The Old, "Who owns the Equipment" scenario !

slendersunfish3 · #1 03-26-2008, 10:50 AM

When my 4 piece band started out we purchased ,through gig money only ,The PA System.
A Friend of ours suggested we all buy a part of the system each so that IF one or all of us left the band the dividing up of the equipment would be easier as we simply take what we owned. But we knew better and our super band would never split.
Last week i quit !
But what should i ask for in terms of equipment We were all gigging for the benefit of the band and they will continue without me. Although things are amicable at the momment as we all know the money issue can cause problems !
So other than being a warning to all others out there what do you think i should do.
Am i being Fair to ask for my share ?

ChrisG19 · #2 03-26-2008, 10:53 AM

The band should buy your 1/4 share of the PA or purchase the equipment you paid for.

T-Bird · #3 03-26-2008, 11:05 AM

Hi.

The hard way: Everything is written down and the current resale price is determined. 1/4 of that is Yours.

Easier way: 1/3 to 1/2 of the 1/4 of the original purchase price is Yours.

The latter is the way we did it (1/3 : Behringer, need I say more?). Also we bought some components individually (monitors) so those automatically belong to the individual. Most of the PA is mine though, had it well before this project started.

Regards
Sam

not_jason · #4 03-26-2008, 11:10 AM

That's an awkward situation. I think they should definitely buy out what you paid for, or a reasonable cut thereof. How to bring it up though, that's a good question. I don't envy you.

tanslacks · #5 03-26-2008, 11:17 AM

Our band did a very similar thing, buying pieces of a PA system each. Over time we kept adding money and upgrading. The original things we bought are now too confused. So what to do when someone leaves. We inventoried all the gear, found it's current (not new) value and paid a fourth of its worth to our leaving member. It went very smoothly and I think there were no hard feelings.

Of course we are all adults and have been friends for a long time and we all saw it as the fairest way to deal with it. Good luck, be honest and they should be able to see the rightous way out.

funkometer · #6 03-26-2008, 11:22 AM

Saw it in 4 pieces.

Ron Plichta · #7 03-26-2008, 11:24 AM

I did it the easiest way - I own the PA system. If I leave, the whole thing goes with me.

scottbass · #8 03-26-2008, 11:37 AM

For anything you bought used: your full share. (If there were 4 people in the band, you get 1/4 of the USED purchase price.)

For anything you bought new: 1/2 of you full share. (If there were 4 people in the band, you get 1/8 of the NEW purchase price.)

As noted, further downward adjustments may be necessary for Behringer gear.

scottbass · #9 03-26-2008, 11:37 AM

Or Nady, or Gemsound, or...

CapnSev · #10 03-26-2008, 11:45 AM

There is only one fair solution: You must saw the PA in 4ths - Only the PAs true owner will give it to someone else to not see it sawn to pieces.

envika · #11 03-26-2008, 11:49 AM

you were a few posts to late, cap'n...

falstro · #12 03-26-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottbass

For anything you bought used: your full share. (If there were 4 people in the band, you get 1/4 of the USED purchase price.)

For anything you bought new: 1/2 of you full share. (If there were 4 people in the band, you get 1/8 of the NEW purchase price.)

As noted, further downward adjustments may be necessary for Behringer gear.

+1

CapnSev · #13 03-26-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by envika

you were a few posts to late, cap'n...

Damn! That's twice I've done that in the last couple of days!

buzzbass · #14 03-26-2008, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slendersunfish3

When my 4 piece band started out we purchased ,through gig money only ,The PA System.
A Friend of ours suggested we all buy a part of the system each so that IF one or all of us left the band the dividing up of the equipment would be easier as we simply take what we owned. But we knew better and our super band would never split.
Last week i quit !
But what should i ask for in terms of equipment We were all gigging for the benefit of the band and they will continue without me. Although things are amicable at the momment as we all know the money issue can cause problems !
So other than being a warning to all others out there what do you think i should do.
Am i being Fair to ask for my share ?

Don't take gear, ask to be bought out of your share.

Geddyfleaharris · #15 03-26-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanslacks

Our band did a very similar thing, buying pieces of a PA system each. Over time we kept adding money and upgrading. The original things we bought are now too confused. So what to do when someone leaves. We inventoried all the gear, found it's current (not new) value and paid a fourth of its worth to our leaving member. It went very smoothly and I think there were no hard feelings.

Of course we are all adults and have been friends for a long time and we all saw it as the fairest way to deal with it. Good luck, be honest and they should be able to see the rightous way out.

^^^Very fair way to deal with things.

As one other poster said having one person own stuff is the easiest/smoothest way. Maybe not financially the easiest thing to do most times though.

nsmar4211 · #16 03-26-2008, 05:15 PM

We each own our own stuff... but are looking to upgrade the bands sound. Once a PA is chose, and when it's time for me to buy PA subs, I buy them and they are mine. Or, if I don't have the money, the band will buy them and part of my gig money will go as "rent" until they are paid off and mine. If we buy a trailer, I'll pay my share and if I leave the others will buy my share from me.....etc.

This was one of the first things discussed when I joined....one advantage to working with a guitar player who has been in many bands!

superjesus · #17 03-26-2008, 05:56 PM

I get the impression that no one from the band has thrown an offer to you regarding the shared gear. This leads me to believe that your former band is hoping that you don't make an issue of the shared gear. It could be viewed that by leaving the band, you have forfeited your seat as well your share of the collective gear. Depending on the nature of the split, This may or may not be how some of the remaining members view things.

Regardless, you worked for that gear and you DO own some of it. Your band is a 4 piece. Does that mean 4 people or 4 instruments + 1 singer? Either way you deserve your fair share, paid in cash. Trying to divvy up the equipment will probably only lead to arguments and negotiations, as I'm sure the most valuable pieces to you will be the most valuable peices to the band.

Jeb · #18 03-26-2008, 09:45 PM

To slendersunfish3, sure you're being fair. But unrealistic. Lots of interesting replies to your thread, but I don't believe for one minute that you'll get anything. You didn't think far enough forward to protect yourself. Experience is the teacher, but a helluva way to learn.

Nakedfish · #19 03-27-2008, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottbass

For anything you bought used: your full share. (If there were 4 people in the band, you get 1/4 of the USED purchase price.)

For anything you bought new: 1/2 of you full share. (If there were 4 people in the band, you get 1/8 of the NEW purchase price.)

As noted, further downward adjustments may be necessary for Behringer gear.

+1

This is the most equitable way of dealing with it.

ric1312 · #20 03-27-2008, 11:13 AM

If the PA was bought with gig money then I don't think you should be able to walk away with any part of the PA or get money since you are leaving the band.

If I was in a band and someone wanted money for a PA just becaus they decided to leave I'd be like, "pfffft I don't care if you need money, this was bought by the band for the band, it wasn't a bank loan."

If you paid up front with the understanding part of the PA was yours and chipped in then you should get paid.

You could also look at it as doing your buddies a solid. I mean really how much was your share anyway? A couple hundred dollars at most?