During the past week I have been offered three different gigs.
First place-small bar/restaurant, only seats about 50 folks max. It's about the size of a railroad car, long and narrow. I would have to set up back in the area where they now have their dart machines. But the area is big enough for my rig and it's out of everybody's way. They agreed to my price and we set up a date. They want me to start next weekend, both nights. They want it to be a permanent thing asking would I stay even after the boating/tourist season started in the area.
My thoughts. I went in Friday night to check out the crowd and I honestly don't think that they're the kinda crowd that's really gonna want to hear Karaoke. They're a very laid back bunch, the place is nice and quite, just folks sitting around drinking beer talking to friends. Very content I might add. Also while I was there, I gave some flyers to the barmaid, who handed some of them out to the customers. First question-since the place is so small, where are you going to have it set up. The barmaid pointed out to the main floor over by the entrance to the place. When I ask here about what she had said, she told me the owner had said just that day that she didn't want me setting up where I had planned, she wanted me out on the main floor. Which is something only an idiot would think of. If I set up on the main floor, they have to move table, not just to the side but off the floor completely. It would be across from the rest rooms and right next to the only entrance to the place. So I don't know what she was thinking, especially since she didn't bother to fill me in on the change. But it's her bar, her decision, but it's also my decision to decide if I want my equipment out in a heavily trafficked area. So we'll see. Another thing, it's gonna be a 50 mile round trip and I'll have to break down my equipment and haul it each night because the place is so small there's no way I can or would leave it set up til the next night.
Anyway, next bar- I was heading back home, when I remembered that there was also another small bar that I had heard about doing Karaoke. I went in, and this place is even smaller than the one I had just left. I knew most of the folks in there so I felt right at home unlike the previous bar I had been in where I'm suppose to play.
Well they've got this jackarse up singing at the top of his lungs in the most tonedeaf manner I've ever heard. I sat down ordered a coke and ask the barmaid, where's the Karaoke guy, and she says, that's him singing. Well he keeps on singing, and he keeps on singing, finally he takes a break thank goodness. The only problem is, he never bothered to let anyone that had requested to sing come up. I ask him if he had a book I could look through......he didn't have but one book that he kept up with him and it was listed by disc....jeeze. The song request were written on bar napkins. Anyway, I check out his system, it's a mess. He had this Radio Shack looking amp/mixer with a couple of 12's hooked up to it and his sound was terrible. He was using some machine I had never heard of or seen before made by SonicSound or something like that. I go back to the bar and all my buddies are razzing me about that guy being my major competition, which kinda made me feel uncomfortable because that's not why I go out to Karaoke. I mean of course I check out other peoples stuff, but more out of curiosity than competition. Well the guy finishes his break and he comes back and starts singing again. Finally someone spoke up and ask him to let someone else sing for a change. The guy acted like he actually got ticked off about it. So he picks up a napkin and calls out a name and this gal goes up. He puts on the song and actually walks away from his setup. I'm just sitting there dropjawed at this point. So I ask the bartender/manager, how much are you paying this guy, and she tells me 25 bucks and a bartab. And I'm like, well you get what you pay for. So she ask me how much I charge and I tell her. Her immediate response is, 'we can't afford that' and I'm like, well how much business do you have to lose before you can afford it....
I mean this guy is not gonna draw in business, he's gonna run it off. He's got a crappy attitude, crappy equipment, no song selection to speak of, how did you find this guy. She said that he was a friend of a friend...and the only reply I could think of was, 'well you should bar them both just on general principals'. Even she had to laugh about that. So she finally said, tell you what, let me know of a night you have off and I'll get you in here and we'll see how it works.
My thoughts-anyone who would let some clown like that play in the first place has very poor business sense. The place is so small, there's no way they could get enough people in spending enough money to pay for me much less make any money for the bar. The gesture was nice and appreciated, but I think I'll have to pass, unless I just get really bored or have a panic attack and feel I need to punish myself for some past sin I've committed.
Third place-We're back at the Boatdock that tried having me on Wednesday nights, but because there wasn't an immediate result, they declined to continue the shows.
I've been playing there anyway on Fridays and of course the crowds have been much better. The problem was, that he stage is out on a deck, which they have covered now, but with it being so cold it's like a freezer even with the heaters going.
So what they did, was take one corner of the inside restaurant and cleared it out so I could play the Christmas party. The corner has a partition around it, so you're not actually on the floor with the customers, you have something to separate you, which I like. I mean it just keeps folks from walking through your area and away from the equipment and the person who's up singing. Well the Christmas party went over so well that the guy ask me if I wanted to finish out the winter indoors like I had setup that night. We agreed on a price which was a bit less than what I normally get, but hey it's winter around here, so you gotta take the best offer you can get.
My thoughts- It's in my town, only 20 mins. from where I live. I can leave my equipment set up for the next night since it's not actually in the dining area. Like I said, the price is a bit less, but it's less of a drive. I don't have to break down and load each night. And of course the same people that had been coming out to see me at Terrace View now come there when I play. In fact they even call in advance to make sure I'm gonna be there.
The future of Terrace View restaurant is still up in the air and I wont know if they're even gonna open back up until spring. I really like playing at T.V. but I have to be realistic and look at things from a bigger picture. The boatdock does a killer business in the summer, and we've already agreed that when the regular season starts I would go back up to my seasonal rate.
But anyways, I've rambled enough about all of this. Like I said it's either feast or famine, such is the life in a small town. What I would like from you folks if you feel inclined is some feedback, thoughts, or suggestions. I'm in a good position right now, I mean how many of us can have our pick of places to play. But I do want to make the right choice. So if you have any thoughts on this, please feel free to share.
Oh and if any of you would like to relocate, I've got plenty of work for you, but of course I'm gonna cheery pick the best for myself...
Thanks for your time,
James the Lion Hearted
Maninblack
White Trash Philosopher
Humble 'and very tired' Karaoke Host
P.S. please understand I don't bring all this up to rub it in the faces of folks that are looking for other gigs in more saturated areas. What I hope is that you understand that you have to seize the moment and get it while you can. Things could turn the other way in a moments notice. There are no guarantees, but there are opportunities and we should take advantage of each and every one of them.
I value all of your comments now just as much as I did when I first came here.
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