From the infamous pub owner's letter:

"You might be surprised at how much competition you have. I get emails, voicemails, regular mail, fed-ex packages left for me, all with earnestly concocted press kits and demos and I ignore almost all of it."


Music is an extraordinarily attractive avocation, quite aside from the obviously irrational but ubiquitous dream of stardom. People who pump out septic tanks rarely expect to have a blast at work, get a blowjob in the parking lot, fill a stadium with adoring fans, buy a yacht big enough to ride a steeplechase on,  or leave their mark on their art.  So although they are not well paid, they are rarely expected to work for nothing, and they do not need to fear competition from other sewage suckers who will. The barman who wrote that letter is looking for someone to keep the drinks flowing, and he has a good point that high art and drunkenness do not make great companions. Bars and drunkenness are mutually reinforcing goals, and while drunks make a notoriously bad audience, they make wonderful customers. And there is perhaps an even better chance at the bj in the parking lot at a bar than at a concert hall. 

slartabartfast


From the infamous pub owner's letter:

"You might be surprised at how much competition you have. I get emails, voicemails, regular mail, fed-ex packages left for me, all with earnestly concocted press kits and demos and I ignore almost all of it."

Maybe he should take some time and listen to those demos he's received. There may very well be a reason why those bands are willing to play for free... 

jimusic


There's a very small number of people who actually know what real talent is and even less that can spot it when they see and/or hear it.

Unfortunately, the number of people who actually care about any talent whatsoever, is even smaller. 

Most now mistake popularity for talent.

If they like it, then they think it's good, [even though it doesn't actually have to be] - and they'll almost always insist that that person or band is 'very talented'.

And yet the rest of us sit at home, refusing to 'play for beer' after entering the business some 25-30 years ago. 

I like what Shaggy said: "If it were up to talent, real actual talent, most of us wouldn't be here. 

I also like that he included himself in that fray.

Talking about club/pub gigs we shouldn't make actual talent a crucial factor. The way I see it, in every city there are clubs which are profiled to hire performers of special interest, young rising stars, virtuosos, progressive, striking attitude etc. People go to those places to hear something particular. They pay attention to the performer and are ready to receive what is offered. They either like it or not.
If they can recognize true talent, they're happy to see one.
 
The other side is pubs/clubs where people go to meet eachother, drink, dance..  In those places they expect the band to be in their service. They expect to hear certain kind of songs performed in a certain way. They couldn't care less about the talent or ambitions of the performer, as long as they're happy with what they hear.
 
Anyway, "true talent" is a tricky concept when we talk about entertaining people. It's no use to be a virtuoso if you can't reach the audience, and it doesn't matter if they say you can't play, if your interpretations and character makes the crowd go crazy.
  

It's tough for people who've invested everything they had in their art to realize that, in the end, most people can't tell the difference. 

I do get both sides - my favorite musicians are totally average, sometimes way below average - I'd quote Ace Frehley as one of my favorite guitar players way before I mention someone like Christopher Parkening, even w/ my classical background and I'd sooner listen to Sonic Youth and Skinny Puppy than Charlie Parker even if I dig that stuff and played it all.

Which doesn't prevent me from being a total snob when it comes to genres I don't appreciate. Go Figure... 

About 15 years ago I was in a hippy jam band and we wanted to play out so I contacted a local club owner I knew and weaseled a gig with no demo stuff etc.

At the end of our debut night the club owner walks up beaming with happiness; "I sold out of Guinness and Harp... the rest of the kegs almost went dry"


All night long we had told our audience that we were thirsty and each time someone would volunteer to buy us a pitcher... which we promptly used to fill the glass of anyone who walked up to the stage and asked for a pour.

We ran em dry... and our audience didn't trash the rest rooms or the parking lot. Triple bonus!

We got to schedule the rest of our gigs at our pace and we were always welcome.

That band has been defunct for 10 years... but I get asked back when ever that club owner sees me.


That's how it's done.

;-)



best regards,
mike

precisely.

Pub owners look for repeat customers...we used to bring them repeat customers....

This letter is certainly making the rounds on the internet. 

regardless of what one's personal take on it is.... Mostly, it's spot on. 

If a club owner could make his money with no band (lower overhead cost) he would. The only reason they hire musicians is to bring in the paying customer. A band who attract a crowd who comes to "hear the music" and doesn't ring the cash register is a waste of money to that owner. It doesn't matter how good they are musically, or how sweet they sound, if they are not increasing the sales, they are not working for him. 

I've seen it personally. I was in a band that played lots of long, guitar jam songs, with tempo changes and time signature changes..... the time sig and temp change would clear the dance floor every time.  (Go listen to Saddle Tramp by Charlie Daniels... we had that song note for note.) we would play a club and the owner would pay us and basically tell us don't call me, I'll call you....  We did a lot of one shot gigs.... eventually you run out of clubs to call and play or find a few honky tonks where the pay is really low and the people are not there to dance or listen to music. 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqDDKul93B0  stay with it for the change.  We played a bunch of songs like that.... the band was good, but people couldn't dance to it. The band fell apart. 

On the other hand, I've been in bands that played what the people wanted to hear and dance to: Wipe Out, Swinging, Johnny B Good, .....all short 3 minute songs that the people knew..... all the songs you groan when someone asks to hear it.... but the smart bands play those songs ...as many times as requested. They keep the dance floor packed and hot and thirsty. 

Our house band had the same gig for 2 1/2 years. Same crowd mostly, same place, same owner, same bartenders, same packed house every weekend.  That was a good gig.  We mixed the old standards in with new country radio top 40 hits. Start fast, slow, fast, slow, end the set and show on a fast one. 

A simple formula really if the band is interested in checking their musical ego at the door.  Yes, maybe you can play the extended version of Yes's Long Distance Runaround note for note and better than YES can.... but can you play Wipe Out? 




ADD: playing  for free.... man I have played more free jobs than I can remember.  A "free gig" is never free.... it's actually putting you in the hole. You have expenses such as gas to get there, and gear that you own, borrow or rent for the gig, and your time from the moment you start loading up until you unpack back at home 6 hours or more later. 

The question here is .... Is it ultimately worth it to you to do the gig for free? While there is the bar owner's side of the equation, there is also your side. Are you going to gain anything from playing.... including the simple satisfaction of playing your music for a live audience?  If you can answer that question with honesty, and satisfaction as to why you are willing to play for free or very little compensation, then you will be comfortable playing for whatever the situation brings. 

What drives me nuts are the "two guys and a laptop" acts. Actually, it's usually a girl and a guy and a laptop. They've download MIDI files somebody else has programmed so they always have up-to-date material. Most of what you hear is pre-programmed and barely more interesting than a jukebox. But they always have a CD for sale. Makes you wonder who played on it.

As for free gigs, I've played many. These days I won't play for free but I'll play for amounts that might not even qualify as minimum wage when you consider time spent packing, travelling, setting up and tearing down. Always have a tip jar and CDs for sale. 

But I am philosophical about this. Historically, paying musicians is a fairly recent development. For centuries, musicians played for food and tips. The best ones got paid, not by the public but by a private benefactor who merely wanted to impress his noble friends that he could afford a musician. The era of well-paid musicians has only been around since about the 1970's.

This thread reminded me of this song..... the words ring true to this topic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1j-_fPGSdQ

A really, really good album, from back in the day. 

The Kiosk ProjectIt never ceases to amaze me how people never question the need to pay top dollar for any other trade or service that requires training and skill, and yet still undermines musicians in this way. I immediately pulled out my support, and I really hope other local artists do the same. There is a lot more I could say but I have still come home fuming from this one, and just wanted to vent my spleen here on the forum.

 
It's a tough area all around and I have to agree with you ... so the bar gets the profits from the drinks and what not and is taking advantage of the situation ... and th emusicians get a nickel! Food cost is about $2 per plate, and the drinks are about $.75 cents per, while pop is about $.30 cents per.
 
So what you are telling me is that you are giving 5 musicians 13 to 14 dollars and you are cashing in a lot more than 130/140 dollars take ... per hour ... (average labor cost for bar would be near 14/15%) ...
 
Do the math and post it ... and make sure the bands know about it ... that bar will find itself killed by its own folks!
 
Other side:
 
The moment that you think that we were being ripped off, I might be the oddball band in the corner that no one ever gives a damn ... and on that day, I get my chance ... and make it ... !!! ... and I would not give a damn if I got paid or not ... I did what I wanted to do and needed to do! And who are you to judge my "chance"?
 
On that day, I got a cheap meal and a coke ... and the next day sold 174 CD's ... you think I'm gonna complaint about that gig and that three dollars?
 
NEVER!
 
So it all depends on your station and walk of life? I like the idea of giving back to my own place, and location I cam from ... but being a bit stuck up on it .... could be an issue!
 
Do I want to get paid? Yes.
 
Do I need a house and a car like everyone else? Yes.
 
Am I just a jerk that thinks he deserves to get paid and others don't? No.
 
Am I just another musician that thinks he has already made it and wants to get paid all the time? Aren't we all?
 
Do I want to participate on something that is ... right ... and then complaint about the peanuts? Maybe ... and it might be a good cause ... !!!
 
Do I want to help a bar get more money, and not pay the bands, by getting around it with a joke like battle of the bands or what not? Maybe not!
 
NO TWO SITUATIONS ARE THE SAME. SOME ARE BAD. JUST AS MANY ARE GOOD! And one day, it is a very important moment ... and you weren't there!
 
Damned if you do and damned if you don't!
 
Choose wisely!