Pros, is being fed in your gig contract?

[tzadik]

My band always asks that venues provide eats for us, and they usually do. Sometimes even if it isn't a place with food, they have us order something and have it brought in. It's all fine, but I am just wondering if this is standard since we never really made a point of being fed in my last group.

Do you get fed? Do you think it is silly or standard to expect food from a venue as part of your contract?

[Chili]

i dont have any experiance with this, but, if i got free food i wouldnt commplain, but i also wouldnt expect to get it, if some places give you free food, good, if some dont, not so good lol

[202dy]

Always include a food and beverage clause in the rider attached to the contract. Very few venues will balk and sometimes the food is outstanding. One caveat: Eat before the show. There is too much to do during the breaks and the quality of the chow at two in the morning will be marginal or non-existent.

[Fishbrain]

in my old band we used to play this venue where the promotors loved us, so much so we'd get a crate of beer and a bowl of chili and rice which we thought was amazing.

Now I'm in my new band I realize that playing the same venue gets you £80 instead, obviously why the venue loved my old band playing so much, they paid us with chili and everyone else with money.

[Mickey Shane]

We get 1/2 off on our individual tabs for food and drink.

[Dave Martin]

When I travel with a band, food and drink is typically provided. It's in the rider, I assume (since I'm a hired sideman for those gigs, I don't know the details...).

[Eric Moesle]

I've been lucky to play a certain country club several times each year, and it spares no expense for its members or for the band. The pay is great, and the contract provides that food and drink is provided: full open bar, and the last time I was there I had FOUR grilled lobstar tails.

Usually for bar gigs we have various agreements for a percentage off of the food and drink bill, and sometimes for up to a certain dollar amount for free. It depends on the bar, how well it seems to be doing financially, and how well we draw there.

Private functions, we either state in the contract that we are to be permitted to access whatever food is there for guests (buffet, etc.) or if its a festival-type show we always anticipate that food might not readily be available to us, so we specify a deli tray, sandwiches, or pizza with beverages for a certain number of people. Nothing worse than being stuck somewhere for an extended period of time with no access to food or drink.

[jady]

If it is an event or venue with food we always get it. If it is a venue that does not serve food we eat on the way.

[bassistloaded21]

it depends on the gig. When we play at a bar when were not on the road, if they serve food, sometimes we get it. IF were on teh road, which means playing at actual venues, the food isnt included, but were making a minumum of 1000, lot more than a bar. Depends on the type of venue, type of band also, but typicall, no. Food isnt included

[johnmark]

On big enough gigs, my band used to have a food clause in a rider that allowed the venue to opt instead for a payout of $10 per member. This is the route clubs usually took.

My wife used to be the "hospitality manager" for a 2000+ capacity club back when we were dating. She arranged food for many big bands. Nearly every major group would have this in their rider. I'd get the food sometimes... I recall fetching many vegan meals. Sometimes they'd also specify things like laundry needs! I didn't do that. Ha.

I saw a lot of the riders. I don't recall any "blue M&M's only" type requests, but most did have food and a a local "transportation" clause so they'd get ferried in a car instead of their bus once they arrived.

[D.A.R.K.]

we have a rider that provides us with food and beverage.
as the previous poster stated, they sometimes do a buyout instead which would be equivalent.
a good thing to remember, rider and guarantee, a runner, and everything else is taken into consideration by the promoter for the show
when a budget is worked out.
this means the money to pay for it has to be made.
when i was playing in bar bands, food and drinks were usually provided by the venues, either free or at a discount....
easy to do for venues that have kitchens and bars built in.

[JimmyM]

We request food on our rider. There are times we don't get food, for example this one place we play locally to us, but we get half off. But yeah, other than clubs (or even clubs too if you can talk them into it), we always get food provided or a food buyout, or sometimes both (thanks, Mohegan Sun!)!