YESTERDAY'S PARTY EBENSBURG'S BIGGEST JOKE

[Banned]

VENUE NOTORIOUS FOR CANCELING SHOWS , WHAT A SHAME

[bassist_25]

That's why we don't play there anymore. We got sick of Frank calling three days before a date to throw us the nuts, despite the fact that we always drew well there. Rob got sick of moving around other dates at other venues just to accomocate him everytime he wanted to move us (which was about every other booking we had there). I don't expect people to kiss my ass, but I just never felt respected whenever we played that room (for the record, the staff was always awesome, though). It's a shame too, because it's a great venue, but you can only fuck people around so long. *shrugs* Oh well, I don't miss spending twenty minutes every soundcheck trying to find an outlet that provided half-way clean power.

Call Castle Pub. The intitial pay check may not be the same as YP at first, but they treat you well there.

[slackin@dabass]

Call Castle Pub. The intitial pay check may not be the same as YP at first, but they treat you well there.

true dat!!

[JayBird]

Haha...I love this...I love when people call out venue who treat bands like shit. If it wasn't for bands, the damn venue would go belly up. It sucks though cause so many bands are dying for shows and they will throw their dignity out the door just for a chance to play a show.

Oh yeah...be careful of Castle Pub. It's the same owner of Boomerang's in Indiana...and...he's been known to screw bands over BIG TIME!

[witchhunt]

I always say "when you're getting fucked, let people know who the fuckers are."

[metalchurch]

I always say "when you're getting fucked, let people know who the fuckers are."

[BDR]

VENUE NOTORIOUS FOR CANCELING SHOWS , WHAT A SHAME

+1 ... booker beware. Hit up the Castle if you're interested in Ebensburg.

r:>)

[Banned]

I don't like the stage at the Castle Pub anymore. It's to small.

[BDR]

I don't like the stage at the Castle Pub anymore. It's to small.

At least it points in the right direction now. Beofre, I never knew where to face. Plus, a lot of joints don't even have stages.

Regardless, last-minute cancelations are almost impossible to book and we've been effed by YP more than once. This makes me like castle's small stage even more.

r:>)

[BDR]

SkeezerBoy
Active Member



Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 88
Location: Thats no moon....It's a space station!!!

Yo momma so fat, Obi-Wan Kenobi said, "That's no moon, that's your momma's ass ..."

r:>)

[Skate Toad]

Frank yelled at me for doing sound check and warming up my hands once. I was you know trying to limber up my wrist for the 3+ hours of playing i was about to do and the sound guy was getting my levels while i warmed up. And believe me i'm not one of those guys that has to play for 30 min. it was like 5 min. The staff is great but the owner needs a little work. Hey if he gives you a hard time about the fact people don't want to come to his club then tell him how well you do at the Castle Pub.....He loves that! Revenge is fun after you have been screwed out of money.
Let me know when he sells the place to someone that is cool.

[bassist_25]

Let me know when he sells the place to someone that is cool.

+1

[BDR]

Another thing about YP and its ownership that grinds my gears is his "no competition policy," in that he will not book bands that play at other local venues and if you play at YP, you will be told that you may not play at other venues if you expect to stay in his line up.

This to me is stupid. At Pelly's, for example, we're encouraged to promo our 30 Something shows and vice versa. Cross promotion only helps both venues and the band to grow and sustain the crowds.

r:>)

[Lisa]

Another thing about YP and its ownership that grinds my gears is his "no competition policy," in that he will not book bands that play at other local venues and if you play at YP, you will be told that you may not play at other venues if you expect to stay in his line up.

This to me is stupid. At Pelly's, for example, we're encouraged to promo our 30 Something shows and vice versa. Cross promotion only helps both venues and the band to grow and sustain the crowds.

r:>)

You are sooooo right! There's another bar in our area that does this...if you play for them, they have a list of venues that they do not want you to play at.....such a stupid rule. You have got to allow the bands to build a following.

[songsmith]

Here's how I handled non-competition clauses:
"Sure, I think we can abide by that. Now, on to the list of other bands you're allowed to hire. Oh, and your karaoke Thursdays, those are finished, too."

OR:

"I have just one small addition to the non-comp... we'll only play at your competition's establishment if they offer us more money."



I can, will, and absolutely have walked out the door or hung up the phone when they start this sh*t. An earlier post was correct, they only do this because they sense that you'll capitulate, because you want to play bad enough, and they know that if you don't bite, the next band will. So let the next band bite.
You can bet your gig money if they tried a non-comp with Budweiser, they'd get laughed out of business. I'm obviously not Anheuser-Busch, but I'm not powerless, either. I sell a service, and I can take that service wherever I please. I'm happy to go make money for some other bar(s).--->JMS

[mjb]

right on johnny!

[VENTGtr]

I can't speak about the place too much, but the first time we were
booked there, he called a coupl'a/few days before and said he'd
double-booked and ask if we could move the date.

Happens. Almost everyone inadvertently does it at some time
along the way. No problem. We rescheded for about a month
later.

Jump a month later:

SO, we were packed up, ready to head out and our sound guy, who
would've just gotten to hang out since they have house sound, calls.
He'd gotten on their site, just to check things out, and sees someone
else is scheduled for that night.

I called YP, asked for Frank. Not there. Told her the schpiel, asked
what was up, etc., etc. She says the other band is already there and
is setting up.

She says "Wait a minute" and gets his schedule book. Gets on the
phone and says "I don't how he does this. Your both scheduled. If
we want, we can come over and talk to Frank. At this point, it's kind
of like, what good is that going to do, though I did appreciate the
spot she must have felt she was in. I really didn't see the point of
driving an hour or so for no reason.

She says she'll call him and ask if I can call back in a couple of minutes.
When I do, she says Frank said we hadn't CONFIRMED that we'd be
there (Though...we were going to be there according to their book).

I've booked a good number shows through the years and GENERALLY,
if we speak, agree on a date, price, etc. and say "See you then", you
get signs from us...we're planning on being there. I'm also pretty
understanding about scheduling screw-ups, etc. Always bites, but it
does happen (Though, I have no doubt it's a lot harder from our end,
trying to keep up with several places/towns, and member's scheds).

Right after, I started hearing a lot of people mentioning having the
same thing happen. Have heard it's a nice place, gets a good crowd
and all. Unfortunately, it seems like it's taking a chance on whether
you may end up playing or not.

And a non-comp agreement...not goin' to happen.

BTW, haven't been to The Castle since the stage was put in, but really
like the place. We played on the night of a nice, icey sheen on the roads.
Pretty much kept people away (And made for an adventuresome trip
home). But, the people working there were really cool. Hope to make
it back in the future.

[bassist_25]

She says she'll call him and ask if I can call back in a couple of minutes.
When I do, she says Frank said we hadn't CONFIRMED that we'd be
there (Though...we were going to be there according to their book).

We kind of had the opposite happen to us. One day, after Frank cancelled us again, Rob casually mentions some dates we have open. Nothing was ever officially confirmed as I believe Frank didn't have his book right with him. Get this! Apparently he thought it was a confirmed date. We didn't know about it until Kenny's girlfriend heard us advertised on the radio. We were playing Memories that night. It was kind of poetic justice for Rob to call Frank and leave a message saying that we wouldn't be there that night, since of course, that's what he always does. I hope he had to bust his ass to try and find a band that evening to fill our spot, because God knows that we would bust our asses to fill dates a week before a cancelled YP date everytime Frank put his allegiance somewhere. Sorry about seeming a bit malevolent here, but in all of the time I've been doing this - which isn't as long as some of the cats here - Frank is the only club owner I've come across whom I just do not like as a person. I'm sure I blackballed myself from his club with this thread, but that's fine, because the one and only way I'd ever play his establishment ever again is with a contract; and I'd go in the hole enforcing it just to prove a point.

[metalchurch]

Paul, that must have been a nice little stab there.
Do unto others!

On a side note, some may agree with this thread, some may not.
Fact is, these are actual experiences by noteworthy regular gigging musicians, so take this for what it's worth.
The views expressed on here by these dudes are factual, and these guys are easy going, and don't start flames for no reason.
Take this for what it's worth.
Consider this a forewarning, and make an educated decision on your own.

[VENTGtr]

On a side note, some may agree with this thread, some may not.

Ya, absolutely. I'm sure a lot of people play there and may never have
a problem. I know there are some venues that I really like where others
have issues, and there are some that I don't see playing ever again (BTW,
any word on Bar 53's new ownership....) that some of ya'll play on a
regular basis.

Like I said, I understand that things happen, and I don't really think I'd have
a problem playing Yesterday's Party, or at least giving them a try. However,
THAT being said, knowing that Paul, Rob and BD in general are about as
pro as you'll find, I have no reason whatsoever to question their validity. Well...
maybe Paul's a bit, but that's just because he's from Houtzdale...

[metalchurch]

Houtzdale

[Banned]

SkeezerBoy
Active Member



Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 88
Location: Thats no moon....It's a space station!!!

Yo momma so fat, Obi-Wan Kenobi said, "That's no moon, that's your momma's ass ..."

r:>)

Yeah, Rob she is fat...P.S. She misses your explorations in her folds....

[JakeWilliams]

Here's how I handled non-competition clauses:
"Sure, I think we can abide by that. Now, on to the list of other bands you're allowed to hire. Oh, and your karaoke Thursdays, those are finished, too."

OR:

"I have just one small addition to the non-comp... we'll only play at your competition's establishment if they offer us more money."



I can, will, and absolutely have walked out the door or hung up the phone when they start this sh*t. An earlier post was correct, they only do this because they sense that you'll capitulate, because you want to play bad enough, and they know that if you don't bite, the next band will. So let the next band bite.
You can bet your gig money if they tried a non-comp with Budweiser, they'd get laughed out of business. I'm obviously not Anheuser-Busch, but I'm not powerless, either. I sell a service, and I can take that service wherever I please. I'm happy to go make money for some other bar(s).--->JMS

Can Frank actually do anything if you violate this non-compete agreement? Are they even legal?

I think I'd just sign it and play the one time at YPs. Then, after the show, I'd play wherever I wanted. If Frank finds out I'm playing elsewhere and doesn't want to book me back, fine.

But if we kept the crowd entertained and drinking, he's going to do what any smart business owner would do and hire us back because we made him money.

[VENTGtr]

Jake,

You'd think so, huh? Obviously, I can't speak on YP from firsthand
experience, but there are venue owners who go against the "common
sense" thing. It certainly ends up hurting them in the long run but it
seems to take while for 'em to figure out, or they stick with it out of
an odd sense of insecurity.

If it's a new band, or that figures they may not play in a particular
area much, so why not, they may say "Sure" and decide they'll do
what they want later. At least, you'd hope so...but there are some
around who stick to it...for no good reason whatsoever. Gets me.

His only real recourse, I'd imagine, is not to book someone there
again.

To kind of paraphrase on what MC said, one of the cool parts of
things like R.P. that we can discuss in one way or another.

[BDR]

Can Frank actually do anything if you violate this non-compete agreement? Are they even legal?

Yes, he can not book you. That's the power trip: Play only here or not here at all. It's nothing as literal as a contract, it's the option you're given to play there. We don't make agreements like that.

She says she'll call him and ask if I can call back in a couple of minutes.
When I do, she says Frank said we hadn't CONFIRMED that we'd be
there (Though...we were going to be there according to their book).

We kind of had the opposite happen to us. One day, after Frank cancelled us again, Rob casually mentions some dates we have open. Nothing was ever officially confirmed as I believe Frank didn't have his book right with him. Get this! Apparently he thought it was a confirmed date. We didn't know about it until Kenny's girlfriend heard us advertised on the radio. We were playing Memories that night. It was kind of poetic justice for Rob to call Frank and leave a message saying that we wouldn't be there that night, since of course, that's what he always does.

As Bobby said, Frank called to cancel, and I shot him some upcoming dates that were open at the time. He had his book but said he had to check a few things and get back with me. He never called back and subsequently, I booked the dates I had proposed elsewhere, not that I was especially interested in working with him at that point (this had been the third time he'd canceled us last minute, the most notice being one week, the other two times, a few days). Later, we heard about the radio ad so I called and left him a voice mail to inform him we weren't going to be there, as he liked to do with me each time he'd last-minute cancel us.

One of our previous cancelations there came about in the exact same way as Dave describes; the old, "you never confirmed it" routine, which is bullshit. As has been stated, I have no problems with any other club we work with keeping dates straight. The bottom line is, his own staff even says things like "I don't know how he does this" with regard to "double bookings" as Dave described (I've had the same conversations with YP staff members, who all rock BTW, caught in the middle of me and the owner who's "never there"). What happens is, this dude will book you, then he finds someone he'd rather have play, then he waits until it's impossible for you to rebook someplace else to cancel you.

This is why we will not play YP unless ownership changes hands. We don't do business with people like that.

But if we kept the crowd entertained and drinking, he's going to do what any smart business owner would do and hire us back because we made him money.

You'd think, huh? I guess the keywords here are "smart business owner." We were packed each and every time we played there and the alcohol was always a-flowin'. Without exception.

Yo momma so fat, Obi-Wan Kenobi said, "That's no moon, that's your momma's ass ..."

r:>)

Yeah, Rob she is fat...P.S. She misses your explorations in her folds....

LOL ... I actually stole that line from the Robot Chicken Star Wars special. Luke and Emperor Palpatine get into a "yo momma so" battle on the second Death Star. Love it.

r:>)