Yes and it's getting worse. My only good paying
gig is in a C&W band playing dance hall stuff, not
my favorite but the money is good. My 2 original
rock bands and jazz groups are mostly a labor of
love, friendship and creativity - might break even
if we're lucky.
For the most part people don't need to go out any
more, there are so many entertainment choices to
be had at home most don't bother, to be honest I
rarely go out any more for those same reasons.
With Karoke, DJs and digital jukes many bars don't
even need or want the hassle and expense of a
band. Music and bands have in so many ways become
disposable.
Both of the artists I have toured with the past
few years are gracefully and reluctantly retiring
because of that. What once were worthwhile long
term careers of money making recordings &
profitable tours have the past year been loosing
money and in one case the artist covered the
losses out of pocket.
I work my bahooty off promoting shows, e-mail,
facebook, phone lists and any other marketing tool
all for a hand full of a welcome but dwindling
audience.

I have also been working my buns off promoting, posters, emails, phone calls, schedules up on the website etc...and we may get a few people showing up....and I have seen that it's always the band's fault for not packing the place...you have to ask yourself " What is the CLUB doing to help promote and where are all their regulars"?

The only regulars at bars these days are folks with
no where else to go, mostly miserable unhappy folks.
FWIW I had been doing some bar tending to make ends
meet, but the regulars are just too depressing (and
tip nothing).

That's one of the reasons my band hasn't been actively seeking gigs. I'd rather just keep it fun and play for the love of music than have a club insult me (but then I also have the luxury of a full time income....)

I have only 4 Sats open for the rest of the year, but the clubs want you to play for nothing but the door...no more guarentess... sucks.

Yep and if you don't work the door good luck getting
a square deal.

we run into that here as well lesa. we do have a few clubs who pay us straight up but most want us t play for door only and then as you said....WE have to bring them customers.....makes you wonder who is keeping their doors open if the bands stopped playing. as was said earlier...Crapaoke and dj's have taken away live music. but this will bite the in the end. if they keep hiring dj's instead of live musicians, where they gonna get new music from? i look at playing for the door like this...if i want to play for free...i can do that at home or a friends house...and invite others over to a byob party.

There are D.J's and crapioke galore here...I guess some clubs love having drunk people that can't sing for their entertainment....

i know..

on average i find most people who do crapioke are those who should not even SPEAK much less sing.

So true~~~