Editorial
In
this editorial page I will be addressing local music news and issues as
they relate to the Los Angeles area music scene. I will welcome opinions
and attitudes via e-mail and will look forward to publishing these views.
I will be asking local musicians to submit a 1-page editorial for publishing
on this page. You may get the next call, I'm sure your peers would like
to hear what you have to say...
Robert Heft
Clubs
and Stuff
by Robert Heft
I think Henry Becker said it best, "Every side-player should be a bandleader for at least a year to see what we all go through".
Why is it that most (not all) club owners believe that the bands should shoulder the responsibility of filling their clubs with patrons? Now all of you know that we as bandleaders promote our shows with vigor as we don't want to play to an empty house either, but I have been yelled at, fired, and generally disrespected by club owners when the house is short, or patrons aren't eating and drinking.
Are we supposed to go to our fans homes and ridicule them for not showing at our gigs? I think not. Do we try to force-feed and force-drink our fans and friends on behalf of the club and make them feel guilty from the stage for not paying the high prices for their food and drinks? I think not.
The average fee for a local club band is about $250 split between the band members. So we get $60 - $75 per player on the gig, spend $20 or more on a few drinks, $30-$40 for gas...well, you do the math.
It's the same for the patrons who come out to see us and support us except they don't get paid, and many times have to pay a cover charge on top of that. With the costs involved to go out with some friends, how often can someone afford to do that?
We as employees of the clubs need to establish a rapport with the club owners so we can develop some creative marketing ideas that benefit everybody involved. Lose the cover charge, get the folks into the club. Establish drink specials and happy hours to keep them there, let the performers do their jobs and keep the patrons happy and wanting to come back to their venue.
Music is a business, but we are musicians first and foremost, that is what we are hired for. Promoting is part of our job, but the club owners need to share in this responsibility and advertise also.
Robert Heft
Response from Howard Yearwood, Producer/Guitarist/Bandleader/Sideman:
I've
been on both sides--sideman and bandleader. I prefer sideman because then
I don't have to deal first hand with most of the unrealistic expectations
of club owners. I actually had a manager once tell me that his waiters/watresses
didn't pay much attention to the patrons that were there to hear the band
because they didn't tip well after getting substandard and very slow (if
any) service. I had the unmitigated gaul to ask him who was in charge:
management or labor?
I grew up in a world where I WORKED HARD for the money I made and actually
provided customers a service, not customer NO service. I was at a recent
gig of yours where it was almost impossible to get waited on... and I
was there to spend money. I think I should have been afforded that opportunity.
It might have reflected well on the club AND the band. I sat in that night
but extpected no consideration for that because I still HAVE FUN playing
with wonderful players.
The other thing that chaps my hide is this whole "pay to play"
thing. Hand-in-hand w/that logic is the comment I've heard on the first
night of many a gig --- "WHERE'S YOUR FOLLOWING?", as if it's
MY job to fill the seats with warm hungry and thirsty bodies (that will
probably get crummy service anyway).
The world in which I grew up required me to practice, learn my craft,
show up and be pleasant to brother and sister musicians and cordial to
the crowd, small or mighty. Oh yeah....... and to play my a$$ off. The
club on some level was/is responsible to provide the venue and advertise
a teeny little bit so there will be a modicum of eager hungry patrons
who show up to be entertained by us.
WE PLAY .................. YOU PAY.
You may quote me and/or post this as a POSITIVE response to your well
thought-out and well-written editorial.
Brothers in all things musical,
Howard Yearwood
Response from Pat Wilkins
Robert I had a blast last night at sixty 25 club. Thank you so much for putting this together and keeping it going. I think that this place is going to be "the one" They have a built in crowd that can make people have fun besides just sitting around and drinking. That's going to bring out the other players, I think. The clubs' policy of discounting the bar to players is also very different and refreshing. At a time when you felt the need to write that editorial, there's a bar that turns the whole thing around. That's definitely the exception to the rule and I'm so glad that you found it. Congratulations finding this place. I hope that this has a lot of success. I'll be there as much as I can be to support you.
Response
from Ron Catt
I
read your editorial, and Howard's reply, with interest. I completely understand
what you both say. And because I understand, I want to remind you, and
all who read this, of a few miracles in which you participate. You have
the great gift to express things for people that they cannot say. You
are able to enlarge the world of your listeners. For what does art do,
other than allow us, artist and audience, to apprehend a larger world?
You have the opportunity to bring a little beauty into this world. I think,
if you are unhappy with a club, or owner, you should just move on. Find
a place - either a stage or a place in your heart - where you can reach
your joy without interference and communicate that joy through your music.
Musicians are miraculous beings. Don't be distracted from your true mission.
I hope, in the midst of contention, you will remember who you are, and
what you came here for. You are all angels.
