h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It should be noted that live music is no longer allowed in Starbucks coffee places, by order from the head honchos. Supposedly, the music distracts from the coffee drinking or something inane like that. I personally substituted for a jazz band which played a Starbucks on weekends with rather a lot of success, for both the band and for the Starbucks which sponsored us. I can vouch for the fact that many people would come to Starbucks for the express purpose of watching us play and would then buy coffee. There were still those, of course, who came to hear us without ordering anything, but those people wouldn't have even bothered to stop by without the musical draw. The corporate order, however, stopped our Starbucks gigs, and I'm sure that the shop has suffered for it on those Friday and Saturday nights.

wow, was this a company wide, or just a decision from the regional manager or something?

According to what I was told, the decision was company-wide. The local manager wanted us to keep playing.

Or else he lied so as to not hurt our feelings.