Bumped out for a dj
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4_the_pocket
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DirtySanchez
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Steve- It's hard to detect in text, but my point was: A dj will rarely ever have to play to an empty house, cuz they always draw a crowd.
I agree with everything you've said in this thread.
I agree with everything you've said in this thread.
"You are now either a clueless inbred brownshirt Teabagger, or a babykilling hippie Marxist on welfare."-Songsmith
There are a lot of factors to these issues. I think some of it's generational.
Kids nowadays don't really SEE bands, or engross themselves in them as much
(Metal and some punk bands may be an exception, but most places don't have
"metal" or purely punk bands, and if they did, they'd probably lose regulars/people
a bit "older", at least for that night. Part of that is the homogenization of radio,
MTV/VH1 between useless, etc.
Also, as has been mentioned somewhere in here, it's pretty rare, outside of
a vacation spot or a city, to have to pay a cover to get in where there's a dj.
For whatever reason, a lot of bar owners don't see a correlation.
Lisa,
Not long ago you mentioned a bunch of people not coming in because there was
a cover. If there wasn't, would have had many more people and what they would
have bought would've covered what was lost in the lack of the cover.
BTW, not putting you in the previous category. Was just a convenient real-life
episode that made the point.
That 3.00 cover could easily become 3/4 of a shot for the person once they're
in the door.
Also, many bar owners seem to act differently towards bands. A dj has a slow
night, the bar owner seems to pay them with no question. It's seen as their
business. A band has a slow night, somehow they've not delivered. It's the idea
that we all must just do this as a nice little hobby and shouldn't be concerned with
getting paid (I've had bar owners relate this thought) but should have 200 people
that follow us everywhere, every single night, no matter what.
Some bar owners also have the idea that if they have the same bands (That bring
people) all the time, they'll always have the same number of people out. Nice as it
may seem, outside of State, this isn't the case, certainly not longterm. Might work
that way for a couple of months, but at some point some of those people are going
to decide to go elsewhere...then more...then the numbers go down and less people
show up because...well...not so many people there.
Losing those people then getting them back once they've found a new spot, even
if temporary, not so easy.
People are also less apt to give bands with whom they're not familiar a chance
than they used to be. We played someplace none of us had ever stepped foot
in recently (We do that a lot). Had an okay number, especially for never having
been there. The people there really liked us, the staff and owner did as well. All
said the same thing "People didn't come out because they don't know who you are".
On the UPSIDE they all said they'd tell everyone about us for the next time we're
there. Just a part of it you accept nowadays if you like to play different places.
From the band-side, I know people who don't go see bands because "they all play
the same songs" a/o "It's the exact same songs bands were doing 20 years ago".
While that's not always the case (Lotta times it is). PROBLEM, of course, is that
a lot of times, people who catch bands yammer for the exact same songs! SO,
you pick your poison (Not "Poison") and hope that you find people who like what
you do and they start coming out when you're around.
What's it all mean...? I dunno. Just do what you like and handle your situation as
you see fit. HOPEFULLY, it works out for you, and all o' us. Just don't expect
anything to fall into your lap...or...if it does...it won't be what you want to fall there...
Break's over. Back to work.
Kids nowadays don't really SEE bands, or engross themselves in them as much
(Metal and some punk bands may be an exception, but most places don't have
"metal" or purely punk bands, and if they did, they'd probably lose regulars/people
a bit "older", at least for that night. Part of that is the homogenization of radio,
MTV/VH1 between useless, etc.
Also, as has been mentioned somewhere in here, it's pretty rare, outside of
a vacation spot or a city, to have to pay a cover to get in where there's a dj.
For whatever reason, a lot of bar owners don't see a correlation.
Lisa,
Not long ago you mentioned a bunch of people not coming in because there was
a cover. If there wasn't, would have had many more people and what they would
have bought would've covered what was lost in the lack of the cover.
BTW, not putting you in the previous category. Was just a convenient real-life
episode that made the point.
That 3.00 cover could easily become 3/4 of a shot for the person once they're
in the door.
Also, many bar owners seem to act differently towards bands. A dj has a slow
night, the bar owner seems to pay them with no question. It's seen as their
business. A band has a slow night, somehow they've not delivered. It's the idea
that we all must just do this as a nice little hobby and shouldn't be concerned with
getting paid (I've had bar owners relate this thought) but should have 200 people
that follow us everywhere, every single night, no matter what.
Some bar owners also have the idea that if they have the same bands (That bring
people) all the time, they'll always have the same number of people out. Nice as it
may seem, outside of State, this isn't the case, certainly not longterm. Might work
that way for a couple of months, but at some point some of those people are going
to decide to go elsewhere...then more...then the numbers go down and less people
show up because...well...not so many people there.
Losing those people then getting them back once they've found a new spot, even
if temporary, not so easy.
People are also less apt to give bands with whom they're not familiar a chance
than they used to be. We played someplace none of us had ever stepped foot
in recently (We do that a lot). Had an okay number, especially for never having
been there. The people there really liked us, the staff and owner did as well. All
said the same thing "People didn't come out because they don't know who you are".
On the UPSIDE they all said they'd tell everyone about us for the next time we're
there. Just a part of it you accept nowadays if you like to play different places.
From the band-side, I know people who don't go see bands because "they all play
the same songs" a/o "It's the exact same songs bands were doing 20 years ago".
While that's not always the case (Lotta times it is). PROBLEM, of course, is that
a lot of times, people who catch bands yammer for the exact same songs! SO,
you pick your poison (Not "Poison") and hope that you find people who like what
you do and they start coming out when you're around.
What's it all mean...? I dunno. Just do what you like and handle your situation as
you see fit. HOPEFULLY, it works out for you, and all o' us. Just don't expect
anything to fall into your lap...or...if it does...it won't be what you want to fall there...
Break's over. Back to work.
DaveP.
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
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JackANSI
- Diamond Member
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- Location: Workin' in a Soylent factory, Waitin' for the Malthusian catastrophe.
I kinda don't get the cover charge concept sometimes, unless the band is taking the door.
I know a savy bar owner could make more on drinks than any cover charge. Most people I know assume its the bar taking the cover anyway, not the band.
I'm certain a targeted ad campaign on radio and billboard, no cover charge, and daily entertainment thurs-sat would have people lining up. But you'd have to really push that "no cover ever" aspect and include DJ's in your line-up.
If your significant others are blunt with you, they will tell you that 60% or more of the songs they come out and hear you play are getting old to them.
DJ's and bands are in a symbiotic relationship because variety is the spice of life. Neither one will ever push the other out entirely, eventually people will get tired of the same old 'thump thump thump' and want to do something different.
I know a savy bar owner could make more on drinks than any cover charge. Most people I know assume its the bar taking the cover anyway, not the band.
I'm certain a targeted ad campaign on radio and billboard, no cover charge, and daily entertainment thurs-sat would have people lining up. But you'd have to really push that "no cover ever" aspect and include DJ's in your line-up.
If your significant others are blunt with you, they will tell you that 60% or more of the songs they come out and hear you play are getting old to them.
DJ's and bands are in a symbiotic relationship because variety is the spice of life. Neither one will ever push the other out entirely, eventually people will get tired of the same old 'thump thump thump' and want to do something different.
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Plastered Bastards
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We have played shows with a DJ.
Plus it wasn't a typical DJ,this DJ spun Metal and Punk tunes.
Plus it wasn't a typical DJ,this DJ spun Metal and Punk tunes.
Disclaimer: Most of the human race are extremely stupid and that's a fact!!!!!!
www.myspace.com/drunkbastards
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Exactly. A 3.00 cover is, what, 2 beers? That people can come in forJackANSI wrote:I know a savy bar owner could make more on drinks than any cover charge.
nothing, have a beer or two and check things out then decide if they
want to stay or not, seems a no-brainer.
Lot better than losing those people who might come in meaning to stay
for one or two, liking things and staying all night, if not for having to pay
a cover in the first place.
Even if it's a troupe doing a "bar tour"-type thing, they're more likely to
stip in for a bit and have a couple than have a mass of them willing to pay
a cover for some place they have no intention of staying.
Like Rob said, make a big deal out of there not being a cover, advertise,
do a good rotation of events, be consistent, etc.
And yes, the 4/"Dollar" sign on my keyboard stopped working.
DaveP.
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
J.P. is exactly right thats way band like Vs. the Earth pack clubs ... They play very very upbeat music and when I was doing it I would fight a band to work for a $100 and the door plus free beer for the 4 or 5 band members and there door man ... a DJ got $50 and no cover .
EYE ROCK FOR LEAH APRIL 30th AT 30 SOMETHING ...