Financial Compensation

[bluewine]

So don't you have to help move/setup PA gear? If you played in my band and didn't help with the load in and out of the PA and lighting you would not be getting an equal cut for long.

Correct, if I was in your band I would not be getting an equal cut for long.

Blue

 

[bluewine]

At least $100 pays for all your immediate expenses (gas, beer if not free, etc.)

I consider music a hobby. Compared to what I make at my "real job", the money I make playing bass is a joke. But how many hobbies actually pay for themselves? Or at least *can* pay for themselves?

The $100.00. I'm paid for playing is insignificant compared to my salary from my 9-5 that pays the mortgage and what I live on .

However, that $100.00 I'm paid for playing means a lot more to me.

Blue

 

[fdeck]

The $100.00. I'm paid for playing is insignificant compared to my salary from my 9-5 that pays the mortgage and what I live on .

However, that $100.00 I'm paid for playing means a lot more to me.

Blue

I felt the same way until I joined my present band, where the caliber and professionalism of the musicians, the challenging material, and the appreciative audience, add up to be worth more than a few bucks to me. Plus, the gigs are a few blocks from my house, on an off-night, so I am still free to book paid gigs.

 

[seanm]

I played sax in a community band. None of the band members where paid, in fact there was a yearly fee to help cover charts. I really enjoyed it and only gave it up for non-band related reasons.

 

[Russell L]

Nowadays, in all three bands I play in, we get paid cash after we play, and we split it evenly. Used to be checks always with those beach bands i used to play in (still is if I sub). I think the guy with the PA should get more, though. I'd be glad to give anyone else more if I don't have to help them schlep. For so many years I got used to not having to schlep anything but my own stuff, sometimes just my bass, and that's all.

 

[Bockscar]

I'm in a four piece and we split equally for a gig of all covers, minimum 4 hours ($100.00 per guy). We always have been paid in cash for bar gigs, festivals are different. We only ever have a band fund if we are working toward a particular piece of common equipment.

Now, for my other band that plays all originals, we are a six piece (bass, drums, keys, sax, trumpet, singer). We charge $500.00 a gig no matter the length. The bars around here pay if the folks like you, and they love us cause we make em dance! We split that $75.00 per guy with the additional $50.00 going to the person who booked the gig.