Last Sunday night I counted 11 talented ITM'ers at the local session.. The sound was BIG and the mood was great until..... I went to the bar for a pint.....NO!...says the barman says he.. Mind you not an owner/manager to be found......There's to many of you ! ......Can I start you a tab ?... I said yes, thinking Im not going to miss out on this fun just because I won't get a free pint..... Anyway I see the night continue and my tab grow.... Hmmm... I notice the pub is packed to hear the music...and I can say this because when we packed up so did the rest of the pub... As one of the session leaders(3 yrs)... How do I tell these people some travelling an hour or so... No pints!!!.. Anywho the E-mails are piling up...I don't know what to say or if there is a solution....Do you think it would be wrong if we packed our own sixer and a brownbag ?
Maybe check with an owner/manager, tactfully? Offer a compromise, maybe. Free *first* pint, for players? Ask the owner to check the take for session nights--money talks.
Consider the consequences. A great session here was just axed, even though it was only "one dollar discount for players." In its place: an open mike, for American Idol wannabes. Another session was lost to "sports bar = more money."
I wouldn't bother pursuing it. The landlord is obviously too cowardly to tell you himself so he has got the barman to do his dirty work. That's the way some of these guys work. So there's no point in pursuing it.
You're now left with 2 choices - stay there or go elsewhere. Are there other pubs nearby which might have a session, and send you a few free beers? Is this pub the default session pub locally? THese are the kind of questions you must bear in mind as you decide.
IMHO.
OTOH, you could consider the price of the drink as your 'rent'. You may be entertaining customers and drawing more in or you may be taking up space and driving them away.
Same here. But I don't like landlords reneging on a verbal agreement, that they said they were going to get every player a drink or two in, then don't.
A free drink for everyone who has been there for an hour or so and has actually been playing. It helps the barman if he first goes to the session leader and asks him/her for a drinks list. I've been in sessions where this procedure is used, and it works well.
My favorite session was a bit out of the publican's control a few years ago, consistently 10-12 or more musicians, drinking all night for free. So first he started limiting people to two free drinks a night. And then he set a limit of no more than eight musicians at once, then six, then five. Unfortunately, he has done too good a job of saving money, as the session is staggering along with usually only 3-4 people attending. But his revenues are down also, as his clientele has dropped significantly on that evening.
There was a happy medium there that we missed along the way!
I go to the session that lamh is speaking of, and the bar owner usually lets us drink for free. The problem was that last week, we had a larger than usual session, and she wasn't there, and the bartender seemed to make the decision on his own. There were twice as many patrons there as usual for a Sunday night, and most stayed just to listen to the music. Lamh, I think you should bring it up with her, in friendly way, and find out what part she took in the decision last week. Good luck!
Thanks Everyone ... I think I am going to put an E-mail together and let the players know if they want a drink they can support the pub next door over... I may even have a pizza delivered.!..If that doesn't get the barmans attention oh well... Have Tunes Will Travel.......
One pub charges musicians half price for drinks, so they are presumably still making a profit. The (new) owner has recently commented that there are too many players (16) and taking space from full cash customers. If the session packs up and moves, we'll see what the net result is (if anyone goes back for a look).
A friend and I ran a session that first wanted to offer free beer and wine, they'd bring a big platter of fried chicken, fries, mozzerella sticks, greasy finger food, but very good. They then downgraded to no more food (tho it was cheap stuff) and then no more bar beers and wines, but a pitcher of cheap beer, filled as it emptied, then nothing, we bought the pitchers ourselves at times for the table. We were not a big drinking crowd, it was a very small out of the way session, but nice. We'd buy people a drink sometimes too if they wanted something besides beer. They came a long way and someone should give them something as at least a gesture of appreciation. We were paid to run it, not real well, considering we had to lug sound, and to us it was a gig, they worked us to the bone, four hours, no breaks, and no more than a minute talking between tunes or there would be a filthy look. Still, we felt we had to give something to those hiking up to this session.
So to make a short story long.... if you are paid to run it, it may be diplomatic to buy a pitcher for the table. That's if you want to keep the session running there. The owner can do what they want, they make the drink rules. I'd ask if they'll give you a break or sell you a pitcher or two at cost if they are cutting the drinks out. Just pay for it later after everyone else leaves so they don't feel badly (some actually do!) and you settle up. We also always left a tip for the staff from "The Table of Musicians". This is all only if there is a paid host person or people. If not, if you are playing for free, maybe somewhere else would love to have you and give you a few pints or a pitcher for the table in exchange for livening up the place.
Privilege Stripped...
Privilege Stripped...
Last Sunday night I counted 11 talented ITM'ers at the local session.. The sound was BIG and the mood was great until..... I went to the bar for a pint.....NO!...says the barman says he.. Mind you not an owner/manager to be found......There's to many of you ! ......Can I start you a tab ?... I said yes, thinking Im not going to miss out on this fun just because I won't get a free pint..... Anyway I see the night continue and my tab grow.... Hmmm... I notice the pub is packed to hear the music...and I can say this because when we packed up so did the rest of the pub... As one of the session leaders(3 yrs)... How do I tell these people some travelling an hour or so... No pints!!!.. Anywho the E-mails are piling up...I don't know what to say or if there is a solution....Do you think it would be wrong if we packed our own sixer and a brownbag ?
LOST FOR WORDS....
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by lamh trom
Re: Privilege Stripped...
Maybe check with an owner/manager, tactfully? Offer a compromise, maybe. Free *first* pint, for players? Ask the owner to check the take for session nights--money talks.
Consider the consequences. A great session here was just axed, even though it was only "one dollar discount for players." In its place: an open mike, for American Idol wannabes. Another session was lost to "sports bar = more money."
Just some offhand thoughts. Best of luck to you.
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by mickray
Re: Privilege Stripped...
How does the pub work? Is every pint free or just the first few? I have seen so many ways that a pub would work out how session members get benefit.
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by TheBloodyIrish
Re: Privilege Stripped...
I wouldn't bother pursuing it. The landlord is obviously too cowardly to tell you himself so he has got the barman to do his dirty work. That's the way some of these guys work. So there's no point in pursuing it.
You're now left with 2 choices - stay there or go elsewhere. Are there other pubs nearby which might have a session, and send you a few free beers? Is this pub the default session pub locally? THese are the kind of questions you must bear in mind as you decide.
IMHO.
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: Privilege Stripped...
Tell him to stick it
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Privilege Stripped...
OTOH, you could consider the price of the drink as your 'rent'. You may be entertaining customers and drawing more in or you may be taking up space and driving them away.
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by Paul_draper
Re: Privilege Stripped...
I never had a problem paying for a pint if the session was good...
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by Saint
Re: Privilege Stripped...
Same here. But I don't like landlords reneging on a verbal agreement, that they said they were going to get every player a drink or two in, then don't.
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: Privilege Stripped...
Are you playing at the session for ther free drinks, or the craic?
The session I occasionally attend does a huge plate of sandwiches and a free drink for every player, but if they didn't I'd still go.
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by Martin Milner
Re: Privilege Stripped...
A free drink for everyone who has been there for an hour or so and has actually been playing. It helps the barman if he first goes to the session leader and asks him/her for a drinks list. I've been in sessions where this procedure is used, and it works well.
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by lazyhound
Re: Privilege Stripped...
My favorite session was a bit out of the publican's control a few years ago, consistently 10-12 or more musicians, drinking all night for free. So first he started limiting people to two free drinks a night. And then he set a limit of no more than eight musicians at once, then six, then five. Unfortunately, he has done too good a job of saving money, as the session is staggering along with usually only 3-4 people attending. But his revenues are down also, as his clientele has dropped significantly on that evening.
There was a happy medium there that we missed along the way!
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Privilege Stripped...
I go to the session that lamh is speaking of, and the bar owner usually lets us drink for free. The problem was that last week, we had a larger than usual session, and she wasn't there, and the bartender seemed to make the decision on his own. There were twice as many patrons there as usual for a Sunday night, and most stayed just to listen to the music. Lamh, I think you should bring it up with her, in friendly way, and find out what part she took in the decision last week. Good luck!
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by irishfiddler32
Re: Privilege Stripped...
Free drink, lucky you! We have to pay for all of ours, but then we can sit and enjoy the craic if that's what we want, and no pressure to perform.
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by mehere
Re: Privilege Stripped...
Thanks Everyone ... I think I am going to put an E-mail together and let the players know if they want a drink they can support the pub next door over... I may even have a pizza delivered.!..If that doesn't get the barmans attention oh well... Have Tunes Will Travel.......
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by lamh trom
Re: Privilege Stripped...
Two of our pubs give a cap on the amount we can consume, whether there are three or 15 of us. Once that is reached, we pay. Works well.
# Posted on April 4th 2007 by feardearg
Re: Privilege Stripped...
One pub charges musicians half price for drinks, so they are presumably still making a profit. The (new) owner has recently commented that there are too many players (16) and taking space from full cash customers. If the session packs up and moves, we'll see what the net result is (if anyone goes back for a look).
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by oldstrings
Re: Privilege Stripped...
A friend and I ran a session that first wanted to offer free beer and wine, they'd bring a big platter of fried chicken, fries, mozzerella sticks, greasy finger food, but very good. They then downgraded to no more food (tho it was cheap stuff) and then no more bar beers and wines, but a pitcher of cheap beer, filled as it emptied, then nothing, we bought the pitchers ourselves at times for the table. We were not a big drinking crowd, it was a very small out of the way session, but nice. We'd buy people a drink sometimes too if they wanted something besides beer. They came a long way and someone should give them something as at least a gesture of appreciation. We were paid to run it, not real well, considering we had to lug sound, and to us it was a gig, they worked us to the bone, four hours, no breaks, and no more than a minute talking between tunes or there would be a filthy look. Still, we felt we had to give something to those hiking up to this session.
So to make a short story long.... if you are paid to run it, it may be diplomatic to buy a pitcher for the table. That's if you want to keep the session running there. The owner can do what they want, they make the drink rules. I'd ask if they'll give you a break or sell you a pitcher or two at cost if they are cutting the drinks out. Just pay for it later after everyone else leaves so they don't feel badly (some actually do!) and you settle up. We also always left a tip for the staff from "The Table of Musicians". This is all only if there is a paid host person or people. If not, if you are playing for free, maybe somewhere else would love to have you and give you a few pints or a pitcher for the table in exchange for livening up the place.
# Posted on April 5th 2007 by irisnevins