Main Street Coffee House

[mapsedge]

My audience was sparse but kind, most of them friends or acquaintances, which is just fine. Always good to see friendly faces. The venue itself, though...

I don't mind playing gratis now and again, but I'd like some consideration from the venue: a latté, or a sandwich. Not so, tonight: drip coffee only, anything else I was a paying customer. It also helps if the person booking the act doesn't treat the act as an inconvenience. You asked me, honey, not the other way around, but you made me feel like a trespasser. Fu-u-u-ck you.

I considered packing my gear and walking out when She said, over Her shoulder no less and without breaking stride, "Drip coffee only," but I said I'd do it without ever specifying terms, so I did it. Never again, though. Not for free, anyway.

Comments

[glesyn.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Thought better of them than that.

[buffalowmn.livejournal.com]

That's ... unfortunate. Ptoo on the attitude.

Sorry we weren't able to make it--we went to my nephew's first birthday party today, and as it turns out, that'll wear a body out! Looking forward to hearing you again soon, though. :)

[starwyse.livejournal.com]

That sucks. Makes me reconsider going back there...

[thebruce.livejournal.com]

There's a whole philosophical argument about the traditional "tips and drinks" gigs for venues that are on a shoestring anyway. Even among "singles" (one singer playing an instrument with whatever mechanical/electrical backing) the competition is so fierce. I've been in a community of people who did this for a living 6 nights a week, and those who didn't have a steady (hotel bar, usually) gig resented those who gave it away for free, and those who gave it away for free thought the working musicians were being unnecessarily rough on them. It's something to consider, really. I'm presenting an idea, not taking a side; my experience was in Gulfport MS in the mid 1980's.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

Around here there is definitely a divide between the Paids and the Frees, but it's more of a status thing, the Paids saying "You get what you pay for". (Which, often as not, is exactly the case.)

I can see resenting the Frees, as it cheapens the overall product and makes it hard for the Paids to make a living. Since I don't make my living here (yet), it's not a debate I feel the need to get into. For my part, I refuse to take sides.

Make no mistake, though, I don't mind playing for free. Let's face it, Independence isn't the coffee house capital of anything, they're all struggling for cash. I don't object to "tips and drinks" when there are actually drinks made available and, perhaps more importantly, I'm made to feel welcome, neither of which was the case last night. Given the economics of a latté, I could not have consumed enough espresso and milk to make a discernible dent in my usual fee, but it would have softened my attitude greatly.

[thebruce.livejournal.com]

I agree. That's what it really comes down to. If the management is grateful and willing to trade a bit of their product for a bit of what you (all of us) have to offer, then as at Stonebridge, one is happy to have a musical home and a place to play and be loved.

As an unrelated note, I was very happy to find my fingers picking out a beloved tune yesterday while I was tuned in DADGAD. P'raps fingerstyling it may be something to look at, vs. strumming. I love what it does for you! Looking forward to the CD!

[ladyniniane.livejournal.com]

Having been both a patron and a player in more than one performance venue in recent months, I would have to say that you were justified in feeling angry with the situation.

It's less about whether you are being paid to be there or not, and a whole lot more about the kind of attitude shown by the manager. As you noted, they asked you - you didn't ask them - and you were there to help with the process of making the business work. She was showing an insensitivity to both you and her paying customers, one that will come back to bite her in the a$$ at some point.