PIMPED OR PROMOTED?

[woody357]

I know a cat that sits in with this group almost every week, sometimes for part of the gig, and other times for the whole thing. The band gets paid, and gets tips, most of the time he doesn’t get anything, sometimes they give him about ten $$. He never complains, he told me it help him to play on the fly better, and that he is getting exposure. I can see his point to an extent, but I wonder if he is getting pimped. When he is not playing the bassist from the band plays or plays keyboards. The group sounds better with my friend playing bass; they have a fuller sound because the other bassist will play keys, or guitar. The band has gotten other gigs from this regular gig, and I would say also from him playing, but he never gets asked to play for pay. My question is “Is he getting pimped or promoted?”

[IanStephenson]

Many people have said "I play for free, I just charge to transport my gear".

If he can walk in on the nights he happens to be there, without any commitment, pick up an instrument which is provided for him, and play until he's tired, then go back to the bar, and have someone else tear down for him, he's not getting too bad a bad deal.

Playing is the fun bit of being in a band, and he's getting to do that without any of the obligations that normally go with it, so I wouldn't complain too loudly for him.

On the other hand if he's play whole sets regularly, maybe he should be getting something. If the band called him up and ASKED him to be there that would definatly cross the line.

Ian

[Jazzin']

It's his choice. The band should offer him some compensation. If he declines, he's not being pimped because he had the choice. He just wants to play for the other reasons besides money.