The hotel/casino environment is sometimes a bit daunting to entertainers unfamiliar with the genre. These establishments often run a very tight ship. You should be well-versed in stage and band etiquette and special requirements. Here's a few tips that will keep management happy and ensure you get invited back.

What can be potentially the biggest pet peeve of management is also the easiest to fix. Be on time! This sounds easier than it often is. When you have 5 or 6 people scattered throughout a room, it's quite likely that one of them will not be paying attention to the clock and leave the band waiting around on stage. This is ALWAYS bad news. First of all, your set times are not negotiable. You are paid to perform at very specific intervals and you should ALWAYS be ontime for your sets. Even a minute late is unacceptable. It sets a very bad precedent among your band members if one or two members are continually late. It also reflects very badly on the band as a unit. It looks very unprofessional when your band is onstage ready to play, and one member is still at the bar trying to get a drink. Management does pay attention, believe it. If your set begins at 10:45PM, your drummer should be counting off the first song of your set at exactly 10:45PM. If your set ends at 11:30PM, you should end your set precisely then. It's always a good idea to leave room in the last song for musical breaks so that you can tailor the song to end your set at the right time. This is also a perfect opportunity to announce your break, acknowledge the staff, make any other announcements as requested by the establishment. Don't count on everyone having sychronized watches, either. If your stage doesn't have an LCD clock, bring your own, and make sure every member of the band adheres to it.

Be mindful of decibal levels. Often, especially in casino lounges, the band is there to add ambience, not to be the main focus of the room. You will often find you are under very strict rules about decibal levels on stage. Drummers often play behind plexiglass panels. Amp levels usually need to stay very low, as not to compromise the overall mix of the PA system. Guitarists and bassists should consider investing in a good direct box and rely on the stage monitors instead of their own amplifiers. It's very strange to the ears at first when you're used to cranking everything up, and it may feel like you lack the dynamics of other performances. Even so, learn to work in this environment with lower levels because it will be required.

For some rooms, realize that you are depended upon to create the atmosphere. No matter what the feeling of the room conveys, how you perform will dictate the general atmosphere. If nobody is dancing, and as a result you perform with less enthusiasm, you are only further perpetuating the stale atmosphere of the room. This is the time to step up your efforts and put on your best show. It's hard to look excited at 3am in the morning when your only audience is the bar staff and a few people slumped on the bar. But it's important to remain enthusiastic and put on your game face, even when you don't feel like it. Set the bar high and stick to it for every gig, no matter what the circumstances. If you're worried about coming off as insincere, don't. You're a professional entertainer, so play the role.

Remember you are representing the venue. Very important! Your conduct and appearance respresents the venue that hired you to their guests. In this sense, your should conduct yourself as an employee. 5-star hotels are in the service business. That extends to you, as the entertainment. Make every effort to be conscientious at all times of your responsibility to your employer. It's good for business, and good for your relationship with the management. It's simple really. Treat the guests with the utmost respect and politeness. Be sociable and make the rounds during your breaks. Talk to people! Not only is it a great way to establish a connection with your audience, it's a great way to learn about local culture and make the overall experience a pleasant one for the guests. When your guests are happy and comfortable and having a great time, management will be happy.

Dress appropriately and groom. If you're playing a 5-star establishment, you obviously don't show up on stage wearing jeans and tennis shoes. The band should adopt a uniform dress code and groom accordingly. For guys, consider neatly pulling back long hair, especially for photos. It looks cleaner.

Don't be too indulgent! Many times, the lounge will provide the band with alcoholic beverages during the course of the night. Use good judgement here and don't overdo it. Not everyone handles alcohol the same way, and it can get ugly if a member of your act abuses it too much and counducts themselves in a manner that reflects badly on all of you.

Follow these general tips and you'll help ensure longevity in the business by developing good references and happy management. It's really comes down to utilizing good common sense and being aware of your role as an entertainer hired by an upscale establishment.