Re: [Harp-L] Re: Harp-L Digest, Vol 35, Issue 64

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eric Neumann wrote:
> [Austin is] jam packed with musicians, and the venues we play at - 
> generally start you off with just tips, then a piece of the bar, 
> then you can get gigs taking cover charge.... but those gigs are 
> generally for nationally known recording artists or in slots at 
> popular clubs where harmonicas are unknown in any form.

Our band has at least progressed to the level that we can book for a 
fixed fee, playing mostly at restaurants rather than club 
performances for an audience.  Restaurants don't pay much, but we 
usually get a free meal, maybe a drink or two, and we can put out a 
tip jar.  Also, restaurant gigs are earlier in the evening, which 
helps if you have a family and/or a day job.  I can't imagine 
playing until midnight to 1am on a regular basis and getting up the 
next morning and getting my kids off to school.  

I've played with bigger bands for a cut of the door, and it's feast 
or famine.  The same venue might bring in $1000 one night and $200 
the next, depending on what else is going on in town.  

The trouble in Austin is that there are so many venues competing for 
the same audience that they can't afford to charge a decent cover, 
or people will just move on to the next place that doesn't.  As a 
result, audiences drift from club to club, just to see what's 
happening.  But I bet the guys at Pete's Piano Bar and making some 
scratch.  

-tim