Many times. Whenever ANYONE claims they’re “close” with some member of the management, I tell him/her to bring the manager here and tell me. I usually do this ONLY when the requests are totally conflicting with the overall vibe.
Sometimes I’ve told trixies who claim they know the owner that the owner isn’t in charge here tonight…that it’s the promoter. They get mad, but the promoters were glad I didn’t destroy their night to please a trixie. Even when the owner comes over and asks me to play the girl’s requests, I’ll simply and politely say that I would be happy to, but I do not want to wreck the promoter’s night and thus they should make sure it’s ok with them.
I just think people get into this “me me me me me me” mode and forget it’s not about just them. The worst was when a promoter told me to play whatever BS some trixie wanted to hear because he wanted to lay her later. You can see why his event didn’t last very long and got labeled “lame” very quickly.
Bar owner’s son is no different. If his requests are going to make a mess of the night, then I insist I get a green light from whoever is in charge. It sounds like a lot, but if playing some brat’s request is going to cause 1/4 or more of the crowd to leave, then one has to ask what’s more important.
