who have decided to stick it to them as they are now in direct competition with them and are now booking some of the acts who used to play for her.

 

I don`t get where she is at with the asking for too much money as I think the most we ever got was £250 for a 5 piece and when we played the charity gigs there we always gave them the fee (usually £100) back and gave it to the charity. 

 

 

[ezbass]

Pub landlords/ladies are like farmers, they never say that business is good. TBF things might be tough, but never to the extent that they make out. The real problem is that when they start talking down the state of play, it almost becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. If people go to the venue because of the music, reducing it, or messing with a proven formula, will actually reduce their footfall. Venues have been getting away with murder when it comes to the band’s fee, it’s still the same today as it was 12+ years ago, but they’ll still claim it’s too expensive .

[KingPrawn]

I get so tired of venues trying to push down prices. I'm even more tired of bands accepting a lower fee. If you've put the graft in and consider yourself decent then don't compromise on price. It is a straightforward equation. Good band + good set = punters=Money changing hands. 

[theplumber]

2 hours ago, jezzaboy said:

One of the "problems" with the pub @theplumber has described above is they have decided to change a lot of the bands, the punters are not to happy about this and are drifting to other places in the town. I have played the place many times over the years and we are the first victims of the Friday cancelations. 

 

Also they are putting on special events and charging between £10 and £15 for tribute bands which has angered one of the towns larger venue`s who have decided to stick it to them as they are now in direct competition with them and are now booking some of the acts who used to play for her.

 

I don`t get where she is at with the asking for too much money as I think the most we ever got was £250 for a 5 piece and when we played the charity gigs there we always gave them the fee (usually £100) back and gave it to the charity. 

 

 

 

[theplumber]

There is a change in that pub for sure and as I see it they are trying to bring in decent bands and acts and that's not bringing the takings in. There are other factors involved as we all know with the general downturn in pubs/live music. I can see why they may think the ''woman's night'' Thing might work better as they are hopefully prepared to pay for the turn whilst dragging some mates along for a night out! Well that's what happens with my wife and friends. They will be off at the drop of a hat to go and see some drag act,mind reader or Motown tribute and it comes at no cost to the pub. All they do is sell tickets and pay the agent for the acts! As for live bands in that venue. It's a smallish room and they have had run ins with the neighbours so the pub could well be fighting to stay alive! But no,Jerry..not good news for us folk in bands.,not good for Ruff Edge moving in to next year...unless you happen to be a cross dressing mind reader who can belt out a bit of The Four Tops whilst hypnotizing folk in to giving up smoking!

Edited October 13 by theplumber