Think the venues and promoters are all ripping you off?

Think again:

Sit down with a spread-sheet and try to figure out how much $$$ the bar "makes" from your fans.

Now add in the venue's and promoter's expenses.

For this exercise, ideally, you'd spend the next few weeks calling 50 people in the government, insurance industry, real estate, and various wholesellers and retailers in your home-town.

But since you don't have time for that, I'm sure, how about I give you some estimates for a 250-seat venue in Chicago, IL:
Note that these are estimates. Anybody with authoritative information to correct this is most welcome to educate me. Wankers with no clue what they are talking about email here.

$10,000 per year liquor license.
$2,000 per WEEK advertising.
$2000 per year BMI.
$2000 per year ASCAP.
$500 per month "dram shop insurance" (required if you sell booze)
***PAYROLL*** Even if they only pay a bartender $5/hour and the sound guy $50 and the door man $50 and the busboy $5/hour and the cook $5/hour, they also have accountants to pay, and a booking agent and/or promoter, it adds up fast, eh?
$250 (?) per year for business license
$5000 per year restaurant license
$1000 per year training/certification fees for food-handlers
$5000 per month rent
$300 per month electricity
$300 per month gas
$100 per month water and
Throw in $10000 per year for that new air conditioning system, or new roof, or new water-heater, or new oven or whatever it is that year that breaks and has to be replaced.

Put all that into a spread-sheet, and divide it out to an average daily expense.

Now input your best guess of their "take" on a Friday/Saturday versus a Tuesday and come up with an average daily income.

Let me know if you think it would be really smart investment to run out and open a music venue. Oh yeah.

Send your spread-sheets here and I'll post 'em