Why should I continue

Judy · Why should I continue

Come on tell me why I should continue running a club forking out MY money for bands or muso's who obviously love having a go at folk who try their damdest to put them on stage.
Want to know what I am talking about then read this

http://www.countrymusic.org.uk/fo...&postorder=asc&highlight=

Especially the second page

Sheriff

greedy.

too many bands on the road that are only interested in money. scum of the earth.

imalrightjack

I know - you love the music :)

I don't do it for money, as you know. If my costs are covered and a wee bit more as a bonus, maybe for a meal, then great! I'd love to think one day I could make a living but as long as I enjoy it.

Jomal

Frankly I am disgusted and sick to the stomach, Malcolm and I frequent as many clubs as we can possibly afford to and not one of those club organisers runs at a profit, in fact most of them barely manage to break even and frequently have to dip into their own pockets to make up the difference when the turn out has not been as healthy as they anticipated.

On the occasion that a little extra is made, that money at all the clubs we frequent goes into a kitty and is donated to a charity that is supported by the club at Christmas.

I understand that bands wish to make money for doing what they clearly enjoy, (if they didn't enjoy it, they wouldn't be doing it), but to denegrate the club organisers because they cannot afford to meet their prices is totally unfair.

It is my 50th birthday next year and Malcolm and I have booked, and are paying ourselves for a certain artist to play at our club as we particularly want him to play and we know that his fees could not be met unless we had an exceptionally large crowd in that night.

We are not complaining about that and in no way are we accusing this artist of over charging, the extra distance for travelling alone justifies it, and we are not the only members of our club who have come forward and paid for a particular band or artist on a special occasion, the end justifies the means.

However, with rising unemployment and the credit crisis at the moment, I am very much afraid that some people will feel that they can no longer afford to frequent as many clubs and festivals as they are used to frequenting and more than one club will go under.

I WONDER WHERE THESE BANDS AND ARTISTS WILL GO THEN

banjoscotty

Bands,,,You can't sell something of you haven't much to sell.

Clubs,,, You can't buy nothing of it costs more than you have.
With due respect,,Bands and Clubs,,Get in your own class.Neither
can START at the top of ladder.And even as you climb,you will get
bounced back a step or two now and then.Last but MOST IMPORTANT,,
serve the people and not you wants.

eddie

Its always a very touchy subject this one and very difficult to get either sides points across with out upsetting someone,however the comments made on the other forum by certain posters was unwarranted...big time !
The acts that are profesional and im talking bands here not solos and duos,do have less flexibility on price they can charge due to the costs of running a band and goes up with distance traveled,their wage is not fixed and is dependent on the ammount of work coming in on any given week or month...costs and fees can be kept lower with clubs working together more to help a band tour an area far from home,this would help both club and act a like.
Bands that have other jobs and dont rely on the in come are in better position the reduce fees to localish (say 90 miles) clubs that are struggling with costs, this however is only possible within a given distance due to travel costs and then only if you travel together.

Then there are those of us that need the income top up a low or part time wage when you have a good run of gigs things are fine but when you dont things get hard.

So judy in answer to your question if there is an answer, help those acts that are prepared to help you...you run the club because you get a buzz from it ... pretty much the same sort of buzz that an act gets on stage, people are enjoying themselves from YOUR efforts.

You should continue running a club for as long as you enjoy doing it AND IGNORE CRASS REMARKS....The problems of running a club are pretty much the same as running a band...its lots of work for very little but if we didnt enjoy it we wouldnt do it.

Judy

banjoscotty

I didn;t intend for my remarks to sound or be crass.
I'll try to say this in another way.Judy or any club owner
is not responsable to meet or cater to any bands financial
responsabilities.If a band such as I read about in the "other"
forum,requires a certain amount of money just to get all the
band members together BEFORE they can ever start their
road trip,,,Sorry,,,That's their problem.Not the clubs.
Clubs,,If the clubs financial status will not allow it to hire a
certain band then don't dip in your personal pocket to make
it happen.Anyone knows this is not good business.Probably
there are some good local bands that you could use and they
could afford to take the booking.Now after saying all that,,,,
If it's prestigue the band and the club are after,then both
will starve. Serve the people,,that's where the money comes from

Jomal

Well said Scotty

Judy

Yet again scotty wise words

coolhand

judy why should you not continue,as you have done a great job in promoting country music, as some people don't realise the amount of work involved in running a club.and the overheads as opposed to clubs that are subsidized by club committees.
keep going judy

grumpy

not getting involved

banjoscotty

You're wiser than me Grumpy.
I only commented to keep the thread alive.

We didn't solve nothing

Judy

Well for once grumpy is keeping stum

and Coolhand your right but you understand as your in the same position as me

bernard

Hi Judy and others running clubs.

By your efforts and expenditure you bring happiness to many and for some you are almost certainly providing an essential part of their social life.

Bob Oakley · Hi Judy

It's been a long time eh?

You will always be in a difficult position when running a club. Folk tend to forget that when a club hires a band or a solo artiste there is in fact a contract formed.
Many agents on the country circuit actually fail in their basic responsibility as they do not issue contracts which they are in fact legally obliged to do.

If band or an artiste is booked and not enough tickets are sold then the organiser is still responsible for covering the fees agreed under contract. Verball or written. This is true for all engagements, country or not.

Running a club has some big resonsiblities. Contractual, Health and Safety, PRS and local authority licensing etc.

Most folk just see it all as a hobby but these days as with any club it is getting more like a business.

Without folk like Judy and many like her, singers would have fewer places to play. I play for my living and am forever grateful for each and every venue.

If you get a moment check out www.northernrenegades.co.uk where Sheila is another good sort who keeps a club going purely for her love of country. On Feb 22nd some of us are paying back a little to help replace the recent loss of flags and other decor, now assumed stolen from the venue.

Keep going Judy

Judy

Thanks Bob at the moment I intend to keep going, but who knows what is around the corner

AIDEN

Maybe a smaller picture Bob

Bob Oakley

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Picture shrink in progress

Judy

thanks

AIDEN

If your not going to book me you might as well pack it in

Judy

Not booking anyone for next year AJ