Sounds like you are going to play for free to me, why don't you offer to run sound for them this way you know what you are getting paid. Seriously there's way too many if's with this gig I wouldn't do it myself.
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Gig "offer", they still do this??
- Thread starter JMacBass65
- Start date
Yeah I agree, both are thankless jobs take the one that pays better ha ha haThat club
It's been some years now, but I worked at a club where you had the choice of paying for a soundman ($100 I recall) or running the sound yourself. Guess what we did
$300 is pretty sweet, maybe I should hang up the bass and start running sound again.
Sounds like charity!
Do it if the whole band wants to kick-ass for the fun of it.
Flag it if it even slightly inconveniences any of you.
And offer mixing services for $299 a gig!
Do it if the whole band wants to kick-ass for the fun of it.
Flag it if it even slightly inconveniences any of you.
And offer mixing services for $299 a gig!
The last time we played at a place that insisted on charging a cover and having us pay for the sound tech, we had our own sound guy run the PA*, and the drummers wife collected money at the door once she arrived.
Still think they cheated us by about $50 on the door. And the place went out of business a month later.
*(which didn't actually work -- the owner failed to mention his mains were busted and he had to use a couple of the stage monitors as tops, so we had one monitor for a six piece band. )
Still think they cheated us by about $50 on the door. And the place went out of business a month later.
*(which didn't actually work -- the owner failed to mention his mains were busted and he had to use a couple of the stage monitors as tops, so we had one monitor for a six piece band. )
Sounds dirty to me. They hired a soundman for $200, and are going to skim another $100 from the bands. After they take in $300 at the door they'll give you an unspecified cut split between two bands. Out of that morsel you have the "promoter" getting his unspecified fee.
Thank your friends for the offer, but I just don't see where there is much money here, unless it's a very rare club that is packed to the walls for live music.
Thank your friends for the offer, but I just don't see where there is much money here, unless it's a very rare club that is packed to the walls for live music.
Sounds like they picked your band, hoping you are naive enough to pay the $300 Sound Man Fee.
My guess is everyone else is not participating. Either way, how would you know? Sounds screwy. About the time you hit them up with this, there will be some jazz about the sound man taking a chance too that they wont clear the $300, and if HE"s ok with that why shouldn't you be?
Sounds like a venu's way of shell-gaming live music in on a slow traditionally slow night to try to get business to pick up. - With enough escape clauses in the proposition that if it doesn't work out, there's no risk to them.
My guess is everyone else is not participating. Either way, how would you know? Sounds screwy. About the time you hit them up with this, there will be some jazz about the sound man taking a chance too that they wont clear the $300, and if HE"s ok with that why shouldn't you be?
Sounds like a venu's way of shell-gaming live music in on a slow traditionally slow night to try to get business to pick up. - With enough escape clauses in the proposition that if it doesn't work out, there's no risk to them.
Several clubs in my area work this way. And the numbers certainly don't favor the band. The venue has a pre-determined budget for entertainment, the sound man gets a guaranteed set fee, and the band has to cross their fingers and hope that some scraps from the door come their way.
There are some weeknight stages that offer the band a set fee, but you can bet that it's only half of the total entertainment budget for the evening, and the soundman got the other half. The band thinks, "$300.00 for a weeknight paid rehearsal; not bad!" But that's only 50% of the total payday, you had to split it five ways, and the sound man/booking agent punked your asses.
Yep, still going strong in certain locations. My band did it a few years ago when we needed the stage time, and started brooming those offers as soon as we were able.
There are some weeknight stages that offer the band a set fee, but you can bet that it's only half of the total entertainment budget for the evening, and the soundman got the other half. The band thinks, "$300.00 for a weeknight paid rehearsal; not bad!" But that's only 50% of the total payday, you had to split it five ways, and the sound man/booking agent punked your asses.
Yep, still going strong in certain locations. My band did it a few years ago when we needed the stage time, and started brooming those offers as soon as we were able.
We only pay the sound guy if we hire a sound guy. It is usually only for venues that don’t have their own PA.
That means he loads in all his PA gear and lights and tears it all down at the end of the night. By paying we are totally hands off of all that mess, it is also a lot easier than running sound yourself. Also we only do this if we are contracted for $1200 or more, otherwise no way, we pay our sound guy $300-$400!
That’s more of a cut than we get, but man does he make us sound good!!
We have 2 sound guys and a projectionist that work with us at certain venues. I feel it is up to the venue to pay the sound guy if they have to hire one, and keep their hands out of my bands pockets.
That means he loads in all his PA gear and lights and tears it all down at the end of the night. By paying we are totally hands off of all that mess, it is also a lot easier than running sound yourself. Also we only do this if we are contracted for $1200 or more, otherwise no way, we pay our sound guy $300-$400!
That’s more of a cut than we get, but man does he make us sound good!!
We have 2 sound guys and a projectionist that work with us at certain venues. I feel it is up to the venue to pay the sound guy if they have to hire one, and keep their hands out of my bands pockets.
Kind of sounds like the headliner needed someone to pay all of the costs so they wouldn't have to. Tag, your it.
It's not good pay if you're bringing $20k worth of sound system for $300 but that's why I suspect he's providing the system since going rate for a true pro engineer running a quality club system is about half of $300.
I'd be curious to know which place this is; wonder if I've played there and could give you the scuttlebutt on it. Sounds like you'll be getting paid nothing to me.
It's Blue Fox Billiards in Winchester (not exactly NoVa by the time you get out that way.
Blue Fox Billiards, Bar and Grill
Invalid Link Removed
Nope. I would not do it. Play an hour and a half with no guarantee of any money?! Nope. And who's paying $10 cover charges? Certainly not many young people. I don't see a huge turnout. Too much work for little to no payoff.
Passinwind
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The club I last worked FOH in typically waived the bands' doorman and sound man fees if they ended up putting the band's agreed deal in the red. I always made my flat fee, no matter what. Depending on the the band's deal any individual member sometimes could make less than my fee, or many times more. Some bands offered me a share in the lottery, but I always passed. Most touring bands got a guaranty vs. the door minus sound and doorman. It was not all all uncommon for them to make 3-5 X the guaranty. And often times hotel rooms and a meal or two was part of the deal too, which can be a big deal to a touring band.
A lot of people suggest using your own doorman. In my world the doorman is very often also the bouncer, which opens up a pretty substantial can 'o worms as far as liability. Also IME, many civilians have a tendency to not know all the nuances of fake IDs and requirements for checking IDs in general. But that just depends, and our club was pretty flexible on that score. External promoters did usually handle the door and security, for instance. And any band was welcome to have someone audit the door situation, at the least.
Okay, I guess I’ll just be a jerk about it then.
From looking at this venue’s website and calendar, it sure seems that this place is not a successful live music venue and its “events” are all over the map. Billiards tournaments, guest DJ’s and “celebrity” bartenders, multi-band showcases and ladies nights...I played a place VERY similar to this down here in Austin and we got stiffed almost every time as the venue didn’t have the budget and business model that actually supported live music.
Good luck, but I’d say to pass.
for a soundman to get paid is pretty common..nobody wants to work for free..who pays the soundman would be up to the person who owns/runs the club..and rightfully so..$300 is high for a soundperson..but it would depend on what market you were in and how much experience that soundperson has..and the number of hours the soundperson works..some clubs will give you the option of bringing your own soundman who should know your material..but not all soundpeople can efficiently operate different systems because there are too many variables in relation to gear..plus..the club doesnt want outside soundpeople that may blow up some of their gear by improper operation..so the house soundperson is usually a good idea..but they dont work for free...........in relation to band pay..the percentage to be paid is not mentioned but you did say that was forthcoming..seating capacity is not mentioned..and the number of people that generally attend the venue on a given night of the week is not mentioned..also not mentioned is if the headline act is getting a guarantee or a percentage of the door..by what you have mentioned..it appears as if the bands are working for the door..but maybe not..the headliner could be getting a guarantee while your band could only get a percentage as mentioned..and is it a weekend night show or a show on a non weekend night..?.. it sounds like you will be at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to the money payout..too many unknowns..this is only a play for a rookie wanting some exposure..and the exposure may or may not be good..
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wmhill
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