How do you handle the dreaded/beloved benefit show?

[DaveParker39]

Okay, I’ll ask…

What are some of the more questionable charity events that you’ve either played or turned down?

Riis

I don’t think we’ve turned anything down based on pay. Sometimes based on logistics. But we have noticed many times there were people obviously being payed to be there other than us (catering, bartending, etc.) and in some cases we we’re basically losing a ton of money.
I don’t expect to make bank on charity gigs and I don’t mind playing for free. I just feel like the band shouldn’t be the only ones eating it.

 

[gln1955]

I don’t think we’ve turned anything down based on pay. Sometimes based on logistics. But we have noticed many times there were people obviously being payed to be there other than us (catering, bartending, etc.) and in some cases we we’re basically losing a ton of money.
I don’t expect to make bank on charity gigs and I don’t mind playing for free. I just feel like the band shouldn’t be the only ones eating it.

All these comments on the caterers, etc. For those folks, it's their livelihood and a good part of their business may be from charity and other NFP events. Unless, your band income supports you, it's not at all the same.

 

[DaveParker39]

All these comments on the caterers, etc. For those folks, it's their livelihood and a good part of their business may be from charity and other NFP events. Unless, your band income supports you, it's not at all the same.

It does. It’s not my entire livelihood but I depend on it.

 

[LowActionHero]

The few benefit shows we've done were just free, but they were for friends, or friends of friends.

 

[DaveParker39]

Are you being actively pursued to play benefits for causes you're not involved in? I've only played benefits when it was something personal to me or the band. Otherwise I'm not even sure why you would be asked. I just thought those things were either, do it for no money or don't do it. Why would someone want to take money from the charity?

Yes. We get asked because "oh you guys play the hits I'm sure it will go over great" moreso than "oh Sam, you're a therapist and this is a mental health cause" (I've done those too, oddly got paid for those)
To clarify... I don't mind showing up and playing bass for a couple hours for free.
I mean loading in, setting up our PA, all of our gear, doing sound for all of the other bands, and spending all day there for free. Break even? Sure. But free is a loss at that point.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I know some people are deeply involved in the planning of their band's financials, others simply show up for a rate, others somewhere in between.

It seems to me like there is something of an assumption that musicians are heavily willing to provide massive discounts/free labor for benefit shows, but I know darn well the local catering companies aren't giving it away, although certainly raffle gifts and such are donated.

Anyway, tell me how you deal with these types of things!

I’ll play them for free in the right situation. Like if its for a friend or one of the very few local charities I support. There’s one here that raises money for autistic kids and another that helps the homeless with everything from food to haircuts clothing and so on. With both the money stays local and helps the town I live in. Very rarely I’ll agree to play a benefit just to get the bands foot in the door at a new venue out of town. Limiting it to that tends to keep benefit shows to only once or twice a year. I can deal with that. As for benefit shows for people none of us know or random charities that don’t directly help the local community I’d rather just say no than try to argue pay for the gig. I really don’t mind playing a couple a year for free though. I know we all joke about playing for exposure but if the benefit show is for a legit cause and you put on a good show it can help in that way. I just wouldn’t let it become a super regular thing.

 

[getBAK]

I won't go them anymore. Not because of the money, because it's always a logistical shite-show with no one watching but the volunteers.

 

[MikeBass]

Depends on what it is/what it’s for.
I’ve found that almost all benefits, someone is making money, and for some reason, the talent isn’t. and when you ask for pay, they get appalled. Yet, the sound company is getting paid or something.

 

[mr80htz]

I know some people are deeply involved in the planning of their band's financials, others simply show up for a rate, others somewhere in between.

It seems to me like there is something of an assumption that musicians are heavily willing to provide massive discounts/free labor for benefit shows, but I know darn well the local catering companies aren't giving it away, although certainly raffle gifts and such are donated.

Anyway, tell me how you deal with these types of things!

This made me laugh as any time I've done a benefit gig it's always s for a good cause but that cause has no money . Moral debates ensue in my head

 

[DaveParker39]

Depends on what it is/what it’s for.
I’ve found that almost all benefits, someone is making money, and for some reason, the talent isn’t. and when you ask for pay, they get appalled. Yet, the sound company is getting paid or something.

Right. And yet the person who signed up for a shift that day at the catering company isn't expecting to work for free.

 

[Hawk256]

I used to produce a yearly concert for the American Heart Association. We called it Heart Beat. Did it for 5 years. My time was free and all the bands involved played for free. Local hotels would donate rooms for out of town bands and local resturants would cater for free as well. The venue was discounted and the sound company would discount also. So not everyone was working for free. In the end, we raised a lot of money during those shows and it is one of the things I am very proud of. I always try to give back what I can.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Yes. We get asked because "oh you guys play the hits I'm sure it will go over great" moreso than "oh Sam, you're a therapist and this is a mental health cause" (I've done those too, oddly got paid for those)
To clarify... I don't mind showing up and playing bass for a couple hours for free.
I mean loading in, setting up our PA, all of our gear, doing sound for all of the other bands, and spending all day there for free. Break even? Sure. But free is a loss at that point.

An all day event like that is a big ask. But when you’re free, “Hey how’s your light show?” So when you set a price for X, they’ll only expect X. If it’s free, ask for the world.

 

[jpeck02]

My old band wrote a song about benefit shows. This about sums it up for me LOL!

 

[mxz600]

we will do three free gigs a year one free gig for each member

 

[hbarcat]

I was in a five piece band years ago where three of the guys were Harley bikers and they wanted to do a benefit for their local biker club, which I didn't consider to be a particularly worthy cause.

The two of us who couldn't care less about giving away our time for such an event were simply out voted so we played for four hours for nothing but a sandwich and a drink. We didn't even get tips because the BL gave our tips away to the "charity".

I left that band shortly thereafter, for that reason, among others.

The bottom line is, I'll play for free, but only if I think it's a worthy cause and it doesn't take precedence over another paid gig and it doesn't happen too often.

 

[Bass Viking]

I was in a five piece band years ago where three of the guys were Harley bikers and they wanted to do a benefit for their local biker club, which I didn't consider to be a particularly worthy cause.

The two of us who couldn't care less about giving away our time for such an event were simply out voted so we played for four hours for nothing but a sandwich and a drink. We didn't even get tips because the BL gave our tips away to the "charity".

I left that band shortly thereafter, for that reason, among others.

The bottom line is, I'll play for free, but only if I think it's a worthy cause and it doesn't take precedence over another paid gig and it doesn't happen too often.

I don't blame you for leaving, that's bush league behavior. Sounds like they'll take any opportunity to play.

 

[hbarcat]

I don't blame you for leaving, that's bush league behavior. Sounds like they'll take any opportunity to play.

I was in that band for almost two years and we played exactly 7 shows during that entire time.

We practiced every Saturday afternoon and our practices were really just about them jamming in the basement, smoking weed, drinking beer, and hanging out with their friends, whom, they always invited over.

Every one of those 7 shows was for somebody they knew, and we always played for tips or chump change.

I took me 2 years to figure out that they really weren't interested in doing anything more than that. They kept insisting that we were making progress and that we'd soon be playing proper gigs for decent pay, but in hindsight, I realize they were just stringing me along.

 

[Bass Viking]

I was in that band for almost two years and we played exactly 7 shows during that entire time.

We practiced every Saturday afternoon and our practices were really just about them jamming in the basement, smoking weed, drinking beer, and hanging out with their friends, whom, they always invited over.

Every one of those 7 shows was for somebody they knew, and we always played for tips or chump change.

I took me 2 years to figure out that they really weren't interested in doing anything more than that. They kept insisting that we were making progress and that we'd soon be playing proper gigs for decent pay, but in hindsight, I realize they were just stringing me along.

A social club, eh? That’s OK as long they’re upfront and honest about it but that clearly wasn’t the case.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Another rule: if I don't know you, don't ask. The bands in this area are loosely networked so names get passed around to various promoters / coordinators. May sound harsh but if I have no interests or connections to the cause, it's a hard pass.

Riis