The "There Will Never be a Venue that Charges ME to Play" Club - Page 3

**jive1** · #41 06-17-2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dminer

I'll proudly take number 9... number 9... number 9

Turn me on dead man

mellowinman · #42 01-01-2013, 11:14 AM

For 2013, I thought I'd see if we could get our tenth member.

Turock · #43 01-01-2013, 11:56 AM

No way I would even consider pay to play. I'm not a sucker.

plankspanker13 · #44 01-01-2013, 12:28 PM

I'll play a benefit, for comp'd food & bev, or as a live audition for future gig considerations, but I will never shell out any money. There is already enough outlay involved, with the schlep and the drive.

EDIT: I'll take MY number, to start the year that ends in the same digits. Triskaidekaphilic, I am. Call me #13, in this-here club.

saustindavis · #45 01-01-2013, 12:31 PM

Maybe a little clarification is in order? Some people say that the venue taking a cut of the door is paying to play. I refuse to pay a venue to let me play there, but I don't consider them taking a cut to fall into that category. I'll take a number if I qualify. #10?

mellowinman · #46 01-01-2013, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saustindavis

Maybe a little clarification is in order? Some people say that the venue taking a cut of the door is paying to play. I refuse to pay a venue to let me play there, but I don't consider them taking a cut to fall into that category. I'll take a number if I qualify. #10?

This is a self-managed club. If you say you qualify, you qualify. If you say you're #10, then you are certainly #10.

I do not consider giving the venue a cut of the door "paying to play."

I consider making you come up with money up-front, purchasing tickets you have to sell, etc. "paying to play."

I will NOT do a gig where I can come up in the negative.

I WILL play a charity gig, a multi-band bill, and some other free shows, for a good cause, or exposure.

I prefer to be paid something, for my time and effort. We are entertaining an audience, and even DJs charge for that.

stagebanter · #47 01-01-2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritPicker

If Jimmy Hendrix was alive he'd say the same thing.

Jimi Hendrix was the highest-paid performer at Woodstock and the 26 grand he received (in 1969 dollars) was small change for him at that point. Jimi Hendrix was all about the Benjamins. Don't let those lyrics fool you.

fdeck · #48 01-01-2013, 01:28 PM

Pacman mentioned one legitimate pay-to-play scenario: 1) Major touring acts rent the venues that they play in. Here are a couple more: 2) Putting your kids in a high quality music program like a youth orchestra would make selling $100 worth of tickets seem like the bargain of the century. 3) A local music store organizes and coaches bands, who then put on "family and friends" performances.

What distinguishes those activities is that you expect to get real quality and professionalism for your money. Parents expect the youth orchestra to be directed by a qualified music educator, for the program to be meticulously organized, and for the performances to be held in a clean, high quality venue.

I've certainly participated in youth music education, both as a kid and as a parent. Outside of that scenario, I've never done a pay-to-play gig, so I have no direct experience.

But judging from comments made in this forum, my impression with pay-to-play is that you pay to get treated like crap. The way you raise money is a nuisance to your family and friends, like selling girl scout cookies. Those are the things that I won't do. If I pay you money, then you work for me, not vice versa.

Tupac · #49 01-01-2013, 01:47 PM

Wait... there are venues that actually do that? Wow. Playing for free or pittance is commonplace, but they actually expect musicians to pay THEM? You might as well go to the bar right next to it and offer your services for free.

bluewine · #50 01-01-2013, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stagebanter

Jimi Hendrix was the highest-paid performer at Woodstock and the 26 grand he received (in 1969 dollars) was small change for him at that point. Jimi Hendrix was all about the Benjamins. Don't let those lyrics fool you.

I wonder how much if that 26k Jimi saw?

Blue

bluewine · #51 01-01-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritPicker

You have to pay for the love of it, if your just in it for the money then what kind of musician are you? If they need the money and give you a chance then you have to be grateful. I gladly pay up to $100 to play a gig, everybody loves it and what price do you put on it anyway. If Jimmy Hendrix was alive he'd say the same thing. All the good bass players think this. Its not about how much you get but how much everyone loves it and lets face it its thereapy for me how many chances do you get to do that. venues find it hard to make a living if musicians werent paying for the privalege not aright to play then they wouldnt be there would they? In my city theres so many bands who love to play so why not encourage it rather than saying I'm not going to play so no one else should. Music should be free not a commmodity like soap or bread because its just not the same. Peace brothers.

I honestly can't tell if your serious or if this is sarcasm

If your serious, how old are you?

I'm curious and I'm not trying to be a jerk.

Blue

ksandvik · #52 01-01-2013, 02:22 PM

I'm even of the opinion today that if clubs/bars have jam evenings and musicians entertain the audience there for free, there should be no obligations to purchase drinks and so on. I still tip the house band based on tear-and-wear of the equipment plus all the carrying around...

As for paying to play ?????. Sorry I was going to say ?????????????

ibateur · #53 01-01-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

I honestly can't tell if your serious or if this is sarcasm

If your serious, how old are you?

I'm curious and I'm not trying to be a jerk.

Blue

He considers this a hobby and not a profession.

bluewine · #54 01-01-2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibateur

He considers this a hobby and not a profession.

So do I.

Blue

fdeck · #55 01-01-2013, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tupac

Wait... there are venues that actually do that? Wow. Playing for free or pittance is commonplace, but they actually expect musicians to pay THEM? You might as well go to the bar right next to it and offer your services for free.

More common is a deal where the band is expected to buy a certain number of tickets from the venue, or from the organizer, ahead of time. These are also typically "showcase" gigs where a number of bands are on the bill, and each band gets a brief time slot.

It's like being in the girl scouts. You sell cookies, so that you can participate in an activity. Being a girl scout might be a valuable experience, or a rewarding social activity, but it's not relevant to any specific career or business.

stagebanter · #56 01-01-2013, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

I wonder how much if that 26k Jimi saw?

Blue

Good question. The world may never know.

Auguste · #57 01-01-2013, 05:28 PM

That's the club for me . . . Not paying to play

Auguste · #58 01-01-2013, 06:27 PM

Also I will not sell tickets or perform other slave labour . . .

mattbass6945 · #59 01-01-2013, 06:53 PM

i'm guessing auguste is 11? count me in as #12. boy, were rolling now!!!

mellowinman · #60 01-01-2013, 06:55 PM

I'm a little disappointed at how organized everyone is about assigning themselves numbers. I'm wishing two people would try to assign themselves the same number, so we could all argue about it, and decide that we don't care.

But who knows, by 2014, we might be up to 20 members!

This might be the most exclusive club on talkbass.