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The arrow on the icon indicates that I've posted to this thread previously.
Saturday night's job was a heartbreaker. It was at a martini bar that I've played countless times over the years, and have built a loyal following at. This was the first night under new management. Before and after sets, there was incongruous, pulverizing hiphop bass, complete with horrendously obscene lyrics. The new management had decided that it would be cool if there were two entirely different types of music on both levels of the club, with us on the top floor, and much louder rap nonsense below. We didn't stand a chance. During our second set, the new manager came up after our second tune and asked us to quit playing because there was an Ultimate Fighting Championship contest on the television. This is exactly the sort of scenario that I've worked so hard to avoid over the years. We've always packed this room to the gills, but by this time, many of of our loyal regulars had respectfully bid us goodnight, and I've the feeling they won't be back to this room. By the end of the evening, some drunk broad had invited herself onstage and had decided to sing badly and grope my unsuspecting butt. You can't buy class, you can't even rent it.
I think the new manager's marketing aims are transparent; he wants to please everybody. However, having been in this game for three decades, I can say without a doubt that you can't please everyone. If a venue regularly attracts a mellow and substantial listening and drinking/eating clientele, there's really no reason to turn it into instant gratification/American Idol/karaoke/rap stupidity, simply because you happen to be in charge and happen to be a stupid, clueless person. And from a marketing standpoint, my experience also indicates that you won't be around for long if you're not sure as to what sort of clientele you wish to attract (kindest way of saying it).
As of Saturday night, I've lost forever much of the clientele that I've busted my ass to build within that bar over the years, and I'm sure of it. They were as pissed with the scenario as was I, but I had to work. When asked about future dates at the end of the night, I begged forgiveness and said that I'd forgotten my "little black book"; the truth of the matter is that I've about as much interest in playing that bar again under current mgmt. as I do in being impaled by Vlad Dracula in the fifteenth century. I won't be back under the current regime, apologies in advance, thank you very much.
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