Equal Pay Split, What Are Your Thoughts?

[bluewine]

We run a full pa subs, mains, stage monitors, 32 channels. It's still an even split.

Blue

[mellowinman]

Originally Posted by modulusman

And a great PA is the difference between a band that averages about $1200.00 a night compared to the $400.00 a night everyone is whining about in this thread.

I'll tell you what. If you can find me a $1,200.00 gig in Fort Wayne, IN, I'll give you a $200.00 finder's fee, and that's even if you're not the one who books it.

The top cover band in this town might get $800.00 on a good night, maybe more on New Year's Eve.

And they don't have a PA at all. They always hire a sound guy, or play a house PA.

[bassplayer8953]

Originally Posted by bluewine

We run a full pa subs, mains, stage monitors, 32 channels. It's still an even split.

Blue

...Then if somebody's hauling that thing, setting it up, tearing it down, maintaining it, + whatever other equipment they play with the band, and still getting an even split with you, showing up with your bass and your amp, then that someone is getting screwed, no doubt about it.

[MarkMgibson]

Don''t clubs and bars in the States have their own P.A systems? I just ask because although I do own a decent P.A, I only use it for private gigs. Bars always have their own.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

I'll tell you what. If you can find me a $1,200.00 gig in Fort Wayne, IN, I'll give you a $200.00 finder's fee, and that's even if you're not the one who books it.

The top cover band in this town might get $800.00 on a good night, maybe more on New Year's Eve.

And they don't have a PA at all. They always hire a sound guy, or play a house PA.

There is no money in bar gigs anymore. The trick is to find events that your band is suited for. In my area the bars use to charge cover now most do not. Our best bar gig now is a $1000.00 for a night. Five years ago we had a $1200.00 minumum guarantee but were paid all the door money. One night we made over $1700.00. Were a country/rock band and most our gigs are guest ranches,weddings,rodeos, festivals, and street dances. We supply our own PA for everything but festivals. For our smallest gigs of 100 people or less we are using over 8k in PA, for our biggest events about 18k.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

Don''t clubs and bars in the States have their own P.A systems? I just ask because although I do own a decent P.A, I only use it for private gigs. Bars always have their own.

the kind of bars that hire cover bands (here) typically do not. i'm not sure how it works in other parts of the usa.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

...Then if somebody's hauling that thing, setting it up, tearing it down, maintaining it, + whatever other equipment they play with the band, and still getting an even split with you, showing up with your bass and your amp, then that someone is getting screwed, no doubt about it.

hard to believe that would go on for long. power to 'em though.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by the yeti

the kind of bars that hire cover bands (here) typically do not. i'm not sure how it works in other parts of the usa.

In Milwaukee, a few of the better originals clubs have decent sound, however the cover venues don't.

Blue

[ChrisB2]

Well, contrary to what some of you seem to believe, there are people who own PAs, transport, maintain and operate them for an equal share. I know this to be true, because that's the way it is in the cover band I'm in.

I believe that he deserves a little extra, and have mentioned it to him on several occasions. However, he just shakes his head and says "nah." I don't know why feels that way (I have my theories), but... it's his equipment and I'm not going to fight him over it. We do all help him set it up and tear down and load it into his trailer though...

[denhou1974]

Originally Posted by ChrisB2

Well, contrary to what some of you seem to believe, there are people who own PAs, transport, maintain and operate them for an equal share. I know this to be true, because that's the way it is in the cover band I'm in.

Yeah. Not if they are also playing in the band. I had a long argument with a bandleader (guitarist) who felt like he should get a full share for bringing two PA speakers and a powered mixer. Not gonna happen.

[Mtnman]

Originally Posted by jive1

Another option that I like is to hire a soundman who brings all the gear, and give them a even split of what the band makes. That way you get a sound guy who knows the band, and deals with running the sound, allowing the band to just play. They deal with the gear, and it costs the band less than to hire a sound company each time.

+1 to this^^^

The best situation I've been in was when we hired a guy to be the sound guy. He was treated as a full band member with respect to pay. He would come to practices sometimes to see what new tunes we were working on and even helped to do some booking and promotion. We also included him in written credits (Chuck - Vocals, Mike - Guitar, Ron - Sound, etc...) and band photos. He was a full member.

He worked as a DJ on nights when the band wasn't booked and owned a PA of his own that he used to bring to supplement the bands PA. Mind you, as a DJ he didn't have a full band rig, but everyone in the band had a componant or two that they contributed to the overall soup. Everyone in the band was in charge of load in and load out.

[NoxNoctus]

Originally Posted by the yeti

the kind of bars that hire cover bands (here) typically do not. i'm not sure how it works in other parts of the usa.

True. I didn't notice it until you mentioned it, but Tir Na Nog, Nappers, Wild Wing, every time I've gone to shoot a band had a different system in there.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by NoxNoctus

True. I didn't notice it until you mentioned it, but Tir Na Nog, Nappers, Wild Wing, every time I've gone to shoot a band had a different system in there.

tir na nog and wild wing are 2 notable exceptions around here.

[Jarrett]

This is good and funny thread. Blue, I hope you don't lose your gig over something like this.

I've always felt like the singer should handle the PA. Of course that rarely happens

There are lots of ways to handle it. Split the PA work up amongst the band, then equal split makes sense. Hire a dedicated soundman and have him worry about it, but he's likely going to want more than an equal cut of $400

Basically work with the band, come up with something reasonable and fair. If you draw a line in sand about what you will and won't do that lumps more work on others, you likely will not be around for much longer. You are replaceable.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

This is good and funny thread. Blue, I hope you don't lose your gig over something like this.
.

If I lose a gig, I find another.

Blue

[Jarrett]

Originally Posted by bluewine

If I lose a gig, I find another.

I like the new Blue

[baba]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

I've always felt like the singer should handle the PA. Of course that rarely happens

Brilliant! I may have to use that.

Of course all of the lead singers sans instrument that I've had were females. I don't think I could drop that one on them.

[fourstringdrums]

Equal split. If the band is run where everyone is equal, everyone has the same input on songs, gigs etc.. then the pay should be split as such. I don't buy into the "I own the PA, or I transported more gear etc.. so I should get more of the money". Owning the PA means nothing unless it's still being paid off and the money has to go toward that, but chances are it was paid back a long time ago. After that it's not like at the gig you're paying for the electricity to run it.

As for schlepping more gear.. I have a disability and the guys in every band I've ever been in have to help me load my stuff in and out on top of their gear. I do what I can with the cart I have, and of course I bring it down there in my car. I appreciate that of course but if I got less money because of it, I wouldn't be happy. The way I see it, everyone helps out and if I was in an opposite situation, I'd have no problem helping another member with their stuff.

The only exception besides a PA literally having to be paid off and that money going back to whoever bought it, is gas. On the occasion where a member had to drive further than everyone else, maybe some extra gas money will get kicked in to that person.

[Jarrett]

I guess if they person that owns the PA decides not to bring it to gigs anymore, that certainly could change the arrangement of things.

[hrodbert696]

I think that it makes a difference if the PA is something that somebody in the band already happened to own and was just part of the gear they brought to the table, or if it was bought specifically for that band. I'm not interested in tallying up how expensive everyone's gear is and doing some calculus to make gig pay proportionate. If a new band forms and somebody has a PA lying in his garage, then by all means let the shares be equal. In my band's situation, that wasn't the case.

I could also see just making it equal shares if a band member is solely lead singer and they bought the PA. All the instrumentalists are showing up with a couple grand worth of gear, why shouldn't the singer as well? In my band, I kind of wonder why she didn't - she's single, no kids, has a good job, lives in a small apartment, seems like she'd be better able to afford one than any of the rest of us. But her personal finances are none of my business.

As it happened, it was our drummer who actually ante'd up the money to buy a PA for our band, on top of the value of his own kit. So he's an extra four figures in the hole that the rest of us aren't, in order to enable us to gig. As far as I'm concerned, that definitely warrants him getting an extra share.