[quote=Notes Norton]I don't patronize any place that has open mic nights. Why? It exploits musicians.
  • The owner gets paid
  • The managers get paid
  • The bartenders get paid
  • The cooks get paid
  • The wait staff gets paid
  • The bouncer gets paid
  • The provisioners get paid
  • The floor sweeper gets paid
  • The toilet cleaner gets paid
  • The musician gets nothing and in most cases the songwriters don't either as open mic places usually avoid ASCAP licenses.

That tells me that the management thinks the musicians are worthless - worth less than the owner, manager, bartender, cook, waiter/waitress, bouncer, provision, floor sweeper, and even the toilet scrubber. These are all important people who contribute to the profitability of the venue, but so are the musicians.

So if the establishment doesn't respect musicians and pay them what they are worth, I don't respect the business, and they won't get any of my money.

Exception: If I know there is a house band getting respectable pay and people sit in for free, I don't mind.

But that's just me.

No it's not just you, we are rowing in the same boat. IMHO Open Mics just exploit musicians' who feel that "any gig" is a good gig.

Later,

Danny C.
www.dannycampo.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Danny-Campo/379776252109306?skip_nax_wizard=true

The More You Drink The Better I Sound