Let’s Talk About Sex

Not really. But now that I've got your attention, let's talk about local music venues.

In my experience, folks aren't likely to pay a five-dollar cover charge at a local bar for most local music acts, thus leaving the bar empty at the end of the night, thus discouraging bar owners from supporting live music. We often encourage such venues to avoid charging a cover and pay their bands a flat fee or, at the very least, a guaranteed minimum. You'll find most bar patrons will end up spending an average of 50 dollars or more on alcohol by the end of the night."Tremendous markup on alcohol," an instructing chef said at a Charlotte culinary school. "Sometimes in the hundreds and hundreds percent markup."

Let's do some math.

Recently, we performed at a similar, aforementioned venue. Approximately 30 people refused to pay a cover charge and enter the bar. That's 150 dollars. Based on a 50-dollar average liquor sales per person statistic and a 200 percent liquor markup average according to Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc., you're talking thousands of dollars in missed profit and revenue, even after paying your band a flat fee. Other benefits include the increased exposure your bands get. Naturally, if the band's good, you're more likely to increase repeat business as a result.

Most folks who approach a bar at 10 pm and are faced with a five-dollar decision aren't going to think about any of this and make the right decision. In the end, it's all a game that local bar owners have to be willing to play. Make the right decision for them. Game over.

Now, let's talk about time. I've been on a crusade for some time now to convince music venues to start their music earlier. We don't begin until 10 pm. Often later. I surveyed 100 people on our mailing list. Average age, 27.87 percent of those I surveyed are in bed by 10:30 pm at the latest, Monday through Thursday. The biggest reason is "work."

92 percent are in bed by midnight on Fridays. The biggest reason is "Saturday plans."

89 percent are in bed by 11 pm on Saturdays. The biggest reason is "church" and "other family-oriented activities."

96 percent said they would see us perform more often if we performed earlier. The other four percent said they would see us perform more often if they didn't have to travel more than 20 minutes.

85 percent said they preferred going to see a movie vs. live music. When asked why, most said they could get off work, go out to eat, catch a 7:30 movie, spend time with their family or significant other, and still be in bed at a reasonable hour.

There's a reason most concerts begin at 7:30 or 8 pm. Would you be more likely to go see Fleetwood Mac in concert on a Tuesday night if they started at 7 pm or 11 pm?

The more thought and effort we put into improving and supporting live music at every level, the more likely we are to see results. Only you can support live music.

Jeff Hartman, Everything Artist