I say yes. Unless the band decides that I only have to play on 50% of the songs I'd better get 100% of my equal share. Either they need a bass player or they don't. I can find another band.
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Financial Compensation
- Thread starter bluewine
- Start date
RustyAxe said:
For the type of band we're talking I agree. If it were a major corporate act it'd be different i think.
Four piece band. Equal split. Minimum $150 per man, with occasional reduced rates for first-time gigs at new venues. Guitarist owns PA speakers and trailer; I own mixer and lights. Drummer and singer own their own gear.
Main Band
5 members, 80/20 covers / originals (cover material primarily new & classic country, 80s, some modern pop & oldies) - 60-70 dates a year with this band the last two years
Side / Sub Band 1
5 members, cover band (country, classic rock, 80s) - play 6-10 nights with them a year, mostly bar gigs; this is the band I was in before my current Main Band and they still pull me in for a few of their gigs when I'm not busy with my other group.
Side / Sub Band 2
4 members, jazz combo (Real Book etc.) - play 6-10 nights a year, mostly restaurants or small private parties
Couple other things:
- None of these bands do benefit gigs or any other freebies. I play in my church band (gratis) a couple times a month and every now and then I'll put down a studio track or two for a friend but other than that I am paid for my playing 100% of the time.
- None of these bands do "door gigs". These are guaranteed money gigs, only.
5 members, 80/20 covers / originals (cover material primarily new & classic country, 80s, some modern pop & oldies) - 60-70 dates a year with this band the last two years
- BL owns all P.A., lights, band vehicle and trailer
- Pay is split six ways (BL gets double cut) AFTER expenses
- "Official" per gig minimum is $100 per man but the de facto minimum for this band now is more like $150
- About 80% of gigs are paid in cash and almost always the same night; the rest are by check from the BL; have never had a check bounce
Side / Sub Band 1
5 members, cover band (country, classic rock, 80s) - play 6-10 nights with them a year, mostly bar gigs; this is the band I was in before my current Main Band and they still pull me in for a few of their gigs when I'm not busy with my other group.
- Same basic deal as Main Band except we all drive ourselves to the gigs (no band vehicle), the minimum is a bit lower ($100/night) and always 100% in cash after loadout is done; never any problems
Side / Sub Band 2
4 members, jazz combo (Real Book etc.) - play 6-10 nights a year, mostly restaurants or small private parties
- BL owns a rudimentary PA... all band members drive themselves to gigs
- Minimum can get down to $75 if it's a short, easy local job but I usually clear $100 a night and scored almost $200 from this group (including a nice tip) on our last job
- These gigs I usually wind up getting paid in check and sometimes it's not till a few days afterward but the BL is local and his checks have always been good so it's not a real big deal
Couple other things:
- None of these bands do benefit gigs or any other freebies. I play in my church band (gratis) a couple times a month and every now and then I'll put down a studio track or two for a friend but other than that I am paid for my playing 100% of the time.
- None of these bands do "door gigs". These are guaranteed money gigs, only.
Why not?
From your post of making $100. for a 4 hour gig (remember I made $80.) ,
for the sake of this discussion,
I'm going to say that a 4 hour gig is really 6 hours worth of work with load in/out.
$100. for 6 hours = $16.67 per hour
$80. for 6 hours = $13.33 per hour
That comes to you making $19.98 dollars more for a gig that I did.
You would really walk and not play for under 20 dollars?
One question that I have is..... how can you be with a band for 5 years and not know who owns the PA?
Do you know who maintains your website? how much that costs per year to keep it up?
- Apr 1, 2000
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- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
nortonrider said:
Would we take 80.00 per man, maybe if they booked us for 3 dates.
I see your math and it makes sense, I just don't look at or calculate it that way.
To me $100.00 for a 4 hour gig is $25.00 per hour. But that's just me.
I've only been in the band for 1 year.
The reason I don't know who owns the pa, I've never asked. Same for the website. We're not friends, I haven't had many conversation with them.
Good questions though.
Blue
Yes and yes.
I am paid, there is no band fund. If we need something, we will usually pay out of pocket in a way that is fair for everyone.
Yes, evenly split between all members. If it happens to be an odd amount, I will usually let the BL take a few bucks off the top to make it an even amount.
I am always paid in cash at the end of the gig. Sometimes I may be in a rush to leave, in which case the BL will pay me at the next gig for both...
No
No
My Mistake! (I read it wrong)
Do you consider yourself a member of this band?
Do the other players talk? Are they friends?
It just seems like a bummer that they don't want to hang out with you.
$300 band minimum.
1) Do NOT EVER participate in a band fund. NEVER NEVER.
2) Everyone gets equal $. No extra pay for "it's my PA" or "I booked the gig" - that's crap.
3) I get cash before I leave the building.
^^^^ follow rules 1, 2 and 3, and you will never have a problem. No excuses.
The difference here is that buying/maintaining the PA and hauling it costs money, usually large amounts of money, and I consider that to be more deserving of compensation than time/trouble.
imo
When I quit a band a while back the first thing I did was sell all my PA gear. Unfortunately I need my truck or I would have sold that also.
I got tired of unloading the PA alone in the rain at 3 in the morning while the other band members were already home in their beds.
I got tired of unloading the PA alone in the rain at 3 in the morning while the other band members were already home in their beds.
I can very confidently state I will never own my own P.A. system, nor will I ever accept a position in a band that requires me to "buy in" to one. Either the band is already set-up with a P.A. free and clear, or they hire it out. Any other scenario is a no-go for me anymore.
if your only web pressence is facebook, etc you're correct that it's only time/trouble. i won't debate whether that time/trouble is as valuable as the time/trouble spent earning the pa money, but i will point out that domain names and proper site hosting is definitely not free.
$100 per man minimum. Even split between members. No band fund.
Cash is paid at end of show. Checks cashed within the week and paid at next show (usually a couple of days).
Everyone contributes a bit differently.
Guitar player does most bookings.
I own and provide the PA and do most of the set up.
Drummer provides other resources - including access to studio time, etc.
We all cough up for band expenses when we agree they are needed. Key to making it work is agreeing up front.
We like to keep things simple and open. Then no hard feelings.
Cash is paid at end of show. Checks cashed within the week and paid at next show (usually a couple of days).
Everyone contributes a bit differently.
Guitar player does most bookings.
I own and provide the PA and do most of the set up.
Drummer provides other resources - including access to studio time, etc.
We all cough up for band expenses when we agree they are needed. Key to making it work is agreeing up front.
We like to keep things simple and open. Then no hard feelings.
I play with several bands.
Are you satisfied with how, when, where and the method of how your paid. Yes. Some gigs pay by check. Some bands keep the check and give you cash. For some bands I have to meet up with the bandleader later on and get my money. Usually I'm paid at the end of the night after we all pack up. There are some guys in town that you have to be weary of (imagine that). You have to let them know up front what you want. Most people are fair though.
Do you get paid in a consistent format? See above
For example, lets say it's a four man band. Do you have per man dollar minimum for booking shows, if yes, is it acceptable to you? I won't leave the house for less than $100. I know what the bars in my town pay so I know what to expect. For example, I played a bar on a Friday with a 4 piece and made $160. Played the same bar the next night with a 3-piece and made $100. I let the bandleader know what I made the night before and that he should be more fair with the pay. He paid more the next gig. Parties and special events should pay more of course.
Are you paid or does your money go into a band fund? If your share of gig money or a portion of it goes to a band fund, are you ok with it? I don't do band funds. Ever. I have been known to buy a wireless mic system for a band member to use or buy party novelties to throw out at a show. If I buy gear then it's mine and when we split I keep it unless you've paid it off.
If you're paid is it an equal split? Usually. If it's a sub-gig then I won't know what the band is paid. I only know what I expect.
Do you have a payroll and you're paid by check on a weekly or monthly basis? I know some guys that are in popular bands. A couple are on weekly payroll. They have to be available when called - no exceptions. The get a flat salary and they never know what the band is bringing in.
But not good enough to make more than a $100.00 a gig.
I guess if you don't consider drivetime and setup/teardown part of the gig that is up to you.I wouldn't consider drive time as part of job.
I think that the clock starts when you get to the venue and ends when you pull out of the parking lot.
