Where some of the issues will be brought up by everyone. The below are my ideas. Seeking Advice on if these ideas are good or not. Some of the stuff you may think should be tightened up even more and I might agree but the guys in the band are young and I don't want to go too harsh.
Any additional ideas I am missing by all means bring them up.......
Policies
Based on recent events and chat with Five Finger Death Punch's manager I have suggestions for some policy ideas.
1. No more buy on gigs.
2. Create a performance request form we have all booking agents fill out. The form should include the obvious stuff like dates, times, load in and sound check options as well as expected pay of expenses or cold hard cash for playing. We can look at the information given as a bid we either accept or decline.
3. Limit the range we travel for show to 7 hour drive on current transportation assets. Further distances would require renting more reliable transportation Etc. Reason: If we suffer a break down the further out the more difficult and time consuming to recover the vehicles etc.
4. Each out of our area gig goes through a review process where we consider pros and cons based on all available information to determine the worth of taking the gig based on the info given on return of our performance request form. We would also confirm days off from work a minimum of two weeks before the gig or Cancel the gig. Most employer policies give want two week notice for taking a day off so that should be the time off should be approved with in two weeks of the show.
Who is responsible for repairs: Owners of vehicles are responsible for repairs however recovery costs, towing costs associated with band business come form band members or the band fund while on road out of our area. This should include the van as well as personal vehicles taken to the gig with the caveat that those vehicles be necessary to the operations of the band not because of convenience. Generally since we have only a van and no trailer this should only cover the van and one additional vehicle.
5. Band loans: Personal band loans or loans to members with band funds are no longer allowed, they are un professional and never end well. Gear loans should only be done based on needs and not wants. All band loans for gear should have a set period of time to be re paid say two two months maximum. All bands loans should be voted on by all members and approved before hand in written form (Facebook works) before anything is paid out and so we have clear record of it. Anyone getting a loan should hand write an IOU to be kept with the band’s cash for up dating and records keeping. When it’s paid off the IOU can be signed as paid and returned to the member who paid off the loan. When loans are not paid back on time an equal amount of the loan should be distributed to each of the members who do not have loans out and the loan then forgiven.
6. A band fund ledger should be kept on out secret Facebook group like the latest version of songs thread. This will be a running account of income and pay outs as well as IOU’s so we can all see it and keep track of progress. The person who will keep this tab will by default be the person keeping the cash on hand.
7. Establish miles from our base town that we consider our area. Whatever the distance to Weed stock was I think should be the milage limit on what we consider our area. After that point I believe we should consider it an out of town show or regional show.
8. No free shows out of our local area. Establish a bare minimum for those asking us to play free out of our area. This allows us to still consider all shows but if someone is not willing to kick down a token amount when they have people at their venue I don’t see why we should care about playing there. 50 Dollar minimum is my suggestion for 3 hours or less driving and 100.00 and up for anything more involved and then only considering the exposure value of said shows. Only exceptions would be free entry gigs or free shows like weedstock.
9. When something is posted for vote on the Facebook page, not voting or ignoring it slows the machine down. Items posted for vote need your attention within 72 hours maximum but preferably right away or when you see it. If someone posts should we do this or that non voting or ignoring the vote is considered a YES vote after 72 hours.
Second Section: TO DO LIST Observations and suggestions.
1. Put up Band pages we keep talking about doing but never have.
2. At some point as we near end of summer shut down all but local gigs and focus on getting some more material written and rehearsed to playability. Covers too. Suggest 5 new covers picked by each member so long as they can be learned and played by all. Maybe each person picks 1 song with 4 alternates to choose from.
3. Save 3,000 then open a band bank account.
4. The bend gig that had to be cancelled last minute has left some damage. I suggest Motel fee be paid back (me) and since Second Guitar player is out 300 dollars for days off he did not need to take off that his band loan on the marshall cab be forgiven and to wipe the slate clean forgive the current loan Drummer has on the drum heads. Any personal loans need to be paid back ASAP. Then lets stick to a policy on this.
5. Drums are in poor condition and seem to be in need of total replacement. The Bass drum kick breaking down during the set was a wake up call but I am not sure how to raise the needed funds. Any ideas?
6. Again I want to suggest that money raised from Merch, CD’s, Shirt and gigs be kept in separate funds so that we know how much we have to replenish the merch. This idea has been blown off but I am going on record to state it will not end well. Re consider this.
7. USE the Facebook page for discussions. Had we been using it we might have figured out before it was too late that the bend show was in trouble. When I suggest we discuss something on Facebook don’t put it off by saying bring it up at practice. This is nothing but procrastinating and sometimes written form is better. Half the time issues are forgotten. We need both and both should be seen as equal.
Any additional ideas I am missing by all means bring them up.......
Policies
Based on recent events and chat with Five Finger Death Punch's manager I have suggestions for some policy ideas.
1. No more buy on gigs.
2. Create a performance request form we have all booking agents fill out. The form should include the obvious stuff like dates, times, load in and sound check options as well as expected pay of expenses or cold hard cash for playing. We can look at the information given as a bid we either accept or decline.
3. Limit the range we travel for show to 7 hour drive on current transportation assets. Further distances would require renting more reliable transportation Etc. Reason: If we suffer a break down the further out the more difficult and time consuming to recover the vehicles etc.
4. Each out of our area gig goes through a review process where we consider pros and cons based on all available information to determine the worth of taking the gig based on the info given on return of our performance request form. We would also confirm days off from work a minimum of two weeks before the gig or Cancel the gig. Most employer policies give want two week notice for taking a day off so that should be the time off should be approved with in two weeks of the show.
Who is responsible for repairs: Owners of vehicles are responsible for repairs however recovery costs, towing costs associated with band business come form band members or the band fund while on road out of our area. This should include the van as well as personal vehicles taken to the gig with the caveat that those vehicles be necessary to the operations of the band not because of convenience. Generally since we have only a van and no trailer this should only cover the van and one additional vehicle.
5. Band loans: Personal band loans or loans to members with band funds are no longer allowed, they are un professional and never end well. Gear loans should only be done based on needs and not wants. All band loans for gear should have a set period of time to be re paid say two two months maximum. All bands loans should be voted on by all members and approved before hand in written form (Facebook works) before anything is paid out and so we have clear record of it. Anyone getting a loan should hand write an IOU to be kept with the band’s cash for up dating and records keeping. When it’s paid off the IOU can be signed as paid and returned to the member who paid off the loan. When loans are not paid back on time an equal amount of the loan should be distributed to each of the members who do not have loans out and the loan then forgiven.
6. A band fund ledger should be kept on out secret Facebook group like the latest version of songs thread. This will be a running account of income and pay outs as well as IOU’s so we can all see it and keep track of progress. The person who will keep this tab will by default be the person keeping the cash on hand.
7. Establish miles from our base town that we consider our area. Whatever the distance to Weed stock was I think should be the milage limit on what we consider our area. After that point I believe we should consider it an out of town show or regional show.
8. No free shows out of our local area. Establish a bare minimum for those asking us to play free out of our area. This allows us to still consider all shows but if someone is not willing to kick down a token amount when they have people at their venue I don’t see why we should care about playing there. 50 Dollar minimum is my suggestion for 3 hours or less driving and 100.00 and up for anything more involved and then only considering the exposure value of said shows. Only exceptions would be free entry gigs or free shows like weedstock.
9. When something is posted for vote on the Facebook page, not voting or ignoring it slows the machine down. Items posted for vote need your attention within 72 hours maximum but preferably right away or when you see it. If someone posts should we do this or that non voting or ignoring the vote is considered a YES vote after 72 hours.
Second Section: TO DO LIST Observations and suggestions.
1. Put up Band pages we keep talking about doing but never have.
2. At some point as we near end of summer shut down all but local gigs and focus on getting some more material written and rehearsed to playability. Covers too. Suggest 5 new covers picked by each member so long as they can be learned and played by all. Maybe each person picks 1 song with 4 alternates to choose from.
3. Save 3,000 then open a band bank account.
4. The bend gig that had to be cancelled last minute has left some damage. I suggest Motel fee be paid back (me) and since Second Guitar player is out 300 dollars for days off he did not need to take off that his band loan on the marshall cab be forgiven and to wipe the slate clean forgive the current loan Drummer has on the drum heads. Any personal loans need to be paid back ASAP. Then lets stick to a policy on this.
5. Drums are in poor condition and seem to be in need of total replacement. The Bass drum kick breaking down during the set was a wake up call but I am not sure how to raise the needed funds. Any ideas?
6. Again I want to suggest that money raised from Merch, CD’s, Shirt and gigs be kept in separate funds so that we know how much we have to replenish the merch. This idea has been blown off but I am going on record to state it will not end well. Re consider this.
7. USE the Facebook page for discussions. Had we been using it we might have figured out before it was too late that the bend show was in trouble. When I suggest we discuss something on Facebook don’t put it off by saying bring it up at practice. This is nothing but procrastinating and sometimes written form is better. Half the time issues are forgotten. We need both and both should be seen as equal.
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