Art Galleries, Art Associations, etc.

[jive1]

So I'm scanning Craigslist, and once again I see an ad for some group that supports arts in the community who is looking for a free musician for one of their events. I see these kinds of ads for art galleries, art expos, etc. all the time. Just about every time they are seeking a free musician.

Does anyone see the irony in this? A group that supports the arts, but doesn't want to help an artist/musician earn a living. Some of these events are to sell pieces of art (sometimes for thousands of dollars), promote the arts in the community or whatever. The sad thing is that they seem to forget that musicians are artists as well as members of the community.

The crazy thing is that when you go to some of these event, there's catered food and sometimes nice alcohol. You may also see things like balloon arches, ice sculptures, flower bouquets, and other luxury items. Some of it is donated, but much of it isn't. So the organization that "supports the arts" is paying $50 for a couple bottles of wine, but $0 for the musician and those same folk wonder why the arts are in decline.

If you're involved in one of these groups, please take this as constructive criticism. Here's some other pointers.
- When you are planning and budgeting for this event, please consider the musician. Maybe you can get away with getting a guy for free, but you are there to promote the arts, so please do so. One less tray of cocktail weenies, one less bottle of wine, and a smaller ice sculpture will help a musician pay their bills and continue their craft.
- If everything is donated, please say so. You have a better chance of getting a better guy if they know this, and they won't feel as taken if the event didn't turn out as well as they thought it would.
- If you really can't afford cash payment, then please provide value for the musician. Free exposure is everywhere, so it's not really a unique value. A table, banner, and a volunteer that will help sell your CD is. A photographer or videographer who will provide great promo material is. Media coverage is. Free exposure isn't.

[bassbully]

Our best paying gig was a large arts association group this past summer, an outdoor 1 day festival. It was in its forth year and paid pretty well. There were several groups and a pro stage and sound. We also did another decent paying gig in another non profit art studio a month ago for decent pay. I know what you are saying thou...could be the area or city?

[jive1]

Originally Posted by bassbully

Our best paying gig was a large arts association group this past summer, an outdoor 1 day festival. It was in its forth year and paid pretty well. There were several groups and a pro stage and sound. We also did another decent paying gig in another non profit art studio a month ago for decent pay. I know what you are saying thou...could be the area or city?

We did a great gig for an arts association with great pay as well. That's why some of those ads bother me.

[xgator4u]

Originally Posted by jive1

Does anyone see the irony in this?

A group that supports the arts, but doesn't want to help an artist/musician earn a living.

those same folk wonder why the arts are in decline.

Yup, I also see the pathetic hypocrisy in it. I expect you to pay me thousands of dollars for my crappy painting, while I also expect you to provide services for free. Someone should tell them to just give away those paintings, it would be excellent exposure.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by jive1

We did a great gig for an arts association with great pay as well. That's why some of those ads bother me.

Maybe its those artsy ,fartsy, tea toting kind of associations? Not the cool hippy type ones...those folks are cool.

[OtterOnBass]

I think this is a case of setting up your own target to shoot. I don't think the enemy exists. Have you been to an exhibition that has expensive decorations but didn't pay the musicians? There are all kinds of art exhibitions, from dirt-cheap to extravagant.

[sears]

Originally Posted by jive1

I see these kinds of ads for art galleries, art expos, etc. all the time. Just about every time they are seeking a free musician.

And just about every time they get half a dozen replies saying that you shouldn't play for free. I don't think the art gallery is looking for a cover band.

As a solo songwriter, I've played lots of art shows for free -- not just Artomatic. They attract people who want to appear open-minded and who might spend $10 on my CD. Art openings are kind of the opposite of bars, for me, in that respect. You can get pretty sloshed at either.

[txbasschik]

Amen, Amen, Amen!!!

You see a lot of this kind of b.s. in our area. I've had offers to do acoustics gigs, unpaid of course, from such entities. Or they offer "exposure and free food", which amounts to the chair of the art committee seeing me, and a taco.

Which I turned down, of course. I'm an ice-house, beer-drinkin', hard-rockin' kinda girl to begin with. If I'm going to do an acoustic show for a bunch of people who wouldn't speak to me unless they wanted something from me, they can bloody well pay me. Otherwise, I'll play at the ice house, get paid, and have a great time.

Not against acoustic gigs, mind you. They can be great fun, and can pay quite well. But for free? To "support the arts"? Heck no.

Cherie

[ChrisB2]

There is always some group or bar trying to get musicians to play for free or the door [haha].

They will try everything they can think of to get free music. The latest trick going around here is "the economy." Man, I'm sick of hearing about the economy.

Short story: I showed up at a venue we were booked in Friday night, that we've been playing at all year. The owner comes over (after I carried in two loads) and says "Ah man, didn't you get the message? We canceled all band shows until further notice because we have no money!"

No, no one in my band was called. The guy then says "We double booked." Wha..?? I thought all bands we're canceled???

THEN he says "My cousin is playing tonight for free." (Wait, you had two hired bands coming down here even though you "canceled all bands," but you also went ahead and booked in your cousin?? ) "Other bands agreed to play for free/for tips just to help us out/get to play." Haha. Here it comes. Yeah, you guessed it: "...you guys probably wouldn't want to do that........[pause]"

Uhh... no, Tim, we wouldn't. See ya around, good luck.



(I later found out the other double-booked hired band also showed up the same night and was also turned away (probably given the same "opportunity" too haha). So, who all was called and told about the cancellations? None it seems.)


Edit: Oh yeah, forgot this part: Then the next day my bandleader said when he called about the cancellation, Tim told him, "Well, I can pay you a hundred dollars." LOL. Make up your mind dude. Tim, were you ever a used car salesman???

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by ChrisB2

There is always some group or bar trying to get musicians to play for free or the door [haha].

They will try everything they can think of to get free music. The latest trick going around here is "the economy." Man, I'm sick of hearing about the economy.

Short story: I showed up at a venue we were booked in Friday night, that we've been playing at all year. The owner comes over (after I carried in two loads) and says "Ah man, didn't you get the message? We canceled all band shows until further notice because we have no money!"

No, no one in my band was called. The guy then says "We double booked." Wha..?? I thought all bands we're canceled???

THEN he says "My cousin is playing tonight for free." (Wait, you had two hired bands coming down here even though you "canceled all bands," but you also went ahead and booked in your cousin?? ) "Other bands agreed to play for free/for tips just to help us out/get to play." Haha. Here it comes. Yeah, you guessed it: "...you guys probably wouldn't want to do that........[pause]"

Uhh... no, Tim, we wouldn't. See ya around, good luck.



(I later found out the other double-booked hired band also showed up the same night and was also turned away (probably given the same "opportunity" too haha). So, who all was called and told about the cancellations? None it seems.)


Edit: Oh yeah, forgot this part: Then the next day my bandleader said when he called about the cancellation, Tim told him, "Well, I can pay you a hundred dollars." LOL. Make up your mind dude. Tim, were you ever a used car salesman???

Man, i have heard all of those stories in my area for sure. We get allot of the play for tips and sell merch in my area since we are an all original band. We have done a few and they were ok. This band was not built to make money and we did pretty well on the tips only nights.

I hate owners who say "no more bands" and then offer to have you back for half or less of what they used to pay you Its a trick to get you for almost free or at a reduced cost. I say dont play. My original band gets decent money upfront for an original band in a not so good market so i feel pretty lucky ...i guess?