re: Why is live music so overrated?

Drummers are in HUGE demand. There’s a massive shortage. Every mediocre drummer I know can name his own price and play in 5 bands easily.

People become sound guys because they love music, but want more consistent pay than playing in a band tends to provide. I enjoy running lights from time to time, especially if it’s for a band playing music that I know and love. I do it as a side hustle.

Depends on the band, the music, and how I'm feeling that day imo.

But in general, there are some genres that, imo, don't sound *nearly* as good on record as they do live. Most Cajun and Creole music, for example.. the music so much about energy between the band and the crowd that the albums generally kinda suck. I recently went to a show at ACA in laffy and the musicianship displayed left me in awe, and I loved the music. The vocals were great. I started going to the albums of the bands involved.....yeesh. Sounds like howling.

I've experienced similar in the rock/metal scene.


Maybe it's got more to do with smaller studios that the smaller acts can afford just suck

How do you get rid of the drummer banging on your front door?

Pay him for the pizza.


I agree with you on sound engineering. I’ve been doing it for years at church and at bars before that. Just a little self-depreciating humor.

quote:

---

They often play at places w no cover, can't beat that.

---

And there is the problem...

I am going to do a little math here...

Where I live Mix Bev Tax and Sales Tax equals 23.5%... That's almost $0.25 on every dollar just in taxes... so now lets caluculate.

The beer costs you now at $24 a case, so you beer costs $1 a bottle.
The average local dive bar price is around $3 or $3.50.. we'll use 3 for ease of math.

a guy has a good night and sells 500 bottles of beer. that $1,500 he took in.

So he made

$1,500 - minus cost of 500 beers = $500
$1,000 remaining, minus Sales Mix bev tax on $1,500 = $352
$648 remaining. minus Band, band wants $400 = $400
$248 remaining. Rent at $3,000 a month - $100 a day.
$148 remaining.

and we have not even calculated BMI, Ascap, Insurance, Payroll, Electric, Water, or Heat, AC, plumbing maintenance..

Small local bars will never survice without a cover chagre. BUt the problem is that after one folds.. a guy walks in.. Rents it.. Books a bands and says. "I won't charge a cover and everyone will come here because we are cover free." The Bars can never unite.. If they did they would be better off.

Plus the bands should cover the Ascap, bmi and sales taxes.. Then the bars will win.

Open a bar they say.. It will be fun they say.

Do you even chee weez, baw?

quote:

---

let me tell coming from a bar owner.

---

Did you happen to own 2 bars that burnt down? Do you demand to Flair chop all of your friends at 2am?

quote:

---

Customers want something to do, see, be, whatever... Jukebox, Darts.. Pool...

---

Having been in, managed, and booked bands, the most successful formula I’ve found Is that customers want
- females: to dance
- males: pussy

Get the females out to dance, the men will follow.

quote:

---

With only bottled beer it more easily controlled but every day bar staff wake up (admittedly once they fully reach some real form of consciousness) plotting how to skim off the house.

---

Bartenders make their money by selling
- Males: Coke
- Females: pussy (or mouth pussy. Or hand pussy)

quote:

---

Did you happen to own 2 bars that burnt down? Do you demand to Flair chop all of your friends at 2am?

Having been in, managed, and booked bands, the most successful formula I’ve found Is that customers want
- females: to dance
- males: pussy

Get the females out to dance, the men will follow.

---

No fires, no flair chops (whatever that is)

I agree with the rest of your thoughts. It goes back my orinal math posts.
A band immediately puts more people in a bar.. And women don't dance to darts or pool.

Maybe bar owners are using bands to move drugs across territories…

Hmmm. It’s one of my favorite things to do.

Not “cover bands”. I mean real original artists. I love Jazz Feat and all the late night shows to boot.