I spin at the same bar every Friday night. I got the gig because I bartended there every weekend, and last year, they had a DJ crap out last minute- I filled in, and the rest was history.
A lot of people around town have noticed me and have inquired about a lot of different events. The first one I took up on the offer was a local band that was putting together a massive show on a Friday night at another place in town, and they wanted a DJ to keep the party going when their set was over.
I took the night off from my normal spot, and flyers hit the streets a few days later. Almost immediately, the owner of my spot phoned me up in a foul mood. He went on to tell me (very nastily) that it was unacceptable for me to request a night away from his club and use my name to promote a show at one of his competitors.
As an artist, I don’t think he has any right to tell me that I can’t play other venues, advertise my shows, etc (unless, of course, I’m under contract), but my ties to his bar complicate things quite a bit.
In my defense, I don’t even care about the other bar… I just want the BAND to have a good turnout and get myself some outside exposure so I can have more regulars at my normal spot, which would ultimately benefit the owner that’s so pissed off about it.
He doesn’t see it that way, though. He only sees a major instance of disloyalty, and he doesn’t take disloyalty very well. I actually fear my job with him- it’s the only worthwhile place in town to spin at, and I make bank on the nights I still bartend there…
What can I tell him to help him understand? Suggestions?
That’s a tough one. Tell him you would be getting your name in front of people that might not frequent his bar thus bringing in new people and more money. You may need to concede this gig, but I think it would be smart business for him to let you get out and promote yourself to different crowds.
Yeah I would explain this as kind of a covert mission to steal the other clubs regulars, but don’t be to blatant at the other club and all should be good.
You have some good advices here…
I wish you good luck in this challenge.
Deal with people is much much more difficult then deal with music and techtools but you must figure this as a challenge not a problem, it may help you to not get lost in your actions…
Thanks for the input guys. I’ve got to go in there for my normal gig in about 3.5 hours, and I’m not looking forward to this, but hopefully all will be well in the end.
As I was setting up last night, I called the owner over and spoke with him about the situation. From the best I gathered, we both hold strong to our respective views toward the situation, but we both understand the other’s as well. He’s still pretty ticked off at me, as I am with him, but it looks as though we’re both letting the situation drop as long as it doesn’t happen again.
I’m still playing the show, and I expect it to be a blast, so if anyone is in the Nashville area, you might want to make the jog up to Bowling Green (KY) and drop in for it. PM me for details.
i respect you for who you are and everything. i like you, but don’t get offended from my opinion. its just my opinion.
i think you were wrong at all time and the club owner was right and had the right to be angry.
1st. you work at the club and because you work @ the club that means you cant play at other venues. you said it yourself, “I actually fear my job with him”
2nd. if you were on a record label, then you can play @ any venues, considering that it will be the record label that will be sending you to different clubs. (unless you were your own promoter/agent and promote yourself to different clubs then this would be an alternative towards being on a record label)
3rd. and yeah you offended the club owner, because you are a staff of Club-A and then you go to your competitor Club-B and help them out when you should have the band play at your club-A. Club-A & B are competitors and you work for Club-A.
people may disagree but this is how it is in NYC. 600+ish clubs/lounges. every club has DJ’s who work at the club on a weekend basis. It’s they’re primary job. not a GIG. but a job.
some of those clubs might allow you to work in multiple clubs, idk which ones, ask the club owner if hes cool with that. about 30 of those clubs are the only clubs that dont have DJ’s as staff. Instead they book they’re DJ’s from outside sources (record labels) etc.
this is just my opinion. my 2 cents. i respect you so i wont hold it against you if you disagree 200%.
I think the bar owner is being a jerk. If you were under a contract, like you said, that would be different. No-one can excepect you not to play at ever bar in town that will let you. That’s what artist do. They perform. Tuff situation. I say you weigh you pros and cons and go with what feels right. I myself, would play were every and when ever it feels right. Glad to hear it’s work out for the time being.
Unfortunately he has every right to impose an “exclusivity clause” .
I have had to negotiate myself out of one and its a pain in the ass but the club owner is stupid if he thinks that it can only do harm if you play at other clubs.
It can build up ‘your’ rep which in turn will bring people to see you at his club.
Thats exactly what my angle was and i got the clause removed from the contract because the club owner isnt a jerk. (well he is a bit).
He does sound like a jerk though… Problem is, if you have no contract its hard to argue with managers who change their mind and make up the rules as they see fit.
This is one of those issues that a lot of people dont plan for and when it happens they find themselves in a no-win situation.
in Australia, no club or venue has exclusive rights to any DJ unless they are specifically under a written contract. we are free to get a gig anywhere we want, for whoever we want.
most of the time if we can’t play a regular spot we’ll organise for someone similar to take the spot for that night - everybody needs a bit of variety!
if you’d given him very little notice to arrange a replacement or couldn’t get someone to cover your slot for you, then I would understand him being upset.
maybe I’m not getting the full info here - are you the only DJ in town maybe?
it all depends on the size of the bar, it’s location, it’s brand etc. angel music group are renowned for doing this in the UK. The Godskitchen brand got to big because of global gathering and thus messed up dj’s opportunities to play at other popular nights week in week out. They have Air in Birmingham (UK) which was great when they held nights on, but over the last few years the amount of nights on have dropped but dj’s are still held to contract. which stops any other club in Birmingham (UK) from booking. they’ll even pretend to have a night on, take ticket sales, book half of the alleged dj’s on the flyer’s then cancel the night due to poor ticket sales. And all this would happen when some other club was having something on, just to hamper it. I hate the BS that’s in bar/club industry with top cats and the likes of the pepsi marketers. All I can say is good luck and have fun.
I have a feeling you just found out why that one DJ “crapped out last minute” lol. Probably was due to an ultimatum with regards to where and how he should carry himself.
Trump my friend, I see why the owner got pissed off, and you really pissed in his cheerios!
You DJ at the Bar and you took a night off from your residency to go play at another spot on the same night. Thats a big no no.
You bartend at this spot too, so really your part of the team.
Next time just hit up the boss and let him know in advance.
I think the owner saw it as you went behind his back and was trying to start another night. The way the owner saw it, was that you were trying to take business away from him.
I have my sunday night residency and the owners like that I dj on other nights being that people find out where i play on sundays and will come out to my main spot.
