The Breeze Bar, St Helens was tonight’s venue. Contacted late one night a gig had been secured. A trendy bar with emphasis on screening sports on several television sets in particular Rugby. The sport is widely followed across St Helens. Tonight was St Helens vs Warrington or something like that. Meaning no disrespect to sports fanatics we don’t really follow sport.
It was definitely the local team and as we walked in the build up on TV was starting. The bar was empty and we had no idea about the match. The person who had booked us had made the dire mistake of booking a band when a big match is on.
So after finding the Breeze Bar we had walked into an empty bar and introduced ourselves to the bar staff. They pointed us in the direction of where to setup, so we proceeded to do just that.
We were due to start at 8pm. This did not happen; the loud sounds of jeering rugby fans run through the bars PA system. No one approached us to discuss timings so we had a glance at the Rugby match.
It wasn’t long before it dawned on us that we were in Rugby Central. The big game was about to start. So the question running through our minds “who on earth would anyone be interested in dancing away to live music with a screen showing a big match?” The bar was still empty and our fears were reaffirmed when it became obvious that all 5 televisions were staying on.
By now it was 8.15pm so we approached the bar staff to find out what was happening. I asked a member of the bar staff who looked at me with a blank face and called the owner over. He said ” think we’ll have to wait for the rugby to finish first, sorry my bad, forgot this was on. You can have a wonder around St Helens if you like, your equipment will be safe”.
We had no choice but to wait for the match to finish before we played a note. After a long wait stirring at our equipment and nipping outside, triple checking the time and tuning the guitar 4 times the rugby reached its final stages. Then there was injury time, extra time and the running commentary after the match. We had to ask for the television to be turned off so we could at last begin.
2 hours later and finally we could begin. The bar was still empty. We started to play to a couple half way down the bar who were sat at a table. After a while they left and a few strays wandered in to go outside at the back for a cigarette.
This was fairly disastrous for us and also the bar. I had previously sent them posters which were not advertised anywhere in the bar. There were no signs outside that mentioned live music, so no one would ever know that there was to be live music that night. Hands up to them they were trying to find something to pull the punters in. Gladly and thankfully they did try it and that’s great.
Although its just on the outskirts of the town centre, regretfully it still wasn’t working. People were walking straight passed the bar and on into the town. I’ve looked at videos on the internet and seen other fantastic bands performing at this venue, they had the same response from an empty room. My heart goes out to you and we know just how it feels.
Not sure what it was really, it was our first time at this bar. Lack of advertisement? Price of Drinks? People watching X Factor? Reputation? Location? who knows. Some bars are known for being a sports bar and a late night club and I suppose if you want to add live music to your roster you have to advertise quite a lot. Its in quite a good location and as free advertisement passing traffic would see a simple sign outside.
With very little applause all night and that deadened silence after every song. We announced the last song and thanked the bar staff and our audience (the bar staff). The gig was over.
Although the bar was pretty much empty we tried to perform as though we were playing to a huge crowd. Its very rare we have a gig like this and it can be quite disheartening. Performing to only the bar staff, a few strays and the walls. You’ve just got to pick yourself up, dust yourself down and start all over again. After the set we packed up, left and got out of dodge as the Americans say.
We really hope the owner can pull the live music off and are grateful that they are supporting it. Its a nice little bar but would be so much better if it was filled with music lovers. Come on people support live music and your local. One thing we noticed when we were touring in America is that most bars charge to enter a venue with live music. Before you know it, it will all be gone and eventually only major concerts and festivals will exist. Then you will complain about the price of tickets.
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