Wedding Requests - How Many?

[Richland123]

In the business, we call that a "Buddy Deal" and it is tough when somebody in the band is friends with somebody. However, the entire band is not their friends. Plus, it is tough to back out in these situations sometimes after you commited to do it; especially a wedding.

On the other hand, I always charge extra money to learn a special song that requires much practice time to put together and play just once. If somebody requests a song that you would not sound right performing, put it on a CD and play the original version for them.

If they keep adding to your workload, the band has to say enough already. The bride and groom knew you are an originals band when they hired you and should not expect you to learn all the songs they want. As long as you keep agreeing, they will keep adding songs.

[duff beer]

I'll bet you all the money in the world that they didn't tell the caterer's their pay was reduced, and then ask them to provide extra food.

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by Febs

What does your contract say? You do have a contract, right?

You know we don't. It's a "love job" as Grank put it earlier.

Originally Posted by Blake Bass

I do weddings in MD, DC, VA almost every weekend... Our repertoire consists of over 500 tunes... a typical wedding in the DC, MD, VA area pays at least $300 a man + a travel allowance if the gig is over 100 miles away.

I need to get in a band like that!

Originally Posted by duff beer

I'll bet you all the money in the world that they didn't tell the caterers their pay was reduced, and then ask them to provide extra food.

I would not take that bet!

[xgator4u]

HMMMMMMMM... did this gig happen something like this???

Future groom: " Hey man, I'm getting married and I need a band, do you know any good cover bands?"
Band leader/brother: Hey man, I am the leader of a band, why don't you just hire MY band ?"
Future groom: " Yeah man, but isn't your band an originals band?"
Band leader/brother: " NO problem man, we will play anything you want".
Future groom: " are you sure?"
Band leader/brother: Yeah, man, I AM THE LEADER, man, and I'm your bro. right."
Future groom:" O.K. as long as you are sure."
Band leader/brother:" Whatever you want bro."

[Lazylion]

^^ Ha ha, I wasn't around at the time, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised!

[xgator4u]

Kinda figured, I unfortunately have " seen this movie " and I'll tell you brother, I did NOT like the ending. Good luck.

[Lazylion]

As long as the ending includes a check that doesn't bounce, I'll live with it.

[JustDavid]

To my view, cutting the price in half cuts the contract up into tiny little pieces. Even a verbal contract.

[Bassamatic]

There is a good way to get out of doing "buddy jobs", etc.

First - find someone else to do the job, and then politely decline and refer them to the substitute. A little bit of work, but it can save the friendship.

[Grank]

Originally Posted by Gio S

There is a good way to get out of doing "buddy jobs", etc.

First - find someone else to do the job, and then politely decline and refer them to the substitute. A little bit of work, but it can save the friendship.

Sage advice indeed. If the band is good or avarage in ten years time little will be remembered of that "other" band at the wedding. If it's a complete disaster though, you're still on the hook "for all time".

[Grank]

Originally Posted by Lazylion

The bride and groom are friends of my brother(our bandleader) and his wife. I've met the groom a couple of times, the rest of the band doesn't know either one of them at all.

Getting back to basics ...

You brother is "love job doomed" ... after all, he is "the friend".

You're pretty well going to get of scott free; well I suppose that depends on your relationship with your brother.

Other members of the band; they could be your "out" (I am suprised they have not already started questioning their pay drop by someone they don't even know) ..."We maybe could have done it but, yeah, the drummer and singer aren't that keen etc... but there's this other band ..."

It'll suck if they end up paying for the other band full $. Maybe a DJ is the go? Do you know any you could suggest?

BTW ... do let us know how this all turns out!

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by Grank

BTW ... do let us know how this all turns out!

Update (finally!).
The wedding took place 8/1.
We wound up giving them way, way more than their money's worth.

It took me FOUR HOURS to get to the venue, a nice house on a small inlet on the Chester River. An extra 90 minutes to get over the Bay Bridge w/beach traffic. They need a separate lane for people who aren't going to the beach. Luckily I'd planned a sufficient amount of time for the trip.
Upon my arrival, my sister-in-law helpfully began loudly pointing out that I looked grumpy. Thanks, that's a big help. And in fact I was, but I got over it soon enough.

We played fairly well, despite recurring feedback problems that my sis-in-law, who was our sound person when she wasn't talking, dancing or serving cake, was helpless to remedy. The keyboard player kept having to run out to the board and fix things. The crowd loved us, especially when the groom and his 30-year-old son got up with us and sang and played a few tunes. And the bride got onstage and boogied with us several times, that didn't hurt any!

We were well fed (I love crabs!) and the open bar was agreeable as well. I couldn't take full advantage, due to the long drive home, but it was mighty hospitable anyway.

We were supposed to stop at 8, but we wound up playing 'til 11 pm, when I finally said to my brother "can we be done now??" Most of the band jumped into the pool, but I packed up my stuff and left. Only 2 1/2 hours to get home. I was supposed to play a festival gig out in VA the next day at 1 pm, but it wound up getting rained out.

So that's the rest of the story... oh, and the check didn't bounce.

[Lazylion]

Should also mention that when we played our funkiest original tune, they dug it so much that they made us play it again immediately. That's a first!

[BassScum]

So they could afford an open bar for all the guests but had to cut your pay by 50%? Did you get tipped?

[babebambi]

if ppl can get something for nothing, they will keep asking for more and more

if they have the gall to cut the pay by half, I would not feel bad to tell them the band will do only half the time as originally promised

as for how many new songs to learn, it is down for negotiation, its all about compensation, but no last minute changes (well there can be exception, again with compensation ... lol)

all the above applies only if its straightly about money of koz ...
otherwise, its how good of a friend you are doing it for,
as an aside, YOU and YOUR BROTHER will be owning your band a favor, because this gig is for friend's of YOUR brother.

[modulusman]

Half the pay and you play an extra 3 hours for no extra money. They probably didn't even supply the anal lube.

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by BassScum

So they could afford an open bar for all the guests but had to cut your pay by 50%? Did you get tipped?