Equal Pay Split, What Are Your Thoughts?

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by 3mrhythm

man.. it would be nice to make $500 a gig. we are lucky to get $100 right now.. but i guess its not bad since we only play original instrumental post rock and only have about 50min of material.. we aren't playing ac/dc all night for a bunch of stumbling drunks.. which seems to be the thing that pays the best lol

Man, you wanna live in Australia - you can't play a gig without some fool yelling out "play some accadacca". I despise AC/DC, and I generally refuse to play it (though on occasion I've been forced to yield).

[eddiemac]

"Why should the guy playing bass in a blues band (arguably one of the easier gigs out there) get the same amount as the frontman/singer/guitar player? Answer, he shouldn't. He contributes, but not an equal share".


Really? I didn't know that. Are you a blues bass player?

[Jarrett]

Blue's threads always deliver.

[BayStateBass]

In reference to the original question;

We typically get in the $300-$400 area for 4 hours. Equal split unless the show is a long distance away and then I get a little more to cover my gas because I haul the PA and the trailer (as needed). I'm the only one with a truck to do it.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by eddiemac

"Why should the guy playing bass in a blues band (arguably one of the easier gigs out there) get the same amount as the frontman/singer/guitar player? Answer, he shouldn't. He contributes, but not an equal share".


Really? I didn't know that. Are you a blues bass player?

Yea like I said the lead player should get more than the rhythm player..more notes,work and chances to mess up. If the lead guitarist sings more money..keys and vocals more $$. Bass players and and drummer's are backing players so less money for those losers....Please

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by bassbully

Yea like I said the lead player should get more than the rhythm player..more notes,work and chances to mess up. If the lead guitarist sings more money..keys and vocals more $$. Bass players and and drummer's are backing players so less money for those losers....Please

Lol. Still gets back to;

At the $400.00 gig level, does it really matter?

Blue

[foxxiroxx]

I tend to agree with bassist4Eris & JohnM - equal split would be fine by me - unless of course one person is doing a lot more work - then that person should, perhaps, get a little more compensation.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by foxxiroxx

I tend to agree with bassist4Eris & JohnM - equal split would be fine by me - unless of course one person is doing a lot more work - then that person should, perhaps, get a little more compensation.

Should and practical are 2 different things.

Yeah he should, but is it practical at the $400.00 gig level for a 4 piece?

Blue

[JumboJack]

What does one do at the 400.00 level when no one in the band owns a PA? Or if the PA owner in your current band quits? Does his replacement have to own one to join the band? And can only join the band if he agrees to let the band use his PA for free?

[jive1]

I've had splits with an extra for the PA/Booking for small amounts with no issues. Here's some ones that I've had.

$400 gig for a 3 piece. $60 to the agent, $40 to the guy with a PA, $100 a man. Everyone is happy.

$500 gig for a 4 piece. $75 to the agent. $25 to the guy with a PA. $100 a man. Everyone is happy.

$400 gig for 4 piece, self booked. $90 to each player, $130 to the person who booked and brought the PA. Guys would like $100, but $90 is close enough and they are happy to get the work. $10 isn't that much considering they didn't have to bring a PA or book the gig.

$200 for a duo. $30 to the agent, guy with the PA gets $100, the other gets $70 + tips. Since it's a weekday gig, the guy making $70 doesn't complain since it's an off night anyway.

$550 for 4 piece. $50 to the agent, $125 a man, plus $50 to the guy with the PA. Everyone is happy.

[jungleheat]

I could see maybe a half share for the PA (at least for a while, eventually it will have paid for itself and at that point maybe just a quarter share or even just $20 or so for bringing it), and maybe a quarter share (up to about $50) for booking (the first time or 2 at a new venue). I mean, come on, does the guy who spent 20 minutes writing a couple emails back and forth really deserve as much as the guy who shows up to practice every week, learns the songs, brings his gear to the gig and plays a few sets and then has to tear down and go home? Not really. Unless this guy is doing amazing things that no one else in the band could, I think 1/4 share is probably plenty, and really only to get "established" at a venue. After that "hey, can we play on the 15th? Cool, see you then." does not really warrant any extra consideration.

Really it comes down to each individual situation and what will work for a particular band. But yeah, in a band of equals, equal pay with reasonable consideration for extra effort seems to make the most sense. But ideally, each member of the band will have their own "extra duties" to kind of even things out. Like one guy books, one guy brings the PA, one guy does promo, and one guy owns the rehearsal space, something like that.

[smogg]

Valid and equitable splits, as long as all parties agreed to those numbers up front.

In my current project we all own varying degrees of PA gear so we just decide before hand on who is bringing what to the show based on room size etc. Almost all our shows are local so travel expenses are minimal. We all help with load in and load out. 3 of us focus on setting up PA & lighting while drummer is setting up his kit.

We are a self booking band, drummer and I handle about 80% of the booking and use it as an excuse to check out new venues and throw back a beer here and there. Re-books are usually handled by me via phone. Guitar 1 handles sound during the gigs. Guitar 2 handles social media etc.

So we always do an even split as all contribute to the project. It works for us with out issue.

Originally Posted by jive1

I've had splits with an extra for the PA/Booking for small amounts with no issues. Here's some ones that I've had.

$400 gig for a 3 piece. $60 to the agent, $40 to the guy with a PA, $100 a man. Everyone is happy.

$500 gig for a 4 piece. $75 to the agent. $25 to the guy with a PA. $100 a man. Everyone is happy.

$400 gig for 4 piece, self booked. $90 to each player, $130 to the person who booked and brought the PA. Guys would like $100, but $90 is close enough and they are happy to get the work. $10 isn't that much considering they didn't have to bring a PA or book the gig.

$200 for a duo. $30 to the agent, guy with the PA gets $100, the other gets $70 + tips. Since it's a weekday gig, the guy making $70 doesn't complain since it's an off night anyway.

$550 for 4 piece. $50 to the agent, $125 a man, plus $50 to the guy with the PA. Everyone is happy.

[derrico1]

Originally Posted by Pacman

It breaks down when people start working more than others. Why should the guy playing bass in a blues band (arguably one of the easier gigs out there) get the same amount as the frontman/singer/guitar player? Answer, he shouldn't. He contributes, but not an equal share.

Originally Posted by Pacman

A guy I work for makes STUPID money to gig. He pays *me* very well, but not as much as he makes. In turn, I make more than the drummer he hires, because (in his words) I bring more value.

It's about value, not about how hard you're working to play your parts. A weak guitar player is working hard in a rock band, but he's not necessarily adding much value. A great player isn't getting a fatter cut because the gig is hard for him; he's getting it if he's so in demand that the BL needs to pay him more to secure his services. In turn, that's likely only if he's bringing a better crowd or helping the band make a markedly better impression on the audience.

In some roles, that's more likely than others. But that's got naught to do with how hard the role is for any given player.

[modulusman]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Cool,

Yeah, it's not enough $$ to screw around with. Bigger bucks, that's a different story.

Blue

I think I would have more of a problem paying someone an extra cut if It was for bigger bucks. At the $400.00 level you would only be losing out on $20.00. If your band is making $1200.00 a night and paying someone the extra cut you would be making $60.00 less. Meanwhile one guy would be making $480.00 to your $240.00. That seams more unfair to me.

[fdeck]

The bassist gets paid for the notes that we don't play.

[hbarcat]

It depends on the band. If everyone is contributing a similar amount of work and talent, including setup and teardown, then I wouldn't quibble over having to do a little bit more than my bandmates.

However, in my last band, I owned and operated the PA and all the associated gear and the other guys weren't particularly enthusistic about helping with "my" equipment. This meant I had more setup and teardown time as well as having to sing and play an instrument. In addition to this, I always drove because I had the dedicated conversion van and we could fit in everyone and all the gear. Also, I was the one setting up the gigs and making phone calls and such. The bottom line is, I was putting a lot more into the band than anyone else because they simply didn't care as much about the project as I did.

I suggested that we all pitch in on gasoline and that when the entire PA rig was needed at a venue that I receive a flat fee of $40 to be taken off the top. Since we typically charged $125 per band member, this meant that everyone still received more than $100 per gig and my bandmates were more than happy with the arrangement.

As long as it's discussed in a professional manner and agreed upon by all, any reasonable arrangement should be an option.

[foxxiroxx]

@Bluewine Yeah I know $400 isn't that much ..... esp. when you start talking more than 4 or 5 members to a band.... but I've been in other projects (not band) where I do a little more than my share of the work for equal compensation, and while it isn't a huge deal for me, sometimes it would be nice - almost like a little token of what the other people think my extra effort is worth. Not a make it or break it though. (For me)

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Lol. Still gets back to;

At the $400.00 gig level, does it really matter?

Blue

IMO No and I agree with you. Now if the BL who owns the PA wants to work with clubs to cover their expenses and say get another $100.00 bucks for the PA and you still make $100?

I would be cool with that.

Like I said tonight I have to load (from my basement) All of my bands PA equipment 2-heads 2-mains 2- monitors,boxes of cables,mic stands,speaker poles and all my gear to go to the club to setup.
On top of it I waited late and picked up this equipment after our last show when the band member who owned it had to bail. I agreed to help him and do it. He is a friend and I will gladly do it tonight (not first time) but still only take my shared cut. Duh

[Pacman]

Originally Posted by derrico1

It's about value, not about how hard you're working to play your parts. A weak guitar player is working hard in a rock band, but he's not necessarily adding much value. A great player isn't getting a fatter cut because the gig is hard for him; he's getting it if he's so in demand that the BL needs to pay him more to secure his services. In turn, that's likely only if he's bringing a better crowd or helping the band make a markedly better impression on the audience.

In some roles, that's more likely than others. But that's got naught to do with how hard the role is for any given player.

I don't know where you got the idea that we disagree, since I actually used the phrase "bring more value" in my response. We agree completely.

[MarkMgibson]

I haven't played a venue in years that didn't have it's own P.A. I thought you yanks were ahead of us?