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Fill In Gig: Charge More or Equal Cut?
- Thread starter john_g
- Start date
Hi igroh 
A sub has to be payed correctly (more than other band members)! A sub has to work more for that single gig, than a band member that knows the setlist (equal cut only on good payed gigs!)
This is an exception. I would not charge a friend more than the band member gets, that I replace that night.
That said, I would never do a pay to play gig!
Next time just ask, before you say yes and you won 't be dissapointed!
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
A sub has to be payed correctly (more than other band members)! A sub has to work more for that single gig, than a band member that knows the setlist (equal cut only on good payed gigs!)
This is an exception. I would not charge a friend more than the band member gets, that I replace that night.
That said, I would never do a pay to play gig!
Next time just ask, before you say yes and you won 't be dissapointed!
may the bass be with you
Wise(b)ass
Agree to sub on a gig, then find out that it's a pay to play, here are your 50 tickets to sell. I think we all agree that it's okay to bail on that one even if we agreed without finding out all the details.
Where I come from, the BL keeps the lion's share, a pickup bass player who is not invested in the band gets paid (basically) minimum wage, and clubs play the jukebox instead of hiring live music because live bands just aren't very good for some reason.
I don't charge extra to sub, but I do ask what the gig pays before I say yes. But then if I'm subbing it qualifies as a favor, not income. Heck, playing out doesn't count as incoming, I'm just trying to break even here. I mean, if we were talking big ticket shows here, it'd be different, but these "they give us $450 and we split it 5 ways" gigs aren't profitable no matter how you slice it, so an even cut is about the best you can do; you're just hoping to cover some of your expenses. The pay doesn't even cover gas and a set of custom-gauge strings.
At the big ticket level, well, it depends doesn't it? You have to decide for yourself what is a fair deal.
But at the "I might break even" level, money = respect. An even cut is fine. People who treat their $450 gig as if it were a stadium gig and lowball their sidemen? BL who won't even tell you what the overall pay is to play the corner rathole bar? Meh, no thanks.
And everything will be sunshine and roses and lollipops!
Well if they're desperate and you're worth it then perhaps you could ask for a bit more, you know to help with travel and such...but then again if you ask for too much it may cause some discomfort and you may not be called back to fill in anymore too. Perhaps just talk to them about it and/or go with that you feel you're worth doing. Education and learning is gold as well as some others have said.
In the casino circuit here, we have used subs as well as me subbing in other bands. The pay is equal cut
If you agreed to do it for an even cut then that's what you do it for. Not to be harsh, but it was up to you to find out time, setlist, etc before agreeing to. However, if he in some way misrepresented the gig or changed the details, that's a different thing and once the deal changes, the deal changes.
As for what to charge in general for a fill-in, it depends. How much $ is coming in? It is fairly common to give a sub a bit more money and sometimes even to pay them for their time if they come to rehearsal. My uncle is a trumpet player and when he goes back to fill in for the band he left (on good terms) a couple years ago I think the gets more than the other members do.
On the other hand I'm pretty sure that the guy that fills in for me when I can't make it in my current country group gets the same pay I do. However, the details are aways upfront, I don't think the gig is particularly challenging for him and I know that the bandleader also covers his drinks even if the venue doesn't.
Almost all subbing gigs work like this.
Bandleader: "Can you fill in for X on this date?"
Me: "What kind of gig is it. What are the hours and what does it pay?"
Bandleader: "It's a private party. It pays $___ and it's 4 hours."
Me: "Yes" or "No."
As a freelancer, it really isn't my business what the other players in the band, the leader, or the booking agent is making on the gig.
I respectfully disagree on that point. As a hired gun exclusively, "cut" means absolutely nothing to me. I set my own rates based upon all of the known variables: material; travel distance, rehearsals; equipment; etc. Sometimes, that pricing jibes with what the bandleader has in mind, but sometimes, it doesn't. I honestly don't care what the regular members are getting paid or if they're getting paid at all because I'm not a member of the band – I'm an independent contractor. I certainly don't believe in price gouging – I don't triple my rate just because your regular bassist is in the hospital with appendicitis. But as in any business transaction, I'm entitled to render my services at a profit. Admittedly, it's a very mercenary-like way of thinking, but it gives me the ability to choose the gigs that I want to play, and it also keeps my calendar fairly full.
Should’ve made that clear upfront but good for you for standing in and helping them!
Thanks, and it was pretty informal like I said before. Again, because of being in a band with the guitarist. And, from my standpoint, it was initially more of trying to help out than being a pro sub. Then it hit me how much work it will be, but im learning the songs and Ill be fine.
I usually know what the gig entails by who is calling me.
If I've never heard of them, I'll ask them what material they are doing. If it's a professional party or variety band, they usually have a book.
If they want me to learn 3 or 4 sets of original or obscure tunes that aren't charted out, then I'll let them know how much homework that involves.
