Are bars really hurting this bad?

JayBird · Post by **JayBird** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

Has anyone else encountered the new bar trend...make opening band guests and headlining band guests pay. There have been a few places that have been asking our opening band's wives, road crew, merch workers, etc. to pay a door cover. There have also been a few places that have said that there is only allowed one female guest for the headlining band and anyone else who arrives with the band and works for the band MUST pay the door fee. What is going on? Are bars really that concerened about an extra $20 some bucks? This seems to be an on-going trend at a few clubs/bars in the area. Anyone else come across a policy of this sort?

esa · Post by **esa** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

I've been on both sides. Pay to get in, free to get in. Pay to drink, free to drink. Half price to get in, Half off drink specials.

I've noticed it depends on bars. 9/10 times it's very easy for me to get in because either the band is playing for the door, or because I walk in hauling a guitar and band bag...and keep unloading and helping them out, then the bar doesn't question it. I'm with the band.

A little while back, when Jamie was just filling in for the time, we'd still do the same thing...help unload...help tear down...be a beer wench...
And four of the places in a row had me pay cover. At that point in time, money was tight so the band ever so cooly gave me some money back. Because I do my "job" in the band.

So...I don't see bars that often make the wives or roadies pay since the band is getting the money from the door +. But then again, it wouldn't surprise me if they were getting charged either.
Times are changing....Lots of places don't want to pay for bands anymore...

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

Guests are one thing, stage crew is another.

There have always been anal clubs that charge band guests, but staff is staff and you should make it clear with the club that you are paying the stage crew as part of your production. You should be very adamant that your employees do not pay cover.

This does not apply to friends who show up to unload a few items from the truck without pay.

ERiC_AiXeLsyD · Post by **ERiC_AiXeLsyD** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

I never minded paying out of my own pocket for girlfriends or guests or people who help. A cut is going to help the bar, & will eventually go back to all the bands.

Bert|Evil · Post by **Bert|Evil** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

I've noticed that the "I am a roadie with this band" excuse doesn't exactly cut it anymore with the Gestapo (aka PLCB). Someone can have an arm full of cables, and they still don't seem to care. Perhaps what you guys are discussing are preventative measures taken by the bar owners?

Post by **Ron** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

Bert|Evil wrote:I've noticed that the "I am a roadie with this band" excuse doesn't exactly cut it anymore with the Gestapo (aka PLCB). Someone can have an arm full of cables, and they still don't seem to care. Perhaps what you guys are discussing are preventative measures taken by the bar owners?

The PLCB doesn't care whether a person pays cover charge or not. If the "I am a roadie with this band" excuse is because the person is under 21, then they would care.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

Funny you bring that up because just this past Saturday, our drummer had to pay the cover for his wife. I found it quite odd.

About twenty years ago, my father was playing at this club and the owner was rather adamant about making the members' wives pay the cover. My dad's band packed up their equipment and said, "See you later." I bet the amount of money that owner lost that night because the band bailed was a lot more than the 15 bucks he lost from the band wives.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

lonewolf wrote:Guests are one thing, stage crew is another.

There have always been anal clubs that charge band guests, but staff is staff and you should make it clear with the club that you are paying the stage crew as part of your production. You should be very adamant that your employees do not pay cover.

This does not apply to friends who show up to unload a few items from the truck without pay.

Bingo

Bert|Evil · Post by **Bert|Evil** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

Ron wrote:
Bert|Evil wrote:I've noticed that the "I am a roadie with this band" excuse doesn't exactly cut it anymore with the Gestapo (aka PLCB). Someone can have an arm full of cables, and they still don't seem to care. Perhaps what you guys are discussing are preventative measures taken by the bar owners?
The PLCB doesn't care whether a person pays cover charge or not. If the "I am a roadie with this band" excuse is because the person is under 21, then they would care.

You might be suprised!!

JayBird · Post by **JayBird** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

The funny thing is this...the road crews I work with...well...they drink like fish...#30-$40 a piece. Is it really worth making roadies pay the $4 door charge and loose the alcohol sales...I doubt it!

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

I think I agree with Ron on this one, I'm pretty sure charging cover to band crew members and wives is generally a club owner trying to line his pockets. There's no law that clubs must charge cover when there's entertainment. It's a pad for the club so they don't have to pay the band as much.

Charging cover is fine, but don't get greedy with the wives. Technically, you'e handing that money right back to the band, right? So what does it matter if they pay or not? If my wife had to pay cover I would give it back to her. If the club is giving the money to the band like they say they are, why would they take $5 out of your pocket, just to put it back in?

Think about it.

And charging cover for crew members is 100 times more absurd and just plain wrong. They're our employees. They're working, just like us. I would have a huge problem with a club that charged my sound and light crew to get in.

r:>)

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Tuesday May 10, 2005

JayBird wrote:The funny thing is this...the road crews I work with...well...they drink like fish...#30-$40 a piece. Is it really worth making roadies pay the $4 door charge and loose the alcohol sales...I doubt it!

Amen. How 'bout it, Bert? LOL

r:>)

wiskerbisket · Post by **wiskerbisket** » Wednesday May 11, 2005

Hell ive seen Bert drink bars dry...how sem lights holding up.Hey Rob be careful when those pyros go off..keeps ur eyes open...their real close!!!

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Wednesday May 11, 2005

Bert's The Man. He also plays a shreddin' air guitar. That Asian dude is Kurt Cobain compared to the Tony MacAlpineness that is Bert. He really cops that Mick Mars feel on the Crue stuff too.

Jones · Post by **Jones** » Wednesday May 11, 2005

Bert|Evil wrote:
Ron wrote:
Bert|Evil wrote:I've noticed that the "I am a roadie with this band" excuse doesn't exactly cut it anymore with the Gestapo (aka PLCB). Someone can have an arm full of cables, and they still don't seem to care. Perhaps what you guys are discussing are preventative measures taken by the bar owners?
The PLCB doesn't care whether a person pays cover charge or not. If the "I am a roadie with this band" excuse is because the person is under 21, then they would care.
You might be suprised!!

No surprises, he's right. The only things the LCB would be concerned about here is discrimation about paying a cover(ladies night or something like that where ladies don't pay) or underagers saying they're roadies.
As far as a 21 year old person that's "with the band" goes, the LCB couldn't give a crap whether they pay a cover or not.

As for me, if anyone expects the bands wives/significant others to pay a cover, they can expect me to be packing the gear too. That's just plain stupid. I can see friends paying, but wives? C'mon.

J Michaels · Post by **J Michaels** » Wednesday May 11, 2005

BadDazeRob wrote:If the club is giving the money to the band like they say they are, why would they take $5 out of your pocket, just to put it back in?

Think about it.

You answer your own question, Rob. If it comes out of your pocket just to go back in, where is it NOT coming from - the rest of their take for the night - it's a zero-sum situation for them.

I would end up in a big argument with any club owner that tried to charge anyone who is a roadie. Wives and girlfriends, eh - it would be nicer of the owner to let them in for free, but I can at least see that one. But anyone who is part of the group of people working for the night is part of the group - whether they play an instrument or just help carry them, roadies are as responsible for allowing the entertainment to happen as the instrumentalists.

BigJohn · Post by **BigJohn** » Wednesday May 11, 2005

Thats Why I pay the bands a price plus the the door and ask you to bring your own door man that way you let in who you want, and at the end of the night if there is no money because to many people got in for free it's not our fault !!!

ASB10 · Post by **ASB10** » Wednesday May 11, 2005

There are several bars that we play at that have actually charged our girlfriends (the ever revolving group that it is) and in Joe's case, fiancee, a cover. It does piss me off, because it's completely unnecessary, especially when these girls are typically being forced to be there all night with us and support (it isn't that bad...is it?...they always looked like they were having fun...), and in those cases, I do happen to know the bar owners, and it really is a case of lining the pockets.
I must however give props to Claudio at City Limts, who has always let our girls in for free, and to top it off, will let them drink, and even buy them shots for free......damn good guy...(or just trying to hit on our ladies...)
Disclaimer: This is not to say that City Limits will buy your girlfriends beer and shots. This is not a constant occcurrence. Please do not attempt this on your own. I am at no fault if Claudio thinks your girls are ugly and won't let them drink for free.

Bert|Evil · Post by **Bert|Evil** » Thursday May 12, 2005

Bert|Evil wrote:I've noticed that the "I am a roadie with this band" excuse doesn't exactly cut it anymore with the Gestapo (aka PLCB). Someone can have an arm full of cables, and they still don't seem to care. Perhaps what you guys are discussing are preventative measures taken by the bar owners?

Let me reiterate.

When the big hand hits the 12 and the little hand hits the 2, bar owners become paranoid about PLCB rules. And, since listeners become "good friends" of the band near that time, the "I'm with the band" excuse tends to become abundant.

Bar owners have become anal about how many people the band brings with them for this reason, and for good reason. I've seen a lot of clubs getting nailed over the last 4 years for this reason. Of course, this prompts a bar owner to ask more questions up front.

Bert|Evil · Post by **Bert|Evil** » Thursday May 12, 2005

BadDazeRob wrote:
JayBird wrote:The funny thing is this...the road crews I work with...well...they drink like fish...#30-$40 a piece. Is it really worth making roadies pay the $4 door charge and loose the alcohol sales...I doubt it!
Amen. How 'bout it, Bert? LOL

r:>)

Word up! I just shoved $30 - $40 worth of drinks down Prairie Dawn's yap!! If you could see what she's doing to me at the moment, you'd agree that it was a good investment. It will take at least a week to get the felt out of her teeth!!

Yeah, like 'dis and like 'dat!!

ROCKPAGE

Are bars really hurting this bad?

Are bars really hurting this bad?

s

Bert

Re: s