No More Pubs Gigs

[Mr. Nightime]

We play mostly at restaurants, and a couple times a month at the local Harley Davidson dealers, one 5 miles from my house, the other about 50. Next Saturday we go to the 50 mile away Harley Davidson dealer, play for 3 hours, finish up there, tear down, drive about 15 miles, set back up at a biker oriented American Legion, and play for 4 hours. $100 each man, each gig. I don't mind driving that distance for $200

Yeah, we've got a few military biker charities locked in too, probably do about 3-4 a year. Always Sunday afternoon so it never conflicts with anything. They're not hard (lots of breaks for raffles) and they're easy to squeeze in. But I'll admit, as a full-time keyboardist I always feel like dead-weight at those events, they're not really much of a keyboard crowd. I've often though it would be best if I bail on those gigs so my mates can make a little more scratch and just hit the guitar rock.

 

This particular American Legion has events like this all the time. It's an outdoor stage with a covering, plenty of space on stage, plenty of power to the stage, easy load in/out, and an appreciative audience. In fact, they recently replaced the stage with a bigger better stage as part of the outdoor deck renovations. Great place to play.

 

Plus, they'll have a BBQ going, and the band gets a really good meal.

 

 

[Ken Beaumont]

Around Hampton Roads VA if on the front of the building has a US Flag or picture of drafting tools, an animal with hooves, antlers or talons, I have played there.

[synthizen2]

Both bands I play in use pub gigs as "paid rehearsals" early in the season, before the Summer festivals and fairs kick in. We rehearse our new tunes during the Winter months, then test them out at pubs and bars... then have them perfected for the Summer touring season.

[WesG]

Toano88, what was the audience like at the Post Office?

[J. Dan]

It's always interesting to me when these discussions come up because the scenes are so different by world area, city population density, geography, local culture, etc.

 

Even just the term "pub gigs" can mean wildly different things depending on where you are. I have not been to the UK but I have to guess that the pubs probably tend to be smaller in capacity just due to space restrictions than what I'm used to in the Midwest US of what we would consider "bars" or even restaurant-bars with live music in the evenings. That makes a big difference.

 

Traffic and geography are big as well. For me, a 2hr drive would be an "out of town" gig 130 miles away. For somebody in the LA area, that might be 20 miles.

 

Then there are the regional things....around here, we have Lake of the Ozarks in the middle of the state and lots of people have lake houses and spend their weekends all summer at "the lake". That means bars are basically dead all summer, but there are all of the festivals and summer concerts. So it's lake gigs, winery gigs, and summer concerts spring through fall, with a few bar gigs to fill it out. Bars are SLAMMED Halloween through New Years. Probably the slowest for the bars is just after New years til St. Pats, with a slight uptick for Mardi Gras.

 

Casinos are good year round as are corporate/private.

[Bill H.]

Even just the term "pub gigs" can mean wildly different things depending on where you are.

 

Yeah Dan the first thing that came to my mind were the numerous specialty brew pubs and microbreweries that dot the PNW. These pubs cater to the non-Bud, Coors Light, and Fireball crowd, and draw customers who are generally older and more laid back than those who frequent full bars.

 

When musicians say "no more pub gigs" around here, it's usually because they're a snooze and pay poorly.

[J. Dan]

Surprisingly enough, even here, in the back yard of Anheuser Busch headquarters, the brew pubs have exploded. The In-Bev deal didn't hurt. But I travel a lot and have seen this phenomenon across the country. My experience is that these are usually solo/duo type gigs. I can only think of 3 microbrews with full sized bands - Boulevard in KC, Kirkwood Brewing in St. Louis (that just closed its doors a month ago), and Oscar Blues in Longmont, CO. But there are so many that I'm sure there are plenty more.

[Ken Beaumont]

Toano88, what was the audience like at the Post Office?

Our Post Office has the flag on a pole near, but not on the building What I meant by the flag was the Order of Police, volunteer Fire departments, American Legion, VFW & Enlisted clubs etc, We have been playing these and fraternal organizations almost exclusively for the last 15 years.

 

 

[CowboyNQ]

It's always interesting to me when these discussions come up because the scenes are so different by world area, city population density, geography, local culture, etc.

 

Even just the term "pub gigs" can mean wildly different things depending on where you are.

This is all true, Dan. It can also differ simply depending on the "pub".

 

Within my home town, a "pub" can range between a small venue that jams a couple of musicians or one bloke with a guitar and a mic in the corner, or a large establishment that has a room specifically set up for bands to play in. Obviously the latter is greatly preferred by us musicians!

 

But the reality where I live is that most pubs eschew the dark arts of hosting live music for the far more reliable and hassle-free income stream of poker machines.

[Quai34]

Here in winnipeg we say bars/legions....they are the same, low pay, 50$ per person at the best, 5$ charge at door mainly, so, we don't do that anymore, I did that for two years, the pay was correct 200$ per person but just because the BL was bringing all his friends from the Halrley Davidson club....but it was 5/6 per year max and he wanted to learn new songs all the time, with more and more songs heavily guitar driven so all quit at the same time, said "we need a break"....

 

[MotiDave]

Surprisingly enough, even here, in the back yard of Anheuser Busch headquarters, the brew pubs have exploded. The In-Bev deal didn't hurt. But I travel a lot and have seen this phenomenon across the country. My experience is that these are usually solo/duo type gigs. I can only think of 3 microbrews with full sized bands - Boulevard in KC, Kirkwood Brewing in St. Louis (that just closed its doors a month ago), and Oscar Blues in Longmont, CO. But there are so many that I'm sure there are plenty more.

Here in north San Diego county, i would bet there are 20 microbrews writhin 5 miles of my house. None of them have significant bands of any sort. They would either have a duo type corner set or a crappy garage caliber band of old guys that know the owner/brewer and play oldies rock. Not the scene for a bubbling gig at all. In general the live scene here is pretty shitty for old rockers like me - there are a couple venues that cater to my types of music, the pay is crap but the crowds are great. Then theres the HOB shows where we play for almost free. They give us a huge stack of tickets to give away in hopes people go in and buy drinks. I dont really frequent the top 40 / current venue, i have no idea if its a better scene for the next gen of kids coming up. I suspect not so much but who knows.

 

But the micro brews, not the gigging option around here.

[dvalley]

I quit playing bars years ago. WhenI hit 50 I just got tired of lugging equipment, driving and the overall atmosphere. I only work in my home studio, play events, or in church now when I play "out".

[DanS]

Now join a good tribute, put some work into quality sound and parts, and get paid!! (oh, and it doesn't suck that you're home by 11:30!)

 

This. Earlier evenings, real money that finances other GAS purchases.

Ween ween!

[Bill H.]

Here in north San Diego county, i would bet there are 20 microbrews writhin 5 miles of my house.

 

There are seven within walking distance of each other that flank the waterfront just below where I live. They do ok during sternwheeler season (which is just starting up) - not so well when they have to rely on just the locals.

 

Most have an impressive line of taps of stuff you've never heard of, but you can't scarf up a Bud or Coors to save your life. And don't even think about asking for a mixed drink...

 

As a DJ I'm involved with the only real bar left locally that stays open late, and it is absolutely packed - even on Thursdays when I run a karaoke show. It is not trendy or cool, but it's simply the most popular nightspot in town.

 

I have my ears open, and I know several of these brewpubs are losing money. I just don't get why they do things the way they do

[Threadslayer]

Here in north San Diego county, i would bet there are 20 microbrews writhin 5 miles of my house.

 

There are seven within walking distance of each other that flank the waterfront just below where I live. They do ok during sternwheeler season (which is just starting up) - not so well when they have to rely on just the locals.

 

Most have an impressive line of taps of stuff you've never heard of, but you can't scarf up a Bud or Coors to save your life. And don't even think about asking for a mixed drink...

 

As a DJ I'm involved with the only real bar left locally that stays open late, and it is absolutely packed - even on Thursdays when I run a karaoke show. It is not trendy or cool, but it's simply the most popular nightspot in town.

 

I have my ears open, and I know several of these brewpubs are losing money. I just don't get why they do things the way they do

There are currently 7 within a 5 minute walk from my office. What could possibly go wrong?

[area51recording]

The brew pub phenomenon is interesting. They are popping up like mushrooms in my little corner of the world in the last couple of years....

[Ken Beaumont]

Same here, but I think the area is getting saturated with them. A couple have already failed. The ones that serve good food and offer mixed drinks too will probably be around awhile. As will the early ones especially the ones selling their beers on tap and bottled outside of their brewery pub will probably last. But some of these I can't imagine them making it. Too much competition. Just because you sell a beer with a high alcohol content doesn't make it good. Some of these IPA beers and dark mud beers are just plain awful tasting.

 

[Bill H.]

There are currently 7 within a 5 minute walk from my office. What could possibly go wrong?

 

In my area, three brewpubs have already made modifications that will somewhat accommodate a broader drinking public, and in an attempt to stay open one will soon turn completely to the Dark Side (a full service bar).

 

There's still too many of them, and the shakedown is gonna get ugly.

 

 

[Bob L]

My duo act is booked at a newly opened Brew Pub in Morgan Hill CA where I live. I may get my cover band a gig there on Saturdays if I can. Hours are good and no commute/drive. So funny how the definition of "pub gig" can vary. The bar we play every other month is hard core 9:30 PM to 1:30 AM and I am dragging my a$$ the day after those gigs!

[El Lobo]

Just because you sell a beer with a high alcohol content doesn't make it good. Some of these IPA beers and dark mud beers are just plain awful tasting.

Agree dat. The ex-front man in my band used to complain every time we played a brewpub. He drank Heineken and that's all he wanted. He said they already know how to make good beer and they sell it everywhere except in a brewpub where you have to drink beer you don't like because there is no other choice.

[Bill H.]

Yeah of the brewpubs I've mentioned, most run live music of some sort - but it's usually of the "music to contemplate the complex flavors of your brew" type (quiet singles and duos).

 

One has a full stage and features bands, but the owner has a nasty habit of not fully paying his entertainment if they don't draw. Bands go in there anyway - it's one of the few places they can play. Understandably most pros won't.

[J. Dan]

Funny OT story regarding "bar" vs "pub"

 

Many years ago I went to Italy with my girlfriend at the time (who would later become my ex-wife). Our first night in Rome we decided to go walking around and find a bar to grab some beers. We get to an intersection and asked somebody on the corner where we could find a bar. He looked at us funny and said there's one right there, and right over there, and across the street....pointing to all of the Gelato stands around. I didn't speak much Italian, so I said "una birra". He said "OH, a pub! Head about 0.5km that way and there's one on the right". So I headed that way trying to figure out how far half a km is. It was a nice little local pub - nobody spoke English but the beers were all on display so I just pointed to what we wanted. At the time they were still on Lire. They were starting to show Euros on the receipts at the time to get people used to it, but the currency was still lira, so the conversion was not something easy to do on the fly, and my Italian was good enough to maybe count to 100, but when they come back with something like "that'll be 34,267 Lire, except in Italian", I'd pretty much just hold my money in the palms of my hands and let them pick out the right amount. They could have been robbing me blind and I'd have no idea.

[The Real MC]

Ten years ago I started wondering if I was getting too old for gigging. Today I'm 56, and still strong as an ox and fit as a fiddle. I'm in a very good band now and really enjoying the gigs, and this may be my last gigging band. I'll probably hang it up out of boredom before my health gives in. 30+ years is a long time to be gigging.

[Mr. Nightime]

Ten years ago I started wondering if I was getting too old for gigging. Today I'm 56, and still strong as an ox and fit as a fiddle. I'm in a very good band now and really enjoying the gigs, and this may be my last gigging band. I'll probably hang it up out of boredom before my health gives in. 30+ years is a long time to be gigging.

 

I'm 62, been gigging for 41 years. As long as I'm enjoying myself, I'll keep going.

[El Lobo]

I'm 62, been gigging for 41 years. As long as I'm enjoying myself, I'll keep going.

I'm 73 and been gigging, off and on, since I was 17. I still enjoy it and I'm grateful that I'm still able to do it. I know many good musos who no longer can. Some of them can't because they're dead. As long as I'm physically able, I hope I get to keep gigging. And I hope I'm physically able for a while longer ... although it gets a little harder every time. It's a drug and I'm an addict.

[apple]

I'm also 62 and playing 100 gigs a year currently. Have played 3,553 gigs since 1973 which includes 6 different years under 10 shows each. Actually have it all on a spreadsheet! Looking at it from a money perspective it's largely laughable but if the alternative was a primarily different straight laced career making much more money but a very changed person..no way would I choose that.

[MikeT156]

I gave up bar gigs decades ago. Too much hassle, loading in and out got old, customers are drinking and when they come up to request a song, sometimes I had to TAKE THEIR DRINK AWAY FROM HIM before he destroyed my synth and/or piano. A few times a customer got pissed off, but too bad. I got tired of standing guard over my equipment, not making enough money, so I called it a career.

 

As a solo I shifted gears, got an Agent, took less gigs, but gigs I wanted to play, wasn't too far away, and paid a half decent $$$. Otherwise, I left my equipment in the music room where it is safe. Obviously, I was not playing full time for a living as the years started to pile up.

 

Where I live, there are DJ's, solo and duos playing for the door. No thanks. Karaoke died, thank God for that.

 

 

 

Mike T.

[area51recording]

Actually the bar thing takes up less and less of my gig time the last few years (I'll be 62 next month) as it seems too many places around here want to pay bands a percentage, hence no guaranteed $$$.....on the brew pub thing, looks like I picked the wrong year to go back on Atkins.....

[synthizen2]

Speaking of brew pubs and micro-breweries (OT regarding the music aspect)... the company I work for sells Beer Chillers and Tanks to new businesses all over the country, on an almost daily basis.

 

I don't know for sure about RUNNING one of these establishments... but SELLING them the equipment is currently a pretty lucrative business.

 

Here's a pic showing some of our stock...

 

http://glenstegner.com/stuff/DSCN2405.JPG

[Threadslayer]

Do you have any openings for field application engineers?