Quite right.
Hosting live music in a pub is very risky business and somewhat a luxury.
Brewery's and Pub company's come second place to the inland revenue. In respect that they charge tied pubs top dollar for their beer hence the charge is passed on to the customer which results in lost trade. The rents are extortionate and the customer pays for that. The non domestic Business Rates are set against rentable value so the customer pays for that. If you are lucky enough to have Sky TV the cost set by Sky is comparable to you business rates therefore very high IE. in excess of £1000 a month unless you have rate relief. Then of course if you play in a decent band you will want paying I personally would t expect anything less than £150. as a solo artist on a Saturday night. then if i was in a band I would expect £70 if playing in a 4 piece. The band also has to make contingency for dispersal costs so a 4 piece would need £300, if they were to cover public liability etc etc.
The pub is a changing place and with cheep supermarket offers, social networking, home entertainment, the availability of local gyms (peer Preasure). central government restrictions on alcohol. and the endless restrictions placed pun pubs by local council like door stiff at £15.00 an hour, restrictive opening hours, dispersal policies,and fire regs. The end is Nigh
next time you see a pub with a live act stop for a minute and count up the costs.
Door staff at £15.00 an hour each, the live act £150 to £300 for the night, bar staff, lighting , electricity, heating, rent, rates, other stealth costs IE licensing, health and safety, environmental, fire regs employment casts, etc etc . The list is long.
