Why 9:00 or later?

[Pax]

Why do venues start bands at 9:00 or later? I work, have a family, and so on. During the week you can forget it. I ain’t going. As for weekends, I’d still like to be home at 11:00.

Yea, I’m older now, but I still like live music. Seems like this is a holdover from a different era. If you’re playing classic rock, blues or other music that seems to attract an older crowd and you own a venue, why do this?

What really got me thinking about it was that I was in Austin recently. David Grissom does a Tuesday set at 5:00. Are you kidding me? I’d be at that every Tuesday and still be home to eat with the family. Other venues had music playing at reasonable hours, too. My area is nothing like Austin, but still seems like it would work.

[smallbutmighty]

Couldn't agree more. I'm not sure where/when/why somebody thought 9:00 or later was when people wanted to see live music. My guess is it has to do with last call is, or when local law says bars must close. Most places around here it is at 1:00. Four hours backwards from that = 9:00.

I would love to see more local shows starting at 7:00.

[tiktok]

Why do venues start bands at 9:00 or later? I work, have a family, and so on. During the week you can forget it. I ain’t going. As for weekends, I’d still like to be home at 11:00.

Yea, I’m older now, but I still like live music. Seems like this is a holdover from a different era. If you’re playing classic rock, blues or other music that seems to attract an older crowd and you own a venue, why do this?

What really got me thinking about it was that I was in Austin recently. David Grissom does a Tuesday set at 5:00. Are you kidding me? I’d be at that every Tuesday and still be home to eat with the family. Other venues had music playing at reasonable hours, too. My area is nothing like Austin, but still seems like it would work.

The working business model is to have live music until last call, which is typically 2PM. Starting earlier means increasing the number of acts or finding cover bands that can grind it out for five or six hours.

[The Last Rebel]

It's even better when the band/venue is running on punk time and doesn't get started until 10 or 11. Still, I have this weird thing about not liking to see bands when the sun's up especially at outdoor venues.

[fetchzee]

A couple of the (original music) bars here in Columbus, OH have started having Friday happy hour live sets - and they are great. Bands play 6:30 to 9:15 or so, and then the "evening" bands come in for the normal 10:30 to 2:30 weekend gig time.

We've actually had more consistent crowds at the happy hour gigs - and the "evening" bands usually have a good crowd built in for their first set. The bar's happy because their sales are up.

I can't believe it took the local bars this long to come up with it.

[Guitar Josh]

I suppose no consideration should be given to the band members themselves, who also probably have to work, have a family, etc.

[Pax]

I suppose no consideration should be given to the band members themselves, who also probably have to work, have a family, etc.

...and them, too. One of the reasons, aside from many others, that I can't see how I would participate in a band that played bars.

[Pax]

The working business model is to have live music until last call, which is typically 2PM. Starting earlier means increasing the number of acts or finding cover bands that can grind it out for five or six hours.

Seems like if you drive sales well enough you could justify and early band and later band.

[shredtrash]

My band's have been doing a lot of 7-10 and 8-11 gigs lately with a lot of success.

We're thinking about approaching other places with the same idea. People start clearing out around midnight anyway so they can avoid the DUI roadblocks. It really does make sense to start and end earlier for the most part. An 8-12 gig at some of these places would probably do a lot better than a standard 9:30-1:30 here.

[tsar nicholas]

I prefer later shows, especially during the week. I typically leave the office after 6pm, and I like to have something to eat and maybe change clothes before a show. Also, later shows are better for the family, because I can see the kid before bedtime and then go to the show afterward.

Last month, I missed the chance to see my favorite rock 'n' roll band, Guitar Wolf, because some moron booked them to play at 8pm (before the local cover band even!)

I was SO angry, I actually pulled a telephone pole out of the ground and demolished the bar with it

[Floyd Eye]

Bars close at 1 AM here. People tend to leave when the band stops.

[clarkram]

I would like earlier starts too, but the bars I play try to get kids/families out of the way before the music starts. We usually do 9 to 12 or 1am.

tonite, playing an outdoor gig on a rooftop bar from 6 to 10. We like this venue a lot. When you play here on Saturdays its 7 to 11. You have to stop at 11 because of local noise laws.

[taez555]

Bars make money by selling alcohol.

If later band start times = more alcohol sales and less overhead costs, then you'll see later start times.

That's it. Basic economics.

[Ben R]

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/angry/angry-old-man-smiley-emoticon.gif

[Matt Sarad]

Re: Pax and playing in bars. My brother is one of those guys who traded alcoholism for devout Christianity. He won't play in bars. Being around alcohol makes him nervous. He is by far the best musician in the band, but he is cut out of most of our gigs.

[Solcat]

I talked my guitar teaching to move is weekly show that consists of a different professional player for 1.5 hours and then a blues jam to start at 8 after starting at 9 and attendance jumped. Weeknights need earlier starting times. And if the venue serves food, food sales will go up if they have shows closer to dinner time.

[mannish]

9:00 is a great start time for me.

[xjojox]

Typical bar gigs in San Antonio are 930-130, some are 9-1. A few places do earlier but they are typically more food-oriented.

There are plenty of places that do a brisk business till closing, so the band helps keep the people in. But, as noted earlier, if the bar specializes in music that appeals to an older crowd, they should really pay attention to when the crowd is thick and when it's thin. In most of these places, they would do better to go 8-12.

My band is mostly classic rock and some prog rock. We do enough danceable stuff to get a floor going, but we have enough "listen to this" to play places where the tables come up to the stage and dancing doesn't matter. We bring in a strong crowd, but most are outa there by 12 or 1230, they're a bit older and need to get home to kids, pay babysitter, take their geritol, whatever. But most are cool with bar food for dinner, so I think they'd do better to bring us on earlier, which would encourage them to come earier to eat, hang out with the band, etc. before the show.

The owners/managers are often not around at closing. Even if the bartender says the place was dead the last 2 hours, if the bottom line looks good the band will continue to get gigs. Last gig I played, even my wife left a little after 12. The place was pretty empty, other than folks who live nearby stopping in on the way home from somewhere else (interestingly, most of them stayed). But from 9-12 it was packed with folks eating and drinking, and we immediately got asked back.

[buddaman71]

this is, perhaps, the least rock n roll thread ever, but i do TOTALLY get it...

for the last couple decades, i've played at least 1-2 late gigs during the weekdays and then on the weekends too. that plus my full-time corporate job means i rarely ever sleep.

[Gasp100]

Re: Pax and playing in bars. My brother is one of those guys who traded alcoholism for devout Christianity. He won't play in bars. Being around alcohol makes him nervous. He is by far the best musician in the band, but he is cut out of most of our gigs.

Sounds like he has his priorities in order.

[jayjerry]

Pretty much ever bar I ever played in did not start getting a crowd until about 10:00 and the peak time was the 11:00 - 1:00.

[cruisemates]

I am in a band with guys aged 45 - 60. I hate to say it, but at every gig we have played the crowd has been thick and loving us for the first two sets, but they really thin out by midnite - often we don't even do a third set unless its a gig that pays by the set - sometimes the owner tells us its OK to quit early.

We are defnitely thinking about 8:00 start times at the latest - three sets ending at midnight.

The last thing I personally want to do when I want to go too a bar is wait around any later than 9:00 just for my night to get started.

Hey - I remember living in Hollywood and sleeping until noon (30 years ago), getting up and getting ready to hit the Rainbow or Starwood at 10 pm. I don't live that way anymore, and when i did I drove home drunk every night from buying two rum 151s with coke (because I didn't have any money, either).

If you want to entertain the older crowd who have the money, you should start earlier - it just makes more sense.

[moosewayne]

Back in the day, one of the BEST bands of all time regularly played gigs starting at 6:30.
They specifically did this 'for the folks who have to get up and go to work tomorrow.'
LONG LIVE THE MINUTEMEN!!!!!!!!

Bowling for Soup just played here last week. 5:45 showtime, BFS was on at 8:00 sharp, we were home by 10:20 including a White Castle pit stop. Freakin' awesome!

[imastratoholic]

I will occasionally go see bands that start "late", but I have to make sure I'm not working the next day. I don't do well on 3-4 hours sleep. Just not worth it to go out that much anymore unless it is a national act that I'm really into. Local bands... sorry.

[Baba]

I'm a middle aged guy and don't necessarily love being out that late when I gig, but younger people are the biggest demographic for bars/clubs, and they don't go out at 8:00 at night. This is nothing new.

Have you ever heard of an "after hours" club? Who do you think are in there? People who closed down other bars at 2am and didn't want to go home yet.

The partying bar/club crowd is, for the most part, NOT about middle aged people. I'm not sure why that surprises some people.

[thedroid]

I've seen a trend toward earlier start times at the live-music venues. Nothing starts later than 9, and a lot of shows start at 8. But it's very rarely earlier than 8, because people have to get home from work and eat and get to the venue.


These are places that are only open when there's music, not bars featuring cover bands for dancing.

[rowdyyates]

The "younger" scene around here doesn't get started til about midnight, but most of those clubs don't have live bands. The casinos used have a 2-6AM slot, but I don't think they do anymore.

Most of the places we play are 9-1. We never play weeknights because we all have jobs. Saturday nights are tough because I play at church Sunday AM and show there is 7AM. I usually get home at 2:30 and get up at 5:30. As long as it stays fun I'll keep doing it.

[mannish]

I do a 10-2 that is kicking at 12:30-1am but it wears me out. Still more fun than most gigs else we would not do it of course

[Bluzeboy]

The partying bar/club crowd is, for the most part, NOT about middle aged people. I'm not sure why that surprises some people.

Exactly !!!!! around here there are more Colleges/College Students than you can count. There are 8 just within 20 miles..

[wrong_note_rod]

Why do venues start bands at 9:00 or later?

Because venues cater to people younger than you.

and WAY younger than me.

[mj07]

Why do venues start bands at 9:00 or later? I work, have a family, and so on. During the week you can forget it. I ain’t going. As for weekends, I’d still like to be home at 11:00.
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You are in a very small minority. Most of the people paying to see music are the bar patrons. Most of the gigs I play I don't start seeing real crowds till 11, sometimes 12. Nowadays people have less drinking money, but still want to be "out all night" so they go out later. I've seen it across the country.

[smallbutmighty]

Exactly !!!!! around here there are more Colleges/College Students than you can count. There are 8 just within 20 miles..

Hmmm...

I think there's always going to be a young party crowd, but I would argue there is always a rotating older market too.

Right now it's a lot of people from the 70's and 80's generations who are emerging from their child-rearing years and are looking for more "selfish" entertainment again, but have grown beyond wanting to stay up 'til 2 A.M.

By our third set they have all gone home, and we are often left playing to belligerent drunks. I have to think that if the band started earlier a lot of those older people (who in general have way more disposable income then college kids) would buy enough food to offset whatever alcohol sales are in the bar's last hour.

[Bluzeboy]

I think there's always going to be a young party crowd, but I would argue there is always a rotating older market too.

Sure there is... the trick is to get both of them... The older ones thin out as the younger ones arrive.. best of both worlds.

[Pax]

Hmmm...

I think there's always going to be a young party crowd, but I would argue there is always a rotating older market too.

Right now it's a lot of people from the 70's and 80's generations who are emerging from their child-rearing years and are looking for more "selfish" entertainment again, but have grown beyond wanting to stay up 'til 2 A.M.

By our third set they have all gone home, and we are often left playing to belligerent drunks. I have to think that if the band started earlier a lot of those older people (who in general have way more disposable income then college kids) would buy enough food to offset whatever alcohol sales are in the bar's last hour.

Sure there is... the trick is to get both of them... The older ones thin out as the younger ones arrive.. best of both worlds.

For those of you feeling the need point out I'm old, I'd say I'm older and said as much in my op. The point, which is well made in the two posts above, is not to say there isn't a younger bar crowd. Of course, there is. The point is if you're going to play music an older crowd likes at places they might frequent, why start it after they want to leave. Not very rock-n-roll-ish, I agree. But there might be a market for it.

[Bluzeboy]

For those of you feeling the need point out I'm old, I'd say I'm older and said as much in my op.

I wasn't pointing at you sorry if you took it that way. Most bars/clubs that I'm aware of around here cater to the general college aged crowd.. May not be that way everywhere the other posters live but it's a reality where I am.

[Pax]

I wasn't pointing at you sorry if you took it that way. Most bars/clubs that I'm aware of around here cater to the general college aged crowd.. May not be that way everywhere the other posters live but it's a reality where I am.

No problem. Didn't think you were saying that. I agree with ur post. That is the trick; get the older crowd early and younger crowd later.

[Dave Shoop]

A club I work has the band start a 6:00 on Friday. Play until 10:00 to a good turn out. Fun gig but....... a DJ starts at 10:00 and a whole different crowd rolls in. I think many look younger than 21 but not my concern.

[Ros]

In some clubs we've played a part of their business is food based (one has an attached restaurant) and we've been told "No sound checks until the kitchen closes at 9 pm".

That being said, it's pretty easy to see the crowd/age ratio change over the course of the night. The younger crowd comes in around the start of set 2 and the older crowd starts leaving around the end of set 2. It reminds me of my wedding reception actually... ;)

-R.

[smallbutmighty]

Sure there is... the trick is to get both of them... The older ones thin out as the younger ones arrive.. best of both worlds.

No, no, no....the trick is to start earlier and finish earlier.

I'm part of the older crowd too, you see....:rockin