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$75-100 gigs in 2023
- Thread starter g4string
- Start date
Im waiting for 1992 to become vintage so I can offload the "boner jazz bass" I have and is heavy and no one wanted to buy and me not lose money lol....Here is to hoping the 90's become vintage asap...Is vintage rock like vintage Fenders? Used to be 50's and 60's, but now has bumped up to 70's and for a few folks, the 80's.
Heck, the 2000's are vintage now.Is vintage rock like vintage Fenders? Used to be 50's and 60's, but now has bumped up to 70's and for a few folks, the 80's.
You've just heard about us "vintage" bass players.
lol!! I think I just about qualify for that one too!
In DFW, if you can land a bar/club gig that pays more than $100 per man then you've found a gold mine. Most places are just trying to keep their head above water and stay in business. And post-covid booking opportunities for full sized bands have taken a hit. Holding out for $200+ per man gigs will insure that you're all caught up on Netflix.
This post has me thinking about stuff. A few things to keep in mind:
- The cost of everything is up. We can make the assumption that bars are being squeezed and don't have the spare cash to pay more than $400 for live entertainment. But, a bar that pays per band member is suspect. Why would they be able to pay a 6 member band $600 but a 4 member band $400? That just tells me they have a preconceived sense of value that was formed 20, 30 or 40 years ago when bands were making the same rate.
- If bars aren't paying a band what you think you should be paid, you gotta figure out another way to capitalize. Most everyone has figured out the tip jar, but merchandise is another way to get a few more bucks at the show.
- Maybe bars aren't the way to go. Look at other venues. Put on your own show. If you've got the following rent a hall, sell tickets and put on your own show. Partner with other bands and do a multiband show.
Don't sit back and wait for the venues to pay what you're due. The successful acts are hustling and make it happen for themselves. Sure, there's a little bit a luck involved, but they put in at least as much work promoting themselves as they do working on the music and the show.
All of that was written by an unsuccessful musician, but I'm still trying to work it. Good luck, everybody!
- The cost of everything is up. We can make the assumption that bars are being squeezed and don't have the spare cash to pay more than $400 for live entertainment. But, a bar that pays per band member is suspect. Why would they be able to pay a 6 member band $600 but a 4 member band $400? That just tells me they have a preconceived sense of value that was formed 20, 30 or 40 years ago when bands were making the same rate.
- If bars aren't paying a band what you think you should be paid, you gotta figure out another way to capitalize. Most everyone has figured out the tip jar, but merchandise is another way to get a few more bucks at the show.
- Maybe bars aren't the way to go. Look at other venues. Put on your own show. If you've got the following rent a hall, sell tickets and put on your own show. Partner with other bands and do a multiband show.
Don't sit back and wait for the venues to pay what you're due. The successful acts are hustling and make it happen for themselves. Sure, there's a little bit a luck involved, but they put in at least as much work promoting themselves as they do working on the music and the show.
All of that was written by an unsuccessful musician, but I'm still trying to work it. Good luck, everybody!
local bar gig in my city gig for $100 a man, sure... but driving to other cities, $125 - $150 per man... private is where it's at for money, but it's a trade-off, bar gigs can be fun, private is more like a job...
funkybassplayer
Commercial User
I juggle a bunch of bands and sub gigs. Vast majority are standard bar gigs, with some private parties thrown in. Fortunately I'm busy enough that I can insist on $100 minimum, though I will make the occasional exception for a band that has thrown me a lot of work.
This Friday I'll make $200 -- that's rare, and in this case it's only because I'm with a trio. On that note, some of my $100 gigs are with a different trio. I hate the idea of a band getting just $300 total, but enjoy performing with the guitarist and drummer.
Of course private gigs usually pay the most. But they often come along with logistical challenges: difficult load in, setting up in an uneven back yard, wonky power, etc. Last year I had to do a brutally hot and humid early afternoon gig in a parking lot, no protection provided from the blazing hot sun.
The finish on the drummer's custom kit bubbled in a couple of places.
This Friday I'll make $200 -- that's rare, and in this case it's only because I'm with a trio. On that note, some of my $100 gigs are with a different trio. I hate the idea of a band getting just $300 total, but enjoy performing with the guitarist and drummer.
Of course private gigs usually pay the most. But they often come along with logistical challenges: difficult load in, setting up in an uneven back yard, wonky power, etc. Last year I had to do a brutally hot and humid early afternoon gig in a parking lot, no protection provided from the blazing hot sun.
The finish on the drummer's custom kit bubbled in a couple of places.
I've been gigging in my huge metro area for over four decades and don't believe I've encountered this. Average pay for my bar gigs is $500, so I'd get $100 with a quintet and more with smaller outfits.
a big multi venue live music bar chain pays this way in my city, it's not ideal but they're fun gigs, and it's steady bookings once you're on the circuit
I've never heard of being paid by the man, but I've definitely got the impression that at least some/many bar owners don't want to pay a three-piece the same as a four or five-piece.
No actual data on this, but it seems like a pattern with what I've seen around here.
No actual data on this, but it seems like a pattern with what I've seen around here.
- Apr 1, 2000
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We played a bar last night in Lincoln, NE. After sound, we all made $400+
I won't play for $100 anymore. In fact, I can't remember the last time I made that.
I won't play for $100 anymore. In fact, I can't remember the last time I made that.
That's awesome!
If everyone in my band made $400+ at a bar gig, I'd start giving wet sloppy kisses to everyone whether they wanted them or not!
Very true. A lotta talented band front people I know do much better as solo acts. All the tips and better pay for hours worked. Of course, those gigs are their own venue specialty but, if one commits to 3-4 a month, that ain't too shabby, especially if one also gets revenue from teaching.
We do only a few choice venues in which we hold or add to their built-in crowd and we also limit how long we play; 2-3 hours total and folks have been tipping well and merch. Pay is good and we use the few venues to land weddings, private parties and civic events which have travel, but limited onstage times and much better pay.
Some clubbing is a necessity if you're a working band. Since we specialize in Irish-classic and post-punk, we have limited but committed venues and audiences. The month of March is our Holiday-Black Friday hauls and it thins out from there.
I would think rock music would be more difficult because the similarity of playlists and impatient club owners (stacking every dime) are not likely too choosy unless the band drives customers away.
Played a gig Sat night on a casino cruise. You know the out to the 3 mile limit and sail in a big circle for a few hours kind of cruise. The gig was fun and paid okay, but it was a check and 1099 payment rather than cash on the barrel. Very different from the club/bar gigs I have played recently.
We generally don't play for less than $2,000. Sometimes up to $3,000 or $3,500. We are 5 piece plus sound guy. Drummer hauls/stores/owns (much of) the PA and does the bookkeeping/tax stuff so he takes a little extra off the top. We split the rest evenly 6 ways. We don't play bars/clubs. We do private/corporate events, weddings, things like that. We get the least when we a festival in the summer but it's local and all we do is show up, plug in and play 90 minutes so that's ok, and it's fun to play a "big stage" once in a while.
Been there, done that with the late hours, crappy pay bar thing. We all have "real" jobs, kids, etc. We play once or twice a month, more in August - September, and that's fine with us.
Been there, done that with the late hours, crappy pay bar thing. We all have "real" jobs, kids, etc. We play once or twice a month, more in August - September, and that's fine with us.
I love it - but I'm guessing what you are calling a 'bar' is what most of us would call a 'high end night club'
