I think precedent is important. Set a minimum price to do your thing, and stick to it. Playing for free invites other free gigs, and that's not a pattern you want.
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Free gigs
- Thread starter Kleebs
- Start date
Agree 100%.
We have discounted our FIRST gig at a new venue, but subsequent gigs are at full-price. We have been raising our prices in general, across the board.
Have an offer for December and January dates for Club Med in the Carribbean that is weird in my estimation. They offer free room and board at an all inclusive resort in exchange for a minimum hour a day playing time. Looking for trios and quartets. The band is expected to pay for transportation...wth?
In our contract we have added that there is an adder if we provide the PA. There is real effort and time
involved in running the connections, dealing with inadequate power drops, etc.
Turnaround
Commercial User
Don't undervalue your band. Don't play for free. Show that you are worth the price of admission.
We tried that at a place that we thought would be a good venue to have bands. Did it for free, place was busier than they've ever been on Friday night. Owner loved us and wanted us to play every Friday - for free. Don't do free gig
We've done free gigs and gigs at reduced pay to try to get a foot in the door but but I don't think it worked. Good luck!
Sure, they're paying you at their cost, which could be quite low if the facility is below capacity, and you might end up racking up a bill at the resort. If you have a day job, then you're giving up vacation days. Figure out what it's worth to you.
I don't usually place a high value on payment-in-kind gigs. Even catered meals are usually nothing to write home about. A rare exception was a gig at a coffee shop, where they ran out of money and offered to pay me with cash or a huge bag of coffee beans. I go through a lot of coffee, so it's money I would have spent anyway, and I accepted the offer.
We played alot of benefit shows for no dough.
Raising money for a local music museum, the local zoo, raising funds for musician medical expenses, etc.
All we got was good karma.
Raising money for a local music museum, the local zoo, raising funds for musician medical expenses, etc.
All we got was good karma.
No band relies on successful Yelp reviews. Find your market but don't ever underprice the cost of entertainment.
'Those looking to hire you will get used to bargains.
'Those looking to hire you will get used to bargains.
every musician who puts in the work should be paid for the work, pretty simple. but, playing for reduced rates or doing a show gratis can certainly work toward future business if it's part of a winning strategy, overall.
read @Altitude's post #30.
sure, if we wanted to get into a venue, or a circuit, or a status grouping: we might very well offer the purchaser a "deal he couldn't refuse" to make a point, in order to do regular business later. it's done all of the time. but: both parties have to acknowledge and 'endorse' (a contract defines the concepts involved).
read @Altitude's post #30.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
If you are up for the vacation, that's not a bad deal. What do they charge per day there? And you are only paying one hour a day.
A free band will always get invited back.
All that really says is that you work free.
All that really says is that you work free.
If you don't take yourself seriously no one else will either.
I never have. The only free gigs have been associated with some charity-type event. But I don't harbor any feelings against those who do. Do what you have to do.
Thinking through things...
- If you are willing to play for free, go play an open mic. That will be the exposure and might help to get a gig at that venue.
- If you don't want to play the open mic, set up a backyard party and play that for free. Hopefully you've got 25 - 50 friends/family that will show up and 1 or 2 would be willing to record some video of you and the crowd having a good time.
- If you are bold and have the money, rent a venue for the night. Negotiate with the venue either a cover charge or a percentage of the bar. We are currently working with a venue on something like this. We don't have to rent the place but we have to guarantee 25 guests and can opt for a cover or 20% of the bar.
Those are your "exposure gig" options, as I see it. Most places we are trying to book are booked up for the year. Several are booking for next year, but we are still unknown. We are still hustling for those first gigs, though. Don't play for free at a place that is making money off of you!
- If you are willing to play for free, go play an open mic. That will be the exposure and might help to get a gig at that venue.
- If you don't want to play the open mic, set up a backyard party and play that for free. Hopefully you've got 25 - 50 friends/family that will show up and 1 or 2 would be willing to record some video of you and the crowd having a good time.
- If you are bold and have the money, rent a venue for the night. Negotiate with the venue either a cover charge or a percentage of the bar. We are currently working with a venue on something like this. We don't have to rent the place but we have to guarantee 25 guests and can opt for a cover or 20% of the bar.
Those are your "exposure gig" options, as I see it. Most places we are trying to book are booked up for the year. Several are booking for next year, but we are still unknown. We are still hustling for those first gigs, though. Don't play for free at a place that is making money off of you!
