General Music Chat

We all need it!

Is this the same JD's that used to be "Moose's" or something like that? Interesting they tried to plead such poverty with your band when it came time to pay out. See according to a local KTVN channel 2 news, Fernley has suffered from some flooding and good ol' JD's has offered give our free food to people who need it. They are listed on the bottom of the article on the floods, saying:

JD's Bar is offering free food, coffee to those affected. Located at 1375 East Newland Drive, Suite #5. Can also be a drop-off center for donations.

They really pulled a shitty stunt by trying to stiff your band. I am going to spread this story around, and I'm also going to call that place myself and let them know what I think of establishment owners who try to rip off musicians.

Thanks for the warning. This is a real pet peeve of mine.

You've got to get a written agreement. Then there's the broken nse and/or jaw method of guaranteeing payment. Works every time. Later...

We bands have to stick together.....I appreciate the comments..Rock on!

It really sucks when people do that, I've been ripped off too, in Austin Tx years ago. Played on 6th street on a corner as half of an acoustic duo, we were asked to play in a club down the street after a couple of regular fans asked us to come in and play. (we also often took breaks there) We went from table to table playing for people (with the waitresses telling us the next table that wanted us) and the waitress would put a gallon pitcher on their table for tips. It went so well the manager asked us to play regularly on their stage (which the other guy built) so we did.

It went great, started out decent and in 2 months we were taking in at least $250 a night each on weekends, with one of our friends taking the cover charge ($2 a head) and the club paid us nothing, just the money we got at the door. And our tip jar, which was really not that much, $20-30 a night or so.

One weekend we netted $700 each for two nights, the manager (at least 300 lbs of pure greedy bitch) decided she wanted some of that money and put one of her employees at the door. The $700 weekend before we had only a couple of bar stools empty at the end of the night, this weekend it was standing room only and turning people away at the door for lack of room, at the end of Friday night she handed us $125 each and said that's it. Same Saturday night with the place again cram-packed.

I confronted her about it and she threatened to sic one of her college bully boys on me, I told her go ahead, this skinny bald white boy would mop the floor with him...then her... I guess he believed me, he didn't try to get too close, just stood there and tried to look mean...or try not to look scared, I'm not sure which...I was pretty mad...

So we went back to our street corner and when asked why we told our rather large fan base the truth. Her business quickly dwindled back down to a half dozen people or so at a time. She closed down 2 months later. We also found out from her assistant manager, who was a good friend, she was shorting employees on their hours too and they were pretty sure she was stealing form their tip jars, but never proved it or caught her. They would work 30 hours and get paid for 25, that kind of thing.

She also told us that just one cash register out of three closed out at $2100 (may have been $2400 I can't remember the exact figure any more, but over $2000) the last night we played there, their best night ever. The second one was at $1600 when she left the cashier still counting and had something else to do. The third she never found out. She estimated it at $900 since it was always the lowest and least used.

When we started playing threre, their business was really slow, we never saw more than a dozen people in the place, while almost every other club on the street was usually packed, standing room only, at least the ones with live music. Which was why we liked to take our breaks there. Quiet, peaceful...nobody bothering us..

So if you walk into a club run by a 300+ lb woman named Rita, RUN back out the door. I don't know where she went when she left Austin, she was in hot water with the IRS and city and state for both income and sales taxes, and I think because of the employee complaints too.

So if you walk into a club run by a 300+ lb woman named Rita, RUN back out the door. I don't know where she went when she left Austin, she was in hot water with the IRS and city and state for both income and sales taxes, and I think because of the employee complaints too.

I will be sure to run, as far and as fast as possible. I do not know, after reading your story, PaleoPete, and then reading cndygraf's, I have realized that there is a lot of crap going on out there. It would piss me off beyond all belief if someone tried to stiff me. The only way is to force them to sign something so they cannot get out of it.

I think now I am going to be very cautious someday when I begin playing in a band, I will just remember what I have read here, lol.

In fact, I have a better idea. If someone tries to stiff me, I will just call Irminsul over with his AK47 and his hate for people who rip people off. Then I definitely will get payed, lmao.

What a corrupt world we live in. *Shakes head*

Sorry to hear you two had to go through such troubles with these bars, it really sucks.

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

To cndygraf...and anyone else interested....when I get my site moved over to my new server (sometime tonight) I will provide a link for a free download of a standard, legally solid contract that the AFM (American Federation of Musicians) uses. I suggest any of you who regularly gig, make use of it. It's a good contract, air-tight.

Any establishment owner or client who refuses to sign something like this is very likely the type of person who will screw you anyway.

That's cool. I appreciate it. Looking forward to using it!

Yes that is cool Irminsul, thanks!

No problem, gang...my personal website should be back up sometime this evening (had to switch it to a new server) and then I'll post the link. It will be a PDF file.