With our band, only the drummer and I were in a financial situation to be able to contribute to the PA, so I own the desk and rack, he owns the mains and monitors. When we move, I'll take my gear and go. The remaining members will decide what to do at that point. Simple. But I wouldn't want any part of a band-owned PA. Too many issues can arise, and we all know that bands don't need more sources for conflict.
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Band upgrading. Problem?
- Thread starter I-Love-Ratm
- Start date
Another thing to consider: when you need to replace someone, will the new member need to buy a share of the PA?
This is probably easier said then done: you could all pitch in & buy a PA, then one member buys the other people out so he or she will eventually own the PA themselves.
This is probably easier said then done: you could all pitch in & buy a PA, then one member buys the other people out so he or she will eventually own the PA themselves.
It may not work for everyone, but whenever I've been in a similar situation we would each purchase parts on the PA based on what each member could afford while trying to split it as evenly as possible. Usually, we each owned our own monitors, someone owned the mains, someone the subs, someone power amps. When the band broke up or a member left we took what we owned.
The only drawback is after 20 years I have a bunch of stuff now I don't really use anymore. but for a while I had a pair of 2x15 folded subs on my home stereo, that was hilarious!
The only drawback is after 20 years I have a bunch of stuff now I don't really use anymore. but for a while I had a pair of 2x15 folded subs on my home stereo, that was hilarious!
This can work, but you need to amortize the value over time so that a person leaving after, say, five years does not get the full amount that they contributed. I'd say reduce the value by ten to twenty percent per year after purchase. Such an agreement should be in writing, of course, and signed by all participants.
I'm glad the shared ownership thing is working out for some of y'all, but it's not a situation I'd be up for. Why would I, as a band member, want to own ONLY the board? Or ONE P.A cabinet? That doesn't make sense for either me or the band.
If I leave the band and the rest of the group can't or won't buy me out, I take whatever piece(s) of the P.A. that I "own" with me. At which point the band is left with an incomplete P.A., and I'm stuck with gear that is useless apart from the rest of the system. So then I either have to sit on it until I land with another band (who may not want or need it), or go through the hassle of selling it.
It's true that when everyone has a stake in the P.A. it does provide a very strong incentive for everyone to make the band work long-term vs. somebody bailing at the first minor annoyance so I can see some merit in that.
If I leave the band and the rest of the group can't or won't buy me out, I take whatever piece(s) of the P.A. that I "own" with me. At which point the band is left with an incomplete P.A., and I'm stuck with gear that is useless apart from the rest of the system. So then I either have to sit on it until I land with another band (who may not want or need it), or go through the hassle of selling it.
It's true that when everyone has a stake in the P.A. it does provide a very strong incentive for everyone to make the band work long-term vs. somebody bailing at the first minor annoyance so I can see some merit in that.
I would feel the same way in any other band. Mine is not a pick up band though. I hand picked my 2 band mates and we have been together for several years. I am reasonably certain that the drummer will be the first to bail, when he gets too old to screw with the whole gigging thing anymore. He is older than me and my guitar player. We have it worked out where the drummer gets the band trailer, an old board and a pair of speakers, so he can still amuse himself. Me and my guitar player get everything else, so we can continue on. If one of us calls it quits, we have agreed to give enough notice that we can do enough gigs to give the other one enough cash to buy the departing member out.
These guys are my best friends. If I had just joined some band it would definitely be different.
