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Gas prices and Gig Pay Rates

#21
Geezerman said:
I can't see how a few bucks every fill up is breaking the bank with people
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It costs approximately $100.00 to fill up our van on this last tour we did in April/early May. We pull a trailer filled with gear, so you can probably figure our gas mileage isn't the best, even with ideal driving conditionings and smart gas saving techniques.

Last year around this time it cost about $70.00 to fill it.

Either way, I've seen a trend in backline sharing going beyond just the normal "big acts." We've been renting our backline out a ton more than usual and even rented it out for TWO bands on one package tour this last one.
 
#22
Clubs need to charge more for the cover.
Bands need to charge more for their merch.
I play in the underground metal and underground punk/hardcore scenes, and the folks that go to those shows think prices set twenty five years ago should still be the standard. It's ridiculous.
 
#23
Will!!! said:
Clubs need to charge more for the cover.
Bands need to charge more for their merch.
I play in the underground metal and underground punk/hardcore scenes, and the folks that go to those shows think prices set twenty five years ago should still be the standard. It's ridiculous.
Click to expand...

+1 I think $8 should be minimum. It's not '86 anymore. Heck it's not '00! Fans should be more than willing to pay a few extra bucks, but it's a hassle to get $5 at some shows. I hope people like listening to bands on CD rather than seeing show, because that is what it's coming too.:scowl:
 
#24
TheGrizz said:
+1 I think $8 should be minimum. It's not '86 anymore. Heck it's not '00! Fans should be more than willing to pay a few extra bucks, but it's a hassle to get $5 at some shows. I hope people like listening to bands on CD rather than seeing show, because that is what it's coming too.:scowl:
Click to expand...

Good luck getting $8 at the door. Last two shows we did at this one bar, some people were walking away when faced with $5.00. OK, so we're not a huge draw, and the venue isn't the greatest place around. So if the bar tried to charge $8, the place would've been empty.
 
#25
gas prices will change everything...
perhaps it will even the playing field a bit since the advent of home recording. the last ten years of everyone and anyone being able to create and distribute a cd has flooded the market to overflow...
and in a lot of ways devalued the music, unfortunately (quantity over quality).
maybe getting to see a band will become a special event again.
 
#26
TheGrizz said:
+1 I think $8 should be minimum. It's not '86 anymore. Heck it's not '00! Fans should be more than willing to pay a few extra bucks, but it's a hassle to get $5 at some shows. I hope people like listening to bands on CD rather than seeing show, because that is what it's coming too.:scowl:
Click to expand...

Or "free" mp3 at home-studio quality, rather...
 
#27
This summer nearly every gig is almost two hours away, I can't wait. This might be my last summer playing music professionally. Settle into a library job and play a few local gigs, but no more road work. I know this weekend I'm planning on sleeping in my car between gigs to clear at least a little money. I'm too old to be sleeping in my car, it was ok at twenty but now....

Andy
 
#28
I have been thinking about this issue a lot lately. As bass players, we need to do other things to make up for the lost income such as teach lessons or play more locally. I don't plan on asking for more money from resteraunts or band leaders. from what I understand, most steadies (at least around here) have always paid what they pay. I am lucky to make most of my money locally. When I go out of town I try to carpool or catch a ride with the band leader. These are tough times..... However, all of the older guys I know say the gigs will pick up when the economy does. so hopefully that will mean we can be more selective about where we play and we won't have to drive 60 miles one way to make 50 bucks, like I do tomorrow...
 
#31
There's really two ways to cope:
a) Gig less or take smaller gigs so you don't have to haul around a trailer to fit your gear into.
b) Gig a lot more.

Option b is not really feasible for most people that have families or for starting bands that struggle to get a decent draw. It's not '73 anymore and the demand for bands is slowly but surely decreasing, especially for plain old rock bands.
 
#32
Last week I had to decline 4 upcoming out of town gigs because the pay didn't justify the transportation cost.

The gas situation is for real, not going away and will escalate beyond where we are today. As bad as it is in the US, folks in Europe have been dealing with this for years and their situation continues to worsen as well.

The drastic rise in gas prices was inevitable and it's finally here.
 
#35
geez, i guess the party is over.

so let's say (purely hypothetically) that your are a roman citizen alive during the final glory years of the empire. do you make a survival plan for the impending fall of your civilization or do you party it up with careless abandon?




not that this has anything to do with our current situation.....
 
#36
EBodious said:
geez, i guess the party is over.

so let's say (purely hypothetically) that your are a roman citizen alive during the final glory years of the empire. do you make a survival plan for the impending fall of your civilization or do you party it up with careless abandon?




not that this has anything to do with our current situation.....
Click to expand...

Party less, make survival plan.

's exactly what we're doing.

Cherie
 

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