What I Learned Working at Venues
When I was in college, I had several jobs. One was at a restaurant, one at the town’s best music venue, and I also gigged several nights a week. All at the same time. The experience taught me a lot about what goes through the minds of the owners, managers, and staff at different types of venues.
Know your venue.
Keep in mind that every venue views their live music differently.
Some places are straight up music venues and are looking for bands that will fill the room. That doesn’t mean they won’t support new or young acts, but those acts will get booked on slower nights and less than prime time slots. At these venues, don’t expect a built in audience. One thing I learned is that bands that played on Monday or Tuesday nights and brought in enough people that extra bartenders had to be called in, or better yet, the owner had to jump behind the bar, always got a better night for their next booking.
Other places have music to add to the atmosphere, either as background music or music in a side room so patrons have the option of hearing live music while they dine or have a drink. These venues are more likely to have a built in audience, and while you are enhancing the atmosphere, it’s important that you don’t sabotage it. The best way to keep these gigs is when the staff hears the customers positive feedback about the music.
If you’re playing at a restaurant, keep in mind that sometimes its a bad idea to bring a bunch of your friends to fill up tables around you if they’re not ordering much, or especially if they’re lousy tippers. That’s a good way to get the waiters or bartenders ticked off.
Working with owners/managers/bookers.
The best way to book any gig is to get to know the person who handles the schedule. Find out the times this person is generally available during the day. At restaurants, 2pm to 5pm is usually slow and the manager can give you a few minutes. At night clubs, find out if the manager comes in during the day, maybe around 1pm to do some book keeping, or if it’s best to stop by right when they open. Be present and persistent, but not annoyingly so.
Bartenders and other staff.
Similarly, respect the staff as they go about their job. Bartenders need an hour or two to set up before the night opens. Waiters have opening sidework before their shift begins. During this time, they’re not really making any money, they’re preparing to open shop. Many of my friends were kind of grumpy while setting up, and it was best to respect their space, allow them to do what they need to do, have a cigarette, and then they’ll chat with you (make sure you don’t interrupt that cigarette break). Being friendly goes a long way. For the night of your gig, you are sort of like a guest employee, not a guest of honor.
Remember where you are.
One thing that always bugged me was when local bands would use our stage to promote their gig down the street. Imagine if the sign outside the bar pitched the band playing tomorrow night instead of your show tonight.
Publicly thanking the venue and acknowledging the staff is a big plus. Good bartenders don’t take out their frustration of a slow night on the people that are present. That’s a great way to connect with people, and bands can learn a lot by adopting that attitude.
I’m with the band.
Most of the time, it’s not the band that causes the problem, it’s the boyfriend/girlfriend/manager/roadie that gets in everybody’s way. If there are people showing up with you for load in, everything here goes double. Make sure your entourage, if they are really necessary, is on their best behavior.
Put on a great show.
When all is said and done, the bands that put on the best show and play the best music are going to succeed. While most venues are ultimately looking at their bottom line and need to make a profit to stay in business, there are many owners, or bookers that will champion your band if you are simply really, really good. Prepare for every show like it’s the most important performance so that even if you’re playing to a near empty house, the people there will talk you up. If they believe you deserve a bigger audience, they will help make it happen.
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Great advice Cam.
10/16/2008
Sound advice… for novices AND VETERANS!
All the best,
Arnold Faber
1/8/2009
Sound advice, but nothing groundbreaking. I always find it sad that articles have to emphasize “don’t act like a douchebag.” When a band has to read an article on the Internet to remind them not to act like a jackass they’ve probably got bigger problems.
Thanks,
William
1/9/2009
I think needing speed bumps to remind ourselves not to run over kids in parking lots is pretty lame too, yet people still don’t know how to think beyond themselves, share the road, and drive with common sense.
I wish this sort of advice came naturally to most people I dealt with while I worked these jobs, but believe it or not, there are bands at all levels don’t know how to behave. Here’s to hoping some of the younger guys establish courteous habits early on and learn that it can help them beyond the green room.
1/9/2009
This is some fine advice for those of us who hope to have some gigs someday.
1/19/2009
Interessante Informationen.
3/3/2009
Excellent article, very true. As a session, freelance musician I get to see how various bands and their entourages handle bar owners, staff and patrons, and the variation is amazing. Some are excellent at it, others are really bad – to the point of being embarrasing from my perspective as a “fill-in”.
Keep up the good work!
Mark.
3/16/2009
This was pretty cool!
7/13/2010
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