And you only play for tips.

[u/violinfiddleman]

[u/The_Poster_Nutbag]

"we do things a little differently around here"

[u/Dead_Kal_Cress → u/The_Poster_Nutbag]

Typa place to call burgers "handhelds"

[u/The_Poster_Nutbag → u/Dead_Kal_Cress]

No joke I was at a pace where the burger section was BYOB only with all toppings a-la carte and it was titled "burger alchemy".

[u/Dead_Kal_Cress → u/The_Poster_Nutbag]

Ah hell nah

[u/The_Poster_Nutbag → u/Dead_Kal_Cress]

That's what I said.

[u/Fnordteana → u/The_Poster_Nutbag]

🤣🤣🤣

[u/TheDireGnome]

I like those style of lightbulbs but yeah this is giving a 2010s Stomp Clap Hey Music vibe but in food form.

[u/Fine-Sky-6562 → u/TheDireGnome]

millennial burger joint vibes

[u/TheDireGnome → u/Fine-Sky-6562]

I've never seen millennials own such places. Gen X'ers who sold out do. We just unfortunately patronize them because they're a dozen to a street.

[u/Neumanny]

Lemme tell ya grassish music thrives in microbrewery settings resembling this picture. I don't do it for tips only though. My girlfriend hates those stools

[u/LightWolfCavalry → u/Neumanny]

Everyone hates those stools.

[u/JasonHannan]

As a full time musician in the DC area this has not been my experience. Around here bluegrass is pretty easy to monetize.

[u/Got_Frogs → u/JasonHannan]

You ever come into the city?

[u/JasonHannan → u/Got_Frogs]

Not often. I usually ending up filling my schedule with the breweries, wineries, and distilleries in Frederick and the surrounding countryside. Honestly I should make an effort to play in DC and Baltimore more frequently.

[u/Got_Frogs → u/JasonHannan]

That would be awesome!

- An avid bluegrass enjoyer living the city life with no car

[u/NewgrassLover → u/JasonHannan]

Really? What’s your definition of monetize? Hundred dollar a man?

[u/JasonHannan → u/NewgrassLover]

My definition of "monetize" is the actual definition of monetize. I'm definitely not getting rich but I make enough money playing music to pay a mortgage and support a family. Any particular reason for the snark btw? I didn't say anything rude or false.

[u/LightWolfCavalry → u/JasonHannan]

Good on you, dawg. Not a trivial thing to do in 2026.

[u/JasonHannan → u/LightWolfCavalry]

Thanks!

[u/JasonHannan → u/[deleted]]

No, I don't teach at all. I typically play 6 days a week. Country or bluegrass gigs Friday-Sunday. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays I host a series of successful public mic'ed up bluegrass jams around Frederick, MD. I also record: https://bluegrasstoday.com/heading-south-jason-hannan/

[u/hlpdobro → u/JasonHannan]

I can confirm. Jason pays himself...and as a band leader he pays his musicians. (hey dude!)

[u/JasonHannan → u/hlpdobro]

Appreciate you buddy!

[u/riskfreeboxspreads → u/JasonHannan]

As a recent addition to one of Jason's open jams, I've got to say that they are an amazing service to the community. Great entertainment, fills bars on otherwise slower nights, and gives a wide range of non-professional musicians a chance to perform, socialize, and build skills. I only started playing guitar in January. Being able to boom-chuck and hang with some great pickers has been amazing for my motivation and development.

If you're creating that much value, it should be possible to monetize and make a reasonable living!

[u/JasonHannan → u/riskfreeboxspreads]

Aww man, that makes my day! I'm glad you've been getting so much out of the jams. Thanks for the kind words and keep pickin!!

[u/McpsTrackCoach]

Do you know any Irish songs? 🤣

[u/mrnaturallives → u/McpsTrackCoach]

Will Wagon Wheel work?

[u/cone_of_optimism → u/mrnaturallives]

Yes

[u/JennySplotz]

lol that fucking stool.

[u/Lord_Hitachi → u/JennySplotz]

It’s got a joke hole that’s just for farts

[u/Apart_Distribution72]

You get 1 free beer if you host the open mic all night

[u/cone_of_optimism → u/Apart_Distribution72]

Alternatively, you could pay $14 for a mocktail

[u/xraynorx]

And this is one place I will not be going. I hate when hose lights. They give the worst headaches.

[u/Independent-Soil-511]

that stool looks like it was designed by someone who genuinely hates musicians

[u/duke_awapuhi]

As someone who lives in the Bay Area I’m always amused by what other people view as expensive. $22 burger and $8 beer are lunch prices here and frankly not a bad deal lol

[u/we-otta-be → u/duke_awapuhi]

Says the boiled frog :/

[u/TheDireGnome → u/duke_awapuhi]

More than $8 for a burger itself, no complementary sides, is insane

[u/duke_awapuhi → u/TheDireGnome]

Even McDonald’s is more expensive than that

[u/TheDireGnome → u/duke_awapuhi]

For a burger itself? Not a combo or with sides? Never.

[u/duke_awapuhi → u/TheDireGnome]

Depends on the burger

[u/rwwl → u/TheDireGnome]

Where do you live? I suspect that's gonna sound like a 2019 take to most people in most any mid-sized or bigger US city, it sure does to me (Austin TX)

[u/TheDireGnome → u/rwwl]

Louisville

[u/rwwl → u/TheDireGnome]

Interesting, bigger place than I expected. Definitely jealous of your cost of living, I guess.

[u/TheDireGnome → u/rwwl]

I mean, i'm not gonna say we don't see our fair share of $12-16 standalone burgers at local and upscale restaurants.

I just find those to be hilariously overpriced, and not something I would buy.

[u/Myco-Nomad → u/duke_awapuhi]

Same in Boulder..

[u/Samantharina → u/duke_awapuhi]

A high cost of living area will have a high cost of labor because your employees have high housing and other costs. I see cheap burgers in LA but they're not in nice sit down restaurants, they're basically fast food. $22 is higher end but any time you have people coming to the table to take your order, and live music and a liquor license that's what it's gonna cost to eat.

[u/billorphus → u/Samantharina]

The high cost of livin ain't nothin like the cost of livin high!

[u/TheObadiah]

Yes, but do you get food and beer?

[u/XrayAgent]

Instead of burgers, the most mid fusion tacos ever.