I have a regular gig - Wed and Fri. We get down!!!!!! All the other bars close down on Wed night and come to my show.
The place in town that gets most of the business on Friday (live, popular bands) - the owner approached me last year and offered me 3x what I was making on my Wed night gig (this was before my show got as big as it is now). I talked with my current owner, and she upped my pay (not to the same level), but the increase was enough, and the convenience and the steady build to my show, was enough to stick around. The owner that offered me the 3x, brings his bartenders and some other way cool people and they party there butts off on Wed. He contracted a mediocre show and does it on Thursdays.
I left my current gig for two weeks once (all hell broke loose), went to a rival bar (more for the stage that anything), and ended up coming back because there are certain things I think we KJs take for granted.
1) I need a bartender (or two) that know how to work the bar. The ones at my current gig can do a $1000 till solo, where at this other place I was at for two weeks, the bartender(s) tried to discourage people from being there because they wanted to shut down and go drinking themselves. I have enough to worry about with the show, I don't need to babysit the bar staff too.
2) Most owners don't know jack squat about what it takes to put on a show. The prep, the tuning, the building of a crowd, the affect inconsistency has on that crowd, etc. My owner comes in maybe once a month and sees the party, but she makes some of the most asinine business decisions I've ever seen. Trust your gut, but the grass will not always be greener if you chase that extra couple of bucks. If you have a solid steady show, stick with it.
3) I do my gigs in a small town. In this small town there are eight bars within stumbling distance. Don't take for granted that a crowd will follow you if loyalties are in question. Many of the people that come to my shows have loyalties to the bar. Many wouldn't follow me to a new joint because it's a new place, new tenders, new crowd, it's the difference between sleeping in your bed or your neighbors. There's a certain comfort people just won't sacrifice. I've always said, people hang out where there friends hang out, and only a small percentage of the people that come to my shows actually sing. They're there for the atmosphere, the party, the funny KJ guy, the pool tables, the bartenders, and the casual environment.
You gotta do what you think is best for you and your needs. Using diplomacy and don't burn the bridges. Be thoughtful and do things for the right reasons. To an owner you're leaving, money is not a 'right' reason, even if they don't see the same value in you. Give them something less insulting, like "I want to grow my show, or try new things". This might leave the door open for your return, if things don't work out at a new place. Trust me, they won't always work out.
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