How to turn off a possible venue...

no surrender · Post by **no surrender** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:57 pm

ToonaRockGuy wrote:
no surrender wrote:what's the take for a local band on an avg night?
There is no "Average", NS. It all depends on the band, the band's expenses (for lights, sound, security, bar tab), the venue, the bar owner, and the crowd.

security? bar tab? lol

what is a good take home?

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:28 pm

no surrender wrote:what is a good take home?

16 million, gazillion, bubillion dolllars ...

r:>)

nightcrawler_steve · Post by **nightcrawler_steve** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:03 pm

no surrender wrote:
ToonaRockGuy wrote:
no surrender wrote:what's the take for a local band on an avg night?
There is no "Average", NS. It all depends on the band, the band's expenses (for lights, sound, security, bar tab), the venue, the bar owner, and the crowd.
security? bar tab? lol

what is a good take home?

Nunya damn bizniss!

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:27 pm

It's never a good idea to reveal money amounts on the Internet, beyond being crass. I can tell you that the average band's pay is largely the same as it was 15 or even 20 years ago. Even those rare bands who make good coin pay much of it out in production costs, so all our paychecks are close... you make a living at it one way: playing a LOT.------>JMS

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:38 pm

YankeeRose wrote:You're more than a bit of an ass at times, but you fully realize that don't you?

If being an ass means bluntly telling anybody the way things really are instead of laying down and agreeing with fantasy, whiney, artsy fartsy little bullshit, then I plead guilty. Sometimes a dose of reality is a good thing for people who are engaged in fantasy much of the time.

You will not find any of my posts where I call Rockpage members names except when joking with Cowboys fans. That being the case, if I am more than a bit of an ass, what does your action make you?

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:49 pm

lonewolf wrote:
If being an ass means bluntly telling anybody the way things really are instead of laying down and agreeing with fantasy, whiney, artsy fartsy little bullshit, then I plead guilty.

I guess that I'm an ass too, then.

YankeeRose · Post by **YankeeRose** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:03 pm

lonewolf wrote:
YankeeRose wrote:You're more than a bit of an ass at times, but you fully realize that don't you?

If being an ass means bluntly telling anybody the way things really are instead of laying down and agreeing with fantasy, whiney, artsy fartsy little bullshit, then I plead guilty. Sometimes a dose of reality is a good thing for people who are engaged in fantasy much of the time.

You will not find any of my posts where I call Rockpage members names except when joking with Cowboys fans. That being the case, if I am more than a bit of an ass, what does your action make you?

I said jokingly that you were "more than a bit of an ass AT TIMES", not all the time. I find that supercilious people like you are very cunning and careful at never directly saying what they think, but it all comes through in the end, loud and clear. I on the other hand don't suffer from that problem, or fools lightly. So, you think only you know reality and I live in a fantasy world, I'm artsy, fartsy, and whiney? That's a GOOD one!

MY reality is hardly a fantasy and you are the "Artsy" Musician!

I suppose concerning persons who interact with me like you do and Trolls, yeah, I'll agree that I'm a tad fartsy and whiney "at times". I'm glad that you agreed you ARE more than a bit of an ass. Thanks!

Edit: bassist_25, sorry you do not qualify for assdom.

Jerry C · Post by **Jerry C** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:27 pm

A cover charge shouldn't even be an issue. An owner that books a quality band shouldn't have a problem with a small cover. It's a shame that it happens. People need to realize these owners are trying to have a nice event so that people can have a good time, and their club or bar can make a few bucks. No one gets rich over it. You can't lose money and stay in business.
Support these clubs that go out on a limb to bring in live music. Imagine what it would be like if they stop!
You have a great place Lisa. Good luck with it.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:30 pm

Hey thanks Jerry...you guys are great...and man, let me tell you. Everyone and I mean everyone that went in and heard you had nothing but good things to say...usually we get at least one complainer in the house...but none this time! You guys are some of the best.

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:33 pm

Jerry C wrote:You have a great place Lisa. Good luck with it.

What's the venue?

r:>)

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:36 pm

We have The Alley Popper in Houtzdale PA. For smaller bands, we use our downstairs bar, The Train Station and for the bigger bands we use our huge banquet room upstairs. Lots of dance space.

I love having bands and supporting the bands in the area. But I truly don't know how to get our locals willing to pay cover to help pay for the bands.

Jerry C · Post by **Jerry C** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:04 pm

BadDazeRob wrote;
What's the venue?

It's the Alley Popper in Houtzdale. Nice place...good people.

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:08 pm

EDIT: I like beans ...

r:>)

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:12 pm

Lisa wrote:I love having bands and supporting the bands in the area. But I truly don't know how to get our locals willing to pay cover to help pay for the bands.

Geez, if you are only charging $2 cover, that should be enough, assuming that the bands are appropriate for your clientele.

The only thing I can think of is to maximize your advertising. You may want to try radio for awhile or something else to get the word out.

It sounds like a really nice place. If it was closer to where I live, you'd probably have to put up with me a lot.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:35 pm

BadDazeRob wrote: Cool, I'd be interested to talk with you. If you could and would be interested, PM me with a mailing address and I'll send you a promo vid and a CD ...

r:>)

Or I could just drop it off, seeing as I live five miles from the Popper.

I had a girlfriend that use to work there too.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:40 pm

I always happily pay the cover, whatever it is. Usually multi-band shows have a bigger cover, but it's worth it. People around here should go to Pitts. or Philly, or a jazz club where it's a $10 cover and a two drink minimum ($5 drinks, too!).
Understand, I don't really go out just to have a beer or even barhop, so when I go somewhere, I'm generally staying awhile. I figure it like this: If you can't afford bait, you shouldn't be fishin'!
I also had an experience where I tried to do business on a Friday night and the busy clubowner got really mad, so I don't do business on band nights... and while I socialize at other bands shows, if it's a hot band, I pay very close attention to the entertainment, both to enjoy it and to learn from them. I steal from every band I've ever seen!
I think I paid $5 apiece for Crystal and I at the Scream show last week, but it was to see my good friends, and back in the day, when I was a broke-ass 21-year-old metalhead, they got me in for free, and people bought me drinks... I usually even got some lovin' from the un-Bashful female fanbase (hey, it was Hill Valley Hotel, you had to be there). It's worth far more to me now to pay the cover.--------->JMS

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:42 pm

Whoa, Paul, you had a girlfriend?

------>JMS

burdman · Post by **burdman** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:02 pm

It always pisses me off that somebody wont pay a cover to hear live music, but they will throw that 2 to 5 bucks in the juke box and not worry about it.

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:06 pm

Just a heads up at the RP4 jam, everyone pays cover just like every year, except for the performing bands. Ill be on the door, i hope a musician gives me sh!t about it.
Jim Price will be announcing the surprise benefit person.

Oh and Lisa, get ahold of me again. The Hurricanes are still intrested in playing your club. We will drop our price too since you are having trouble getting peeps in. Anything to help get a club rolling.

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:41 pm

Hurricane wrote:.We will drop our price too since you are having trouble getting peeps in. Anything to help get a club rolling.

EDIT: I Like beans.

r:>)

YankeeRose · Post by **YankeeRose** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:53 pm

Lisa, exactly what IS an "Alley Popper"?

My kids have attended birthday parties, but I've never been there.

Sorry, I'm simply so used to getting out of Clearfield County! As I said, I'll make a point of going there, now.

Even if I'd known you were right down the road a few miles, if I'd gone Saturday, I couldn't have danced, my feet hadn't recovered from the night before.

I second what lonewolf said, advertise the upcoming Bands and even advertise the cover, that way it's no surprise...say in the Ad Bargain or the Philipsburg Paper that comes free in the mail up here. They're the 2 most cost effective choices that come to my mind. Best wishes and good luck!

Post by **Jim Price** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:30 pm

YankeeRose, I think "Alley Popper" is actually an old railroad reference, stemming from the early 1900's when the Bell's Gap Railroad used to operate up through that area. I have to check some of my railroad reference books at home, but I think that is where the Alley Popper got its name.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:11 pm

Wow, you amaze me...yes, The Alley Popper gets its name for the old railroad line. The previous owners had it as The Alley Popper and since we like railroads, we decided to keep it the same. Our hopes is to eventually use it in the decor as well.

We do advertise. We found that the free paper that goes to the mailboxes (The Philipsburg Journal) was a waste of advertising. But we do use the Ad Bargain. Everyone tells us that they look there. We tried advertising on the Buzz's Bar Buzz but felt it got us nowhere as they tend to cut out most of the information we sent so they had time for the State College bars.

Here is our latest ad:

Any feedback on it would be appreciated...I want to figure out how to do this stuff right. I figured I should go to those that have been doing it longer than I have been.

YankeeRose · Post by **YankeeRose** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:32 pm

Thanks JP and Lisa, but is "Alley Popper" slang for a train or a whistle or something? I'd never heard the word alley used in conjunction with other than bowling or a street before.

That's a shame the P-burg Journal brought you no results, due to the fact it's delivered in the mail. I know many do even if they're not looking for anything in particular, but I haven't picked up an Ad Bargain since I bought my pos car back in July. Their Entertainment Section IS much larger. I know Electric Avenue advertises in there and on Q-94. I'm fairly certain they also let it be known if there's a cover or not. Many a Saturday night their front parking lot is full. Maybe for the areas you are trying to draw in, Q-94 might be a better choice than the Buzz.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:38 pm

YankeeRose wrote:Thanks JP and Lisa, but is "Alley Popper" slang for a train or a whistle or something? I'd never heard the word alley used in conjunction with other than bowling or a street before.

That's a shame the P-burg Journal brought you no results, due to the fact it's delivered in the mail. I know many do even if they're not looking for anything in particular, but I haven't picked up an Ad Bargain since I bought my pos car back in July. Their Entertainment Section IS much larger. I know Electric Avenue advertises in there and on Q-94. Many a Saturday night their front parking lot is full. Maybe for the areas you are trying to draw in, they might be a better choice than the Buzz?

The Alley Popper name was given to the railroad line itself because that is what it did...It popped in and out of small alleys to allow businesses to get and ship materials needed.

Electric's parking lot hasn't been so full lately either. But then yet, I've heard that a lot of bands don't want to play there any more...don't know. Radio is expensive and frankly, we can't afford to do it right now. I know...it takes money to make money. But you have to have it to spend and we have been putting a lot of money into entertainment with no one showing up for it. I may put a call into Q-94 though and get some prices and information to present to the owners.

I do appreciate the input folks.