I don't have much competition here as far as arabic music is concerned, and I did saturday night gigs for almost 2 years straight, but what do u do when your competition is the restaurant owner themselves????

I quit the restaurant about 2 months simply cause I have had it with them , their attitude,and lack of gratitude for what I have been doing for them. What that restaurant brought in as far as money on saturday nights is more than what they made all week combined!
My contract with them was 9pm-midnight...I would show up 7:30-8 alot of times , and never a thank you so the times I show up 8:45pm, I still hear "why are u late" ?!!!!
I play till 1AM almost everytime, never asked for extra money. But for ever meal they gave me for free, they had to throw some kind of word about them feeding me!

The straw that broke the camel's back is when I heard that people are calling the restaruant to get my number to book me for private parties (where I make at LEAST 5 times what i made at the restaurant), and the restaurant owners would not release my number to them intentioanlly trying to ruin business for me!!!!

Anyway, thank God I have always done a good show and for the past two months, I have gotten so many emails and phone calls from "fans" who are upset that I quit playing, cause it was the only place that had this kind of entertainment.
In March I start in a much bigger restaurant that has much better design for middle eastern music, and all my "fans" are eagerly waiting so they can come. I am willing to put money on the fact that the first restaurant is going to call me back soon after, cause they will realize what a loss they will face (if they have not been facing it already).


About band competition it happens to me all the time in private parties. I had played with my band in Burmingham last new year (2003)eve and the people loved it so they called me back in last september to book us for this past new year eve party (2004)...He wanted me to work with him on the money this year cause they were tight on budget, so I dropped my price $500 below last year's price. He was going to propose to the committe , and after their meeting he called me saying that another band from here offerred them yet another $500 below our lower price! and they booked them off course!
I guess its part of the business.

But like they said above, you have been at that restaurant 13 years, I highly doubt the owners are interested in any replacements!

[This message has been edited by Mosiqaar (edited 01-19-2004).]