Passing on Fuel Costs

[rickbass]

Question for any of you all who drive a considerable distance from your band's home base (US or wherever);

- With the rocketing costs of gas (petrol), have you increased the cost to hire your band ???

[jive1]

We haven't, but it would be nice if the IRS increased their mileage allowance for those of us who write-off band expenses on our taxes.

[rickbass]

Originally Posted by jive1

We haven't, but it would be nice if the IRS increased their mileage allowance for those of us who write-off band expenses on our taxes.

Good point, jive!!!

[Rusty Chainsaw]

You people in the US have no idea...

Petrol is pretty much £4 a gallon here (that's, er, $7.30)... and very little is tax-recoupable. If you run a diesel car/van, you can get more back, but only if the car is Euro emissions compliant...

You don't know when you have it easy...

Russ

[rickbass]

Originally Posted by XO-Bionic

You people in the US have no idea... ....
You don't know when you have it easy...

Russ

I know our fuel costs are artificially depressed here in the US, Russ.

Still, I would think it's all relative, particularly with England's comparatively excellent public transportation, (at least someone could drive the gear while the rest of the band travels on a train).
In other words, you adjust your budget to the way the costs of living are structured. For instance, I've read the costs of your system of socialized medicine actually cost the individual more than we Yanks pay for our system.

Also, I would think distances to gigs in your country typically aren't nearly what they can be here, often times.

[Josh Ryan]

Originally Posted by rickbass

I know our fuel costs are artificially depressed here in the US, Russ.

Still, I would think it's all relative, particularly with England's comparatively excellent public transportation, (at least someone could drive the gear while the rest of the band travels on a train).
In other words, you adjust your budget to the way the costs of living are structured. For instance, I've read the costs of your system of socialized medicine actually cost the individual more than we Yanks pay for our system.

Also, I would think distances to gigs in your country typically aren't nearly what they can be here, often times.

About time someone pointed that out, thanks Rickbass.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by rickbass

Also, I would think distances to gigs in your country typically aren't nearly what they can be here, often times.

Well said Rick.
The US is mostly rural, even though there are areas with dense population. If you live out West you can go considerable distances to make a gig. For example, acts based in Denver, CO travel 100 miles or more to play ski resort gigs. If you wanted to put together a major city tour, you would have to travel over 400 miles to get to cities of similar population in Salt Lake City, Omaha and Santa Fe. In those same 400 miles you can go from Dover to Aberdeen in Scotland.

The gas hikes really affect the resort giggers who have to travel long distances for gigs. It is also really gonna hurt the touring bands, especially the indies. As if most tours aren't potenital money losing endeavors as they were.

[rickbass]

Originally Posted by jive1

Well said Rick.
The US is mostly rural, even though there are areas with dense population. If you live out West you can go considerable distances to make a gig....

Fortunately, Eisenhower was a driving (no pun intended) force behind the interstate highway system and succeeded in having it built.

Unfortunately, no thought about the funding to maintain it 30 years later.