How do ya make sure the price is not to high and not too low?

A few other thoughts:

As in marketing the rules of 7 and 9 applies and it would take a good 6 months to get a 'following' going. Doesn't it?

Have you:
Gotten local press?
(consider making it a theme event for example a new thing for me is doing 'Motown Mondays' at a local bar)
Done flyers? (that is what have you done to promote the gig?)

and yes the reason we do gigs like this is not just the steady income but the 'referrals' are great. But I think we should all have the _minimum_ be a $100 a night. Sorry but I don't think club owners value what we do very much. But changing night also did not help and the dinner crowd and the drinkin crowd are as you well know 2 diff. animals.