Sports bars can really be humbling....

fcmusician · #1 11-13-2019, 04:08 PM

Just played a new place solo Monday night. Sports bar with a stuff load of TV's on the walls. Should have known better!Played from 6 till 9. The manager loved it though. Guess I really was wall paper. Paid practice right?

leew3 · #2 11-13-2019, 08:22 PM

Keep at it. The two keys to your post are "manager loved it" and the vital word "paid". don't assume that audience didn't appreciate what you're doing and they now know about you. Sounds like a win to me!

jnidoh · #3 11-14-2019, 04:44 AM

FCM, never heard a musician with guitar or piano in any sports bar that I've ever been in. Me thinks it would take a very brave person to try to entertain in the realm of basketball, hockey, football and booze.

Can't imagine the laughter and small talk dying down when you start, and it has to be humbling to hear a cheer when the favorite team scores while you're in the middle of playing/singing a well practiced song.

As you and Leew pointed out, if the manager liked you and you're getting paid, you're doing something right......but listen carefully as you play....if you ever hear someone say "hold it down, I wanna hear this guy play!" then start looking for a record company......

john

rmp · #4 11-14-2019, 05:53 AM

Crowd noise is hard to defeat. I've played a few of these kind of gigs, and I agree. It's a somewhat hostile environment for a solo performer with an acoustic.

I just try to tune out the noise and do what I was hired to do. You can't change it, it is what it is in those kind of rooms.

fcmusician · #5 11-14-2019, 06:21 AM

Oh yea. I just kept plugging along. Not going back though. Pretty much like you say. Live and learn.

rmp · #6 11-14-2019, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcmusician

Oh yea. I just kept plugging along. Not going back though. Pretty much like you say. Live and learn.

yep, with other places to play, why fight with it, the money isn't really why we all do this most of the time, quite thankfully so, cuz we'd probably all starve..

Silly Moustache · #7 11-14-2019, 06:32 AM

i did some pub gigs a while ago.
fighting against crowd noise and other stuff.
I decided it felt like work.
I could get more money witjh less effort working stacking shelves.

I decided that I'd rather earn less and perform only in places with listening audiences.
I do that plus started my own club.

fcmusician · #8 11-14-2019, 07:03 AM

Yep. Just having fun. Money just follows. All fun in the end. 🙂

MikeBmusic · #9 11-14-2019, 07:56 AM

Play at them all the time - they don't even have to be a 'sports bar', any bar at a restaurant/pub will have multiple TVs going these days. Open mics, too - playing at or running them. 'Paid practice' is exactly right. Every once in a while there will be people there not-so-interested in whatever games are on and they will listen for a while.
Yes, it can be discouraging to play nothing but these places. When you hear a big cheer just as you finish a song - and realize it isn't for you. If you don't care about the money earned, then let another person who needs the money have the gig, but don't take this type of gig at low (or no) pay. Listening rooms tend to be either non-profits with low attendance (and pay) or more-established places that get bigger (regional) names as openers and pay much more than the bars - but there's a limited number of them and the players are more established. If you can get into that market, go for it!

rokdog49 · #10 11-14-2019, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leew3

Keep at it. The two keys to your post are "manager loved it" and the vital word "paid". don't assume that audience didn't appreciate what you're doing and they now know about you. Sounds like a win to me!

leew and I played a place Saturday night where the ‘Bama /LSU game was on. Seems like everybody enjoyed both and yes we got paid and made a decent amount in tips.

Mr. Jelly · #11 11-14-2019, 08:50 AM

An event takes a step up in peoples outlook when the event says there is a band or live entertainment. Often, very often, it doesn't mater who or what the live entertainment is. Only that they are not terrible.

fcmusician · #12 11-14-2019, 09:56 AM

I was actually filling in for a keyboard player of mine. The pay was good. Free order of wings but no drinks. The tv volumes were low. But the chatter and fist pumping was loud LOL.