Bandmates who frustrate business

Medford Bassman · #1 04-19-2008, 05:42 PM

So, I have 2 other bandmates. They let me run the business end of the band. I make the contacts, draft the contracts, negotiate the prices, manage the website, etc. We gig regularly and they have both told me they have never made the kind of money we make now from gigs. These two guys used to have a DJ/Karaoke act and have played in numerous bands over the years.

They tell me last night they have revived the karaoke business playing at a local bar I have been trying to book for awhile. They'll be making a whopping $250 a night. So, I said did you plug the band? They tell me no, that's my job.

Now understand, we live in a rural area where there is not many local places to play. Many of our biggest shows require us to travel. So, I try to book as much local as I can. We compete with about 4 other bands and about 6 other DJ services for the bars,weddings, and party circuit here. I ask the fellows why are you competing against our band since it is YOUR major source of income. More importantly, why are you competing against yourself?

They just stared at me blankly and asked why so upset?

AAARRGGGHHHH!

invader3k · #2 04-19-2008, 07:12 PM

They're just not seeing the big picture. Are there any other issues going on with the band?

Medford Bassman · #3 04-20-2008, 09:35 AM

no other issues really. These guys just aren't over ambitious. They tell me they have never been in a band where they have made the kind of money we make now. Both of these guys have been playing over 20 years.
The problem I see is that they squander their talents because of shortsightedness. If a $250 gig presents itself they'll take it because in their minds it's money. They are blind to the understanding that if people think you're cheap you will never get great pay from shows. These two have a reputation in our area of being willing to perform for dirt pay. For example, this new DJ gig they picked up, the bar owner fired the previous DJ (DJ wanted more $). Another local DJ service (#1 in our area) wanted the gig but want a contract signed, the bar owner refused. Then, and only then, he contact my two guys who jump at the chance to make $250 for five hours of work.
Funny enough, I hear at the end of the night, the bar owner bails without paying the boys. One of my guys has to go back the next day to get the money. When he does, the bar owner says, "you started late" and then tries to re-negotiates the price!!!
My guy is relating this to me proudly because he stood his ground and told the bar owner the fee was $250. I start smiling and laughing, he gets upset with me and asks what's up? I say, "you don't see all the red flags here?"
1. Fires the former DJ over $
2. Doesn't hire the #1 DJ because she wanted a contract
3. He bails forcing you to come back to get paid.
4. When you do come back to get your money, he complains about a BS false start and wants to re-negotiate the fee.

My guy tells me he doesn't see that and tells me I don't know what I'm talking about. I guess i should get my money back from my college where I got my business degree.

Thanks for listening.

tycobb73 · #4 04-20-2008, 10:26 AM

$250 a night split 2 ways = $125 per person. 5 hours equals $25 / hour.

lets see, 2 hour setup yesterday, played from 9 til 1, tore down til 2, total of 7 hours. Made $500 split 5 ways equals $100 / person. Divide that by 7 hours and you get what, $17 / hour. Yeah, they can only make more from here. I wish I was paid $25 / hour to play.

DaftCat · #5 04-20-2008, 10:42 AM

^^ Yer missing his point.

Medford Bassman, they aren't going to get it.

DCat

stranger0 · #6 04-20-2008, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medford Bassman

So, I said did you plug the band? They tell me no, that's my job.

I didn't know you were searching for 2 new band members? how's that search going?

At least that's how I see it. You're a band, a group, you're all in it together.

grace & groove · #7 04-20-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stranger0

I didn't know you were searching for 2 new band members? how's that search going?

At least that's how I see it. You're a band, a group, you're all in it together.

Well if they are "all in it together" why would they book the gig for just them two and not him? Doesn't seem like they're "all in it together" with him like he is trying to be with them. I don't see what you're getting at with saying he's looking for two new members when he's saying he's the one that's finding them the money and the gigs and the opportunity while they will play for any dirt-cheap amount of pay and won't even try to get their higher-paying gig into the bar so they could make more money. Even splitting a higher price three-way with at least one member of the band intelligent in the business side will get each person more money than a couple of shortsighted guys with a karaoke thing.

nsmar4211 · #8 04-20-2008, 01:14 PM

If they took the $250 job because the bar only pays that and won't pay for a full band, but told the bar owner, okay, we'll do this but we'd like to have the full band brought in for consideration first for band nights........that'd be different.

But to not tell the bar that there's a full band available is BS.
My guitar player only does music for a living, so he takes what he can get.......to a point. He and the singer do a duo in the smaller place...He won't play the full band unless we're getting full band pay. He won't commit the duo to a lot of bookings for prime band nights. Band gets first priority. And, at the gig, they plug the band, and it's the bands business cards that get handed out. He tries to get the band in for any gig possible, even raised the price of the duo so that the band isn't that much more.

We lost our original drummer over this actually......he wanted the band to play even if it was only enough pay for the duo.

You sound like a great promoter......wanna come play with us ?

Seriously, if you can book gigs in that area.....maybe you could join one of the competing bands instead

Medford Bassman · #9 04-20-2008, 09:13 PM

Thanks to all for the great opinions and suggestions. I don't know what I'll do long term, but our calendar is really filled until mid-October and I'm not missing out on that big $$.
The boys don't make close to what I make in our day jobs, so I let guilt get the best of me and try not to press the point too much. I'm sure I would be told it's easy for me to negotiate because I don't rely on the band gigs for living expenses. I just know from experience by consistently playing for cheap your reputation gets set in stone.

nsmar4211 · #10 04-21-2008, 08:21 AM

What you could try is having a sit down with them. Let them know, ok, if you want to book karaoke, you've got Mon, Tue, Wed. Band gets Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun......... (or however your off nights work there). However, if you are booking yourselves, you *must* mention the band, give the bar owner the band business card.

This way they can get those karaoke gigs, but not be confliction with the band

. No booking karaoke on a band night... unless there's not a gig scheduled (i.e. it's Tuesday and nothing scheduled thursday, then they could book thur)...