I'm about to audition for a famous Christian artist, and I was wondering how does payment work when you get a gig like this. It will be my first full time spot, and I have a family to support. when would be the appropriate time to bring it up, if it doesn't happend on its own? due to the touring schedule, i more than likely won't have a job, how do I balance this so I can finally live my dream?:help:

Ask them first what they are paying. They'll ask you how much you want to ask for. Just ask again, in a very civil way, you'd like to know if possible what the offer is first.

The pay will be weekly with daily per diem. Rehearsal will usually be 50% of the pay of the touring salary.

JMJ

Also ask them about EVERYTHING: will payment be via a '1099'.. will you be a employee.. will they take out payroll taxes .... are there ANY benefits at all? Any profit sharing? If you DON'T start asking these questions, you'll be letting yourself and your family down. Keep the 'pixie dust' out of your eyes and KNOW what you are getting yourself into... especially when it comes to paying taxes and all related matters that may come to haunt you on down the road.

Get yourself a contract that lists, wage compensation, lodging expenses, medical coverage and life Insurance, Gear maintenance, replacement, Gig cancellation compensation. If you are presented a contract, make sure you run it by your attorney first before signing. Remember everything is negotiable.

+1 with Rattman. It's a business like any other, and it sickens me to hear bandleaders who think it's a sin to discuss money when it comes to hiring players. And usually those bandleaders have something to hide, so it can tell you a lot about a situation by how they respond to those questions. You can't get greedy, but those are all legit questions.

However, the timing of when you start to ask all the questions about details can be debated. As someone with no real bargaining power, I would ask what it pays before the audition, but maybe I'd wait until they threw a firm offer at me to find out the details, especially if you're a first-timer and the act is very well-known. Like if Clapton or Elton John offered me an audition, I'd just ask where and when to show up, whereas someone like Justin might ask a few more questions as he's already established.

This is all great stuff from JimmyM, Rattman, and steve66.

But steve66, what touring scenarios offer medical & life insurance? and gear replacement? I've never seen such things covered on a tour, so please school me if I'm missing something! Maybe you do a different kind of touring than I do, but the artists I've toured with, (Beck, Air, Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, Macy Gray) or artists I've heard about from close associates do not offer that sort of thing. It's very simple and uniform. Your main variable is weekly salary, then there's per diem (which isn't usually negotiable, because everyone in band/crew get the same amount, though it is higher when you tour outside of the US). Travel is always included, as is hotel. Transfers to the airport from your house are negotiable. Business class/first class seating is negotiable. The only other thing that I can think of that's variable is the salary for rehearsal vs. touring. Sometimes 50%, sometimes 75%, sometimes full salary. That's really about all that changes. Everything else is fairly static.

There is the occasional contract, but it's usually 2 pages or less. If you demand one, sometimes people trip out a little bit, I've seen it happen. So play it cool if they aren't doing something in writing, it's not the end of the world. But do follow the advice given above, and find out everything before hand. No sin in getting all your facts straight...that's why artists have tour managers/business managers to act on their behalf. Those people are paid to not get offended by basic questions like this.

Oh, and you get catering for dinner or a meal buyout. If you're playing large clubs and up, you've got a backline guy (sometimes shared with another player) who is going to help you with maintenance, so that is included, in a manner of speaking.

Profit sharing is rare for sidemen. But some of the tours I have been approached for in the past have had bits of that going on (Weezer, NIN, Smashing Pumpkins).

Best,
JMJ

Alright JMJ... I think we all have covered some very useful ground here for our fortunate, (fulltime) touring bassist fellow TB'er.. Hopefully others also have taken a look at all the variables of which not all are covered.

Obviously we are delighted about your new opportunity 'playinpearls'.. I know we'll be getting some detailed info here as you get it. One more thing that I just thought of: why not keep a simple journal as well? Just to help you keep everything straight.. A just-in-case-kinda thing.. congrats brother.

great info, thanks a lot. I'm actually a drummer, and that what the gig is for, but i got sick of my drum forum and came over here cause i'm learning bass.

I at least have an idea of what i'm getting into now. I have talked to one of my friends that has been offered a keyboard position before and he says they go by a 2 year contract or something like that, so i think there is going to be a small contract...

I'll let you know how it goes! thanks guys!

Hi MJM

I wanted to reply to you without going into to much detail, but you can see from my post that it just wasn't possible. :)

A person I know (don't think I can list the company due to forum rules) deals with insurance and contracts. She puts together insurance programs for Entertainers and big businesses.

She recently wrote one program to cover a world wide tour for a very well known singer. The insurance program covered every employee (personal trainer, beautician, and security included), extra musicians, contractors and equipment on the tour.

By Contract, offered reimbursement and /or compensation for lodging, travel, meal plans, life insurance, and Medical/Dental benefits while on tour. The contract also stated tour dates, times, rehearsals, expectations for each employee depending on what your role was. I don't recall the exact verbiage, but Full time employees get to fly in their immediate family to some gigs !

If the tour was canceled, or, you were let go for some reason, you were paid in full.

This program took months to create. I also could not believe the layers,limits of insurance and different carriers that make up these programs. These programs are not cheap. This is big business.

So I guess it depends on the artist.

It doesnt hurt to ask about compensation and types of insurance available to you while on tour in leui of ones own personal insurance. Touring groups most likely have an insurance policy. Some elaborate, some not. All businesses do. Its just good to know for piece of mind. I dont think asking these questions will prevent someone from getting the gig.


Peace

Steve, in my experience, I would say that's by far the exception and not the rule. But I would certainly like to land that gig!

Ditto. That kind of tour is organized like a corporation, and in my world, I've never heard of something so clinically well thought-out. No offense to you Steve, and I certainly don't imply that such a gig doesn't exist. It just doesn't sound like the rock world, that's for sure. Even people I know that work for U2 or the Stones: they get a salary, a per diem, an e-ticket, and are told when production rehearsals start, and an estimate of how long the touring cycle is going to go.

So I would also say that this scenario you have outlined is a real exception to the norm. I would urge anyone reading this, therefore, to be cautious about your expectations, because the average road-hardened tour/production manager, or experienced music business manager (whoever you talk to about the logistics and details of the tour you are being offered), might be quite incredulous if you start talking to them about health/life insurance.

JMJ