I just got fired because I wouldn't Play for Free

Jimi Cleek · #1 09-17-2007, 11:40 AM

I am posting this mostly because I find it humorous and was wanting to hear a few opinions about it.

First, let me say this is a cover band.

Second, I have been less than enthused with about 1/2 of the song selections, and I have been keeping my ear to the ground for a new band anyway.

Third, When I was asked to join I let them know in no uncertain terms that I did not want to be in a practice band and that working was my first priority.

Here is the email I got from them Yesterday.

Jimi,

We discussed it as a group and we have decided that we want to go with another bass player. We appreciate the areas where you have helped. However there are some fundamental differences. As a band we want the freedom to be able to play anytime we want without pay being the top priority. We sincerely hope that we can remain friends and possibly help each other down the road.
We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors and hope to see you at a show sometime.

Regards,

The Band

It's really to bad as we just added a really good keyboard player and he was keeping the guitars in line and things were tightening up nicely. Although in the long run I think they just helped me out because I am not good a quiting until things become totally intolerable.

Curious to read your thoughts now.

Thanks,
Jimi

fenderhutz · #2 09-17-2007, 11:44 AM

Music is fun to me, while it's nice to make money, I like playing even more.

A free show every once in a while isn't half bad as long as you like the music.

Now you have no band. I would have chose a free show if I liked the project.

Mr.Phil · #3 09-17-2007, 11:48 AM

Looks like you were interfering with their aspirations to make no money.

dan.ablett · #4 09-17-2007, 11:48 AM

been in a few situations like that too... especially if you are used to making money from gigs, and the other guys aren't. a cover band like that, should be just another day in the office. you rehearse sometimes, you gig regularly and you make a good transaction between your time&talent and money.

playing locally, i dont expect to make much (if any money) from an original band, unless we get picked up. original music is completely different from a cover band. if they are happy playing other peoples tunes (from your tone a gather not awefully interesting ones) for free, then let them do that for free...

but stay friends with them, as they wish. go to a gig of theirs down the track... let them buy you some drinks.

Jimi Cleek · #5 09-17-2007, 11:53 AM

I actually have two other bands, one that works once a month or so and an original band that rehearses once a week. We plan on doing the art fest series around town.

I let them know up front that I was only interested in a working band, and that I would quit the other copy band once we were working steadily.

Now I am glad I didn't make any rush decisions about quiting my first band as gigs are starting to come up again.

Jimi

Norwegianwood · #6 09-17-2007, 11:58 AM

I would not play in a cover band for free , unless it´s charity or something. But back in high school I would love to do it - just for experience.

I certainly think you did the right thing - unless the other cats are really good and you learn alot from it.
But I doubt that.

IanStephenson · #7 09-17-2007, 05:11 PM

You can't get fired unless you were employed... No Pay=No Job=No Fired.

I don't play to get payed (it pays for petrol, and some new toys - never made anything you could call a profit), but any band that has PLAN to loose money is just screwed up... When I play gigs and don't get payed fairly I get pissed off. If it's a charity gig then great, but if we're playing a bar, then the bar staff are getting paid, so we should too. I'll play for free in bars/clubs when they start giving beer away for free. While there's money changing hands, I want some of it (at least a token gesture) in MY hand.

Just make sure you keep the keyboard players phone number.

Ian

Dr_Funkdamental · #8 09-17-2007, 05:31 PM

I understand your position. Im starting to get on the scene where I am, but alot of ads and calls Im getting contain the line "We're mainly in it for the music and to have fun. Not necessarily for the money". Im like, thats nice, and jamming with ppl is cool, but I got mouths to feed.

geoffkhan · #9 09-17-2007, 05:48 PM

Yeah I hate it when bands play for free or undercut other bands (or undercut their own worth!).

If you're going to play out, play at the standard rate. Don't undercut yourself or other musicians just because "playing is fun", or charge a substandard rate.

Many times musicians forget about the cost of their instruments, the time they spend practicing, and the time they spend rehearsal, and these factors don't get put into the equation.

Diggler · #10 09-17-2007, 06:34 PM

When someone says "without pay being the top priority", they really mean "pay isn't a priority" at all.

Stinsok · #11 09-17-2007, 06:40 PM

They let you go over that?

juanete · #12 09-17-2007, 06:42 PM

It is a cover band... Money talks in those situations (otherwise I think he woul've been playing something else)

bnutz · #13 09-17-2007, 06:57 PM

It sounds like you've made the right decision for you. If you were looking for a working band and this band didn't do any work (or at least enough to keep you happy) then I'd say you have every right to feel like they didn't hold up their end of the deal, if that's what was agreed to from the get go. There are a million cover bands out there that work plenty (and thousands, at least, that are looking for bass players).

-b

sublime0bass · #14 09-17-2007, 08:04 PM

on one hand, i dont like people who wont play music for free. they tend to think they are above the "average musician". and if you are only making like 50 bucks a night, the issue of pay is moot.

on the other hand, if you only want to use music as a form of pay, more power to you, but you need to accept that some people dont care if they ever see money. its not really funny, its just enjoying what they do. they probably also generate cash from other jobs, and not from play. To them, life (playing music) comes first, and money 2nd.

Vandelay · #15 09-17-2007, 08:43 PM

If it were an all-originals band, I could understand their approach of playing whenever they can regardless of pay. When you do originals, you often have to take what you can get, especially at first. But cover bands should at least TRY to make money. If they don't even want to do that, they should just admit that this is a "hobby" band.

WayneS · #16 09-17-2007, 08:48 PM

We play covers and originals. Almost everywhere we play, we play for free. Bars, clubs, parties, we will play anywhere for free.

If people dont have to pay, usually more people will show up. More exposure that way. Our main area of interest is the music, not the money.
While the money is nice, the music is better.

Quote:

"If they don't even want to do that, they should just admit that this is a "hobby" band."

This is where you are wrong. We are a very serious band. We are also in the recording studio. This is not a hobby.

robboy · #17 09-17-2007, 09:00 PM

If you don't make money playing, it's a hobby. In my area at least there are already enough people who will play for little or no money. Playing is a large part of what I do to pay my mortgage and I don't much like it when the competition tries to undercut me by offering to play for free. However most of the bands that try to do this, in my area at least, are so bad nobody would hire them anyway so it's sort of a non issue. I don't know what all of you do for a living but I doubt that you would think much of someone who would offer to do your job for nothing.

nastyn8c · #18 09-17-2007, 09:05 PM

I love my band right now. Everybody is very respectful, and we all share creative control while allowing each member to do their own thing. We're all on the same page: we'd rather be having, fun making great music, and making no money, than be making money by selling out.

trevcda · #19 09-17-2007, 09:18 PM

Why do musicians continue to perpetuate the myth that they are second class citizens? That thier time, efforts and work have no value. When the brewers make beer, the clothes stores make clothes and automobile makers produce thier products "FOR THE ART OF IT" and give it away for free, I might change my views on this. Know what they call artist, dancers and other people who perform for free? Homeless. Does the sound guy provide thousands of dollars in equipment and his time for free just so he make you sound great? Know of any bands touring the country that foot the bill to rent the (insert the name of your town here) performing art center, a touring sound and light system and fly themselves to podunk so you and your buddies can see them for free? Yeah good luck with that. With the kind of thinking I see going on here you'll bring back the pay-to-play from the 90's. Your time, energy and efforts are worth something or you wouldn't be asked to be there. Don't let somebody else make money for your efforts or you'll just set yourself up to be walked on through out your musical career. obviously there are exceptions such as charities that you believe in. But even then the caterers and the facility are at least recouping operating costs. Sorry this stuff pisses me off. I'll stop ranting now...

sjb64 · #20 09-17-2007, 09:31 PM

It sounds like your heart wasn't in that band. You and the rest of the band have different priorities. It seems like you made clear to the rest of the band what your priorities were, and that's good.

It's a small world. I would try to keep things civil and professional with your former bandmates. You didn't like half of the music that you were playing anyhow. Move on and don't look back.