The Steel Guitar Forum

I've noticed that in my neck of the woods, turnout at bars is not what it use to be back in the 70's during the holiday seasons. This is for most clubs with all types of live music. Are any other pickers seeing anything different? Just a month ago... leg room only, now plenty of space. Just curious.

During the past, law enforcement usually ignored drinking and driving on holidays except for the most flagrant violations.

In recent years a drinking driver goes to jail...that has dampened the club scene almost to extinction.

Hi Jeff,
Don't know about your neck of the woods, but around here we have some very "astute" R.C.M.P. officers who's only task is to look out for drinking/driving candidates especially on Saturday nights.
About 6-8 years ago the places were really happening until the advent of musical trivia which makes paying punters want to stay behind and complete their nights out with a possible win.
Most people I know that play out on the weekends run into the same problems.
I guess it's the sign of the times.

Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs. and other weird things.

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Some of the TX. Dance Halls are sort of marginal this time of year. A month ago I played a one nighter at a steak house / private club and it was jammed with people and the band was crummy.

But I hear some of the Old Dance halls around the Ft. Worth area, on some nights don't have 20 couples there. I don't think it is the bands' fault. Like Ya'll said, maybe its a sign of the times.

I've worked clubs, bars, hotels and just about every possible place people will gather and drink to live music. This time of the year is usually a bit slower than the spring and summer except for weekends. People have Christmas to buy for and a lot travel so the money tends to be a little shorter than normal. Downtown Nashville is a lot slower right now but that's normal for downtown unless you have exceptional entertainment. When our bar The Turf was open, we had very good business year round when a lot of others slowed down to bands on the weekends only and some even closed out completely. I kept the best band I could find and kept them there as long as they drew a crowd and held them through the tough times if they were a good dependable group and I knew it wasn't their fault it was slow. We always had the band seven days a week no matter what for 16 years because it shows the people no matter what you can depend on that place for a good band and the people always came. If a club immediately cuts back because it gets a little slow it hurts the club in the long run and you'll have to scramble to keep a band too. As soon as the band is cut back they'll leave to find full time employment. After the Christmas holidays it should get back to a more normal flow. Over all I think clubs are slower and people are more careful to not overdrink than it was in the 70's or even 80's. I see a lot of designated drivers. That used to never be heard of and bars sell water now by the bottle. If you'd told me that 16 years ago, I'd have bet you $100 that would never happen. $2.00 for water! It's what we called a Cumberland Cocktail.

I've seen both around here. Where I work now, some days we're more packed at lunchtime with people eating from the grill than all night with people drinking. Live music usually helps the crowd. There was a good sized club I went to last night, they were loaded to the gills with people. I guess it had something to do with the Bellamy Brothers being there... Those big names tend to draw a pretty reasonable crowd. But other than that, yes I've seen it too. There's fewer people at the bars this time of year, even in the Alcoholic Powerhouse of College Station, TX.


Cheers,

Garnett

Bob. The RCMP has always been on the ball in your neck of the woods.I was in the first band that opened at the Maple Leaf in Sumas Washington. I have a real good friend in Abbotsford, Pete Block. The RCMP was always on the lookout for us Bad drivers.
Perry

What clubs?

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Carter D10 9p/10k
Richard Sinkler

AMEN RICHARD !

Something to think about: I've been a loyal student of the steel guitar for decades and have achieved a large number of my musical goals. (Biggest disappointment, didn't get to play the Opry or make a real record) I've played live radio, television and stage programs. I've played to dance hall crowds of 1,500 per Saturday night; been honored to play in the house band to backup various, famous recording artists. I've played in smoke-filled beer taverns and high class cocktail lounges (also smoke filled...)I've played old folks homes and the state prison. When I started at age 15, union scale was $14.95 per gig. We did the radio shows for nothing (for publicity!)and the TV shows for$40.00 that included three, 3 hour rehersals. Final analysis, I earned maybe what? $3.00 per hour? Maybe not that much!
Last night I had the privilege of being treated as a VIP; my equipment was carried by a crewman; our four piece Hawaiian group played in a well iluminated, smoke-free room; it was an upper crust crowd; we were provided a scrumptious dinner and free beverages all evening; we played just three sets at 45 minutes each; enjoyed a delightful inland river cruise and a fabulous view of the cities Christmas lights in addition to passing boats all bathed in Christmas lights.
For this, I was paid $200.00!
I now have to question my years-long loyalty to barroom picking and such. What about you guys/gals? And let's be honest about it, okay?
Have we been playing for fun, presteige, adoring females or BIG BUCKS in music?

Jeff,

Clubs are a little slower right now. I think folks are conserving their funds for the last days of Christmas shopping. Last Friday we were playing at the River Palace in Johnson City, TX and had 300 to 400 paid attendees. Normally we'll draw more like 600 to 700 in that club. Saturday we played the Coupland Inn and Dance Hall in Coupland,TX and we had about 670 paid attendees which is closer to normal for us but still down a little. Lots of advertising money was spent on both of these gigs and both nights had great opening bands.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn www.kevinfowler.com

Ray,
What you described is what General Business and wedding bands get all the time!
And wedding bands make a hell of a lot more money.
Chalk it up to the type of music we play......country music=bar rooms. (or a reasonable facsimile)

Actually, this time of year in south Texas is usually better in most of the clubs. However, I have to agree with most of the previous posts. I believe there are numerous factors that account for the demise of “live music” clubs. Certainly the DWI (or DUI if that is what they are called in your state) laws are a major factor. As others have pointed out, current economic conditions (read that as lack of money!), holiday season with many people traveling away from home base…etc. are a factor.

Additionally, keep in mind that technology marches on! Thirty years ago if you wanted to be entertained on a Friday or Saturday night you only had a few choices. You could stay home and play “Scrabble” or “Monopoly’ with the family, or you could head out to a local club and see a band and dance with your wife, girlfriend, or whoever.

Nowadays we have “Pay For View” movies right on our cable TV, Video rental stores two blocks away, the internet on our computers that come right into our home, Great sounding CD’s in our home instead of the radio, cable TV with many choices of things to watch…and it goes on and on!!

There is no ONE reason crowds are down in local clubs, or why most of the big dance halls have closed. There are many, and it is just a sign of the times.

B. Bailey Brown

There is never any one reason for anything in the music business as far as I can tell. You got it right Ray. The best gigs are the upper crust gigs for the society people. I've played a bunch of gigs for rallys at political conventions and just general stuff for local politicians or people in government and it always pays better. The trick is to have the same band everytime, dress up (no jeans) and play a little variety if you need to. If you get in with those people the gigs just roll in because they like to keep it simple and call someone that's reliable and won't get in the way. Just keep the volume down and smile. You'll get free this and that and calls to come do it again. These are the $1000 new years gigs! Wish I had one like that this year. It's playing a another honky-tonk again for me.

Interesting feedback. Concerning earned dollars, natch the private gigs pay more... but I've got to tell you, I'll take an old honky tonk full of smoke and peanut shells on the floor with lots of beehive hair doos over a private party any night. The drinking and driving issue is one I am happy about. I have 4 children of which 3 drive. I wouldn't want to attend anyones funeral that was in a DWI accident. I endorse any DWI laws in place. With all this... Budweiser, and Jack Daniels, and Canadian Club are still doing well. It's a little comforting to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this slowdown this time of year.

Hang in there,
Jeff

Jeffy-poo, your Sho-Bud parts went out today.
You should get them by Thursday.(this year)
Sorry to use this forum for personal e-mail, however , I don't have your address.
Bobbe-poo (Phoughoux)

I went out the other night and two guys ahead of me walked into the bar first but ---
I ducked.

WHAT? New Country Music lovers don't drink.Got to be the music........O I see they need a club open to drink at.

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CJC

Bobbe,

I'll look forward to getting the parts. How did you ship them? FedEX? UPS?

My LDG arrived at Keal Case this morning. I'll stick those parts on when it comes back... alive and well hopefully.

tHhAeNrGe

^^^^^^^^^---- Hang In There

Hey Michael Garnett, Surely you're not suggesting that the "Noble Men of Kyle" might possibly drink some. Not the Texas Aggies. I have a number of Aggie friends and you are right, that is one Party Town. Probably Stephenville would be the only other town that might have more drunk farm boys in it. After all Tarleton State U. is TX. A & M's little brother. They call them selves, "Plowboys". What a town. Wettest dry county in TX.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Bill C. Buntin on 11 December 2001 at 06:34 PM.]</p></FONT>