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"Compensation based on draw"

#3
It's based on how many people you pull out yourself. They probably ask each person at the door who they are there to see and each person that says you, you get "x" amount of dollars.

It could also mean a door split. As in the club gets "x%" and the rest of the bands split the rest
 
#4
It means that if you're going to even consider such a gig, you've got to make absolutely sure that you can verify the numbers (i.e. the "draw"). If you can't verify every head that comes through the door & every dollar collected, you'll be screwed. If anything at all comes off the top before your share is calculated, you'll be screwed. It also means that if you give any free passes to friends, family, etc. you'll be screwing yourself.

There are 1000 ways to get screwed. Even if you manage to eliminate 999 of them, you're still screwed!
 
#7
I just played at a place where they recently decided to pay according to the food/booze revenue after 9 pm. Now how are we band members supposed to have any idea how much they made? The boss heads for home while we're playing, then we are invited to pick up a check the next day.

At the end of the night, the manager (boss' daughter!) said they had "a good night". But our check split out to less than $50 a man. IMHO, this sucks. We have nothing but their word on how much they made. You think you've gotten every crappy deal known to man, then some genius comes up with a new way to screw musicians.

I'd just as soon not play there again with this new arrangement. But we probably will, because it's a mostly original music band, and it's tough to find any gig anywhere.
 
#12
One of my bands once did a gig like this where we ended up getting a total of $30 for the entire band...the club told us we brought 10 less people than we did...
This is what most people would call a "pay to play" and I've vowed, after that day, nearly 3 years ago, never to take another.
 
#13
fdeck said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

My question is: What does "compensation based on draw" mean? Is it basically playing for a portion of the door?

Just curious.
Click to expand...

Ad should read: "We are NEEDMORE...a touring band with no fan base whatsoever. We're looking for an opening act with some type of following as we have none. We won't be making s*&$ and the chances of you earning a red cent are slim-to-none....but look at the exposure!!

Line forms in the rear.

Riis
 
#15
Lazylion said:
I just played at a place where they recently decided to pay according to the food/booze revenue after 9 pm. Now how are we band members supposed to have any idea how much they made?
Click to expand...

You could actually ask to see the register reports for all the registers. If the place is of ANY size, they have electronic registers and all sales on the night go through them. The manager gets a report from each one, which can show by time, I believe, how much sales were. That's how they can tell if the cash in the till is right at the end of the night, or if the server or bartender was robbing them.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are screwing you. I think they don't expect people to be savvy enough to ask to see those register reports. If you do get to look at them, make sure you see the reports for all the registers they have, and make sure the report shows credit sales, too, not just what people paid for with cash.

Of course, asking to see those reports could cause you to not get booked there again....
 
#16
StuartV said:
You could actually ask to see the register reports for all the registers. If the place is of ANY size, they have electronic registers and all sales on the night go through them. The manager gets a report from each one, which can show by time, I believe, how much sales were. That's how they can tell if the cash in the till is right at the end of the night, or if the server or bartender was robbing them.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are screwing you. I think they don't expect people to be savvy enough to ask to see those register reports. If you do get to look at them, make sure you see the reports for all the registers they have, and make sure the report shows credit sales, too, not just what people paid for with cash.

Of course, asking to see those reports could cause you to not get booked there again....
Click to expand...

...which is why the contract should include full disclosure of all such records. If they do not disclose their gross receipts, you should assume they are screwing you. If they don't want to book you, they are certainly screwing you.
 
#17
The last time my band opened for a "National Touring Band" (I honestly don't even remember who they were just an unknown band on tour) the draw was us. After we got done playing, the crowd thinned out substantially. We got our standard flat rate fee, I'm not sure how or what the other band got paid.

A good local band should have the ability to outdraw an relatively unknown "National Touring Act."
 
#18
Phalex said:
The last time my band opened for a "National Touring Band" (I honestly don't even remember who they were just an unknown band on tour) the draw was us. After we got done playing, the crowd thinned out substantially. We got our standard flat rate fee, I'm not sure how or what the other band got paid.
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This seems fair. The touring band got valuable exposure, and you got a paid gig out of it.

By the way, I'm not in the running for this gig. I was just curious about the terminology. I looked up NEEDMORE. They seem like nice kids. :D
 
#20
fdeck said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

My question is: What does "compensation based on draw" mean? Is it basically playing for a portion of the door?

Just curious.
Click to expand...

This is a strategy for them to get an audience when they themselves can't draw one. If you were opening for Prince, there wouldn't be an issue of the draw.
 

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