Equal Pay Split, What Are Your Thoughts? - Page 21

smogg · #**401** 01-13-2013, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

Well, let's be honest, too. There are some people that you just don't want helping with certain aspects of the "band business." For example, our lead singer is great at singing, but you don't want him talking to club owners. He's more likely to end up hitting on the guys daughter and pissing him off as he is coming away with a gig. My rhythm guitarist is a bit of a luddite, so I don't want him doing much with the PA except help carrying it around. It's the guys that don't do ANYTHING that really chap my hide.

Really good point. In a previous band I was in, the front guy (guitarist/singer) was very charming and commanding on stage. Off stage was an entire different story. We had to constantly keep an eye on him to keep him away from the venue owners/managers. He is a narcissist in the truest fashion and has incredibly poor people skills. So I handled all PR and Bookings for that band (at no charge) just to keep us working. In a way by taking on the extra work I was being selfish to get want I wanted out of the project. But he did contribute in other ways such as being really really good with dialing up the mix in various rooms. So yeah as long as some one contributes something other than show up; pay me, bye. I won't waste time with people like that.

smogg · #**402** 01-13-2013, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

When I was gigging in Atlanta, there were *several* bands that were staffed with more "show up and play guys" than they were with "band guys." Many of them were getting $15k (yes, 15 thousand dollars) a night.

I think you can be *very* successful as a show up and play guy.

I'm gonna take a wild guess that no in "The Band" was hauling around a full blown PA for that level of gig other than a sound company.

Just a shot in the dark on my part mind you.

the yeti · #**403** 01-13-2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

When I was gigging in Atlanta, there were *several* bands that were staffed with more "show up and play guys" than they were with "band guys." Many of them were getting $15k (yes, 15 thousand dollars) a night.

I think you can be *very* successful as a show up and play guy.

agreed, but i think this is where the low pay that this thread was originally aimed at come into play. plus, the original comment was (i think) regarding the success of the band, not the player.

guy n. cognito · #**404** 01-13-2013, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smogg

I'm gonna take a wild guess that no in "The Band" was hauling around a full blown PA for that level of gig other than a sound company.

Just a shot in the dark on my part mind you.

Yep, a bit overblown relative to this conversation. At that pay grade, there are usually professional sound and business people involved.

the yeti · #**405** 01-13-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smogg

I'm gonna take a wild guess that no in "The Band" was hauling around a full blown PA for that level of gig other than a sound company.

Just a shot in the dark on my part mind you.

i'd also bet that the players were paid a fee, not a share.

**Pacman** · #**406** 01-13-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smogg

I'm gonna take a wild guess that no in "The Band" was hauling around a full blown PA for that level of gig other than a sound company.

Just a shot in the dark on my part mind you.

Actually, at least one of them (Atlanta Beat) owned the PA, and members who showed to set up/strike got (surprise, surprise) extra money.

smogg · #**407** 01-13-2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the yeti

i'd also bet that the players were paid a fee, not a share.

Well for 15K for one nights work I think I could set my pride aside long enough to do the job and not worry about who was was getting paid more than me. It would be difficult I'm sure, but I think I could fake a smile long enough to get paid.

smogg · #**408** 01-13-2013, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

Actually, at least one of them (Atlanta Beat) owned the PA, and members who showed to set up/strike got (surprise, surprise) extra money.

That sounds like a great gig. Really good money just to show up and great money for showing up early and helping. I could learn to live with it.

DrSpunkwater · #**409** 01-13-2013, 10:43 AM

Unequal pay is a good way to start pissing off band members. That said, everybody should do their share of the work and get an equal cut.

bassplayer8953 · #**410** 01-13-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

When I was gigging in Atlanta, there were *several* bands that were staffed with more "show up and play guys" than they were with "band guys." Many of them were getting $15k (yes, 15 thousand dollars) a night.

I think you can be *very* successful as a show up and play guy.

Multiplying this out, that means $60k for a 4 piece band, or $75k for a 5 piece. What/where does a band without platinum selling recordings haul down that kind of $$$, for a nights work? I want to know, because I'm going to move there...

...Agree that with that level of $$$ being passed around, hiring someone to supply sound lights wouldn't be an issue. And I'm sure the guy finding/booking the gigs is getting a few bucks thrown his way too...just sayin'...

guy n. cognito · #**411** 01-13-2013, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

Multiplying this out, that means $60k for a 4 piece band, or $75k for a 5 piece. What/where does a band without platinum selling recordings haul down that kind of $$$, for a nights work? I want to know, because I'm going to move there...

...Agree that with that level of $$$ being passed around, hiring someone to supply sound lights wouldn't be an issue. And I'm sure the guy finding/booking the gigs is getting a few bucks thrown his way too...just sayin'...

I'd guess $15,000 was for the entire band......

bassplayer8953 · #**412** 01-13-2013, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

I'd guess $15,000 was for the entire band......

...would still like to know. That's some big dough...1500 people @ 10 bux a head, just to pay the band. Not in any venue I've ever played in. And 1500 is huge draw, for a band without national recognition.

Stinsok · #**413** 01-13-2013, 11:44 AM

[quote=JumboJack;13704719]But it's ok to make someone else do it week in and week out for free???.

So many contradictions... "It's only 400.00" "Too little to bother to pay the PA owner extra" "We use only a full PA" "Just rent one"

If the sucker err guy that owns the PA in a band that is not paying him for using it leaves then the remaining members share is going to be a lot smaller if they have to rent one....[/QUOT

I agree. The people I used to play with were obsessed with what brand equipment each other used. I have heard comments about me getting an Ameg SVT and an 8x10 cause it would look cool. I said "I would love that but I just invested in two new power amps for the PA. So...." The more I think about this thread, the less I want to own a PA. I make less, work more, deal with idiotic things like someone asking me to turn them up in the monitors while singing, etc.

**Pacman** · #**414** 01-13-2013, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer8953

Multiplying this out, that means $60k for a 4 piece band, or $75k for a 5 piece. What/where does a band without platinum selling recordings haul down that kind of $$$, for a nights work? I want to know, because I'm going to move there...

...Agree that with that level of $$$ being passed around, hiring someone to supply sound lights wouldn't be an issue. And I'm sure the guy finding/booking the gigs is getting a few bucks thrown his way too...just sayin'...

That's $15k for the band, not per person. And in the corporate band scene, the gigs usually find you, for the most part. But I guarantee all sorts of people within the band were taking extra cash.

Interestingly, two of the three bands I'm thinking of had the same bass player.

bassplayer8953 · #**415** 01-13-2013, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

That's $15k for the band, not per person. And in the corporate band scene, the gigs usually find you, for the most part. But I guarantee all sorts of people within the band were taking extra cash.

...thinking I'd like to be a part of that scene...around with maybe 10,000 others here on tb...

Quote:

Interestingly, two of the three bands I'm thinking of had the same bass player.

Combination Jaco, Victor, Geddy, Steve H, & Bootsie all rolled into one?

jmattbassplaya · #**416** 01-13-2013, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

When I was gigging in Atlanta, there were *several* bands that were staffed with more "show up and play guys" than they were with "band guys." Many of them were getting $15k (yes, 15 thousand dollars) a night.

I think you can be *very* successful as a show up and play guy.

So how does a person get one of those gigs, exactly?

**jive1** · #**417** 01-13-2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSpunkwater

Unequal pay is a good way to start pissing off band members. That said, everybody should do their share of the work and get an equal cut.

Personally, I've seen more people pissed off by unequal work more than unequal pay. Actually, I've seen lots of people willing to forgo pay in order to less work in this biz. IME, in the professional ranks, unequal pay really isn't an issue because it's expected. An employee usually doesn't know exactly how much the employer makes. They know what they are getting paid, and they can take it or leave it.

lfmn16 · #**418** 01-13-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

So how does a person get one of those gigs, exactly?

I think you have the same chance of finding one of the gigs as you do finding Bigfoot or the Loch-nest Monster.

Good stories, like good wine, get better with age.

**jive1** · #**419** 01-13-2013, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinsok

The more I think about this thread, the less I want to own a PA. I make less, work more, deal with idiotic things like someone asking me to turn them up in the monitors while singing, etc.

At my age, I've seen more drama from the PA than from drugs or crazy girlfriends. I've seen plenty of guys get out of the business or reduce their role because of having to deal with the PA.

**jive1** · #**420** 01-13-2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lfmn16

I'm not forgetting anything and reading is not your problem, comprehension is. It doesn't cost me any less to purchase and haul a PA and book gigs if we get $100 a night or $1000 a night.

I provided booking and PA for a band that was working 8 - 12 nights a month for several years in the early 90's and I can tell you that it is a part time job working with club owners, keeping everyone in the band informed and all the small details that no one thinks about ... Until nobody does them.

Well with a $1000 gig, I would provide a more robust PA. I would bring less if I got paid less, and I wouldn't even bother with the $100 one. Lugging gear isn't a hobby for me, and I don't get any joy from it. I would happily pay someone else to do it. I already work 5 days a week, and booking is like work for me. I'll happily pay someone else to do it.

IME, folks who are lame about little money are just as lame if not lamer about bigger money.