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How do you pay a STAND-OUT front man?

Rich O'Hanlon

Rich O'Hanlon

Guest
Apr 17, 2014
25
7
58
Toronto, Ontario
#1
I'm the BL for a Top 40 band in Canada that's been together for about 4 years. Traditionally we've split proceeds from our gigs evenly, but about 18 months ago we got a new front-man who is unbelievably good. He's a super talented, good looking kid with incredible presence and a knack for charming the crap out of audiences. His talent has totally raised the profile of the band and after we put a promo video out last year, the band has taken off like you wouldn't believe. Now we're landing fantastic gigs that we wouldn't even have dreamed of before singer-boy joined us. This weekend though, I was paying paying the lads and I handed everyone a wad of cash that they were all delighted with, but it occurred to me that it's singer-boy who has got us to where we are, so I've told the lads to be prepared for a change in how we pay on our big gigs. What's the answer though?? I'd love to figure out a formula that will apply to all gigs. Maybe a percentage of profit based on our individual contributions? We all show up and play, but no one is telling me we're a great band because of my guitar skills or because our drummer is so tight. It's all singer-boy. Love to hear some input to help me figure out what's fair and the right thing to do.
 
#3
I dont know...I was just listening to an interview with a well known rock front man, and the interviewer asked that since he is the draw, how did they split the money. The guy said its split equally or it creates an issue. I would say equal.
 
#7
Whats fair and right is as you have been doing.
EVEN STEVEN SPLIT.
Anything else WILL be problematic.
Butt hurt feelings on the part of other long time members. reducing YOU to no more than singer boys back up band.
Also you must avoid swelling up his head, Because that is the norm.
IF singer boy gets his ego stroked enough he will start to listen to those people that WILL be sucking up to him, and telling him how wonderfull he is.
AND how he doesn't need you, and sure nuff, he will strike out without you.
In a perfect world, in a perfect band "all men are created equal".
Some are better at some tasks than others, but everybody has to pull his weight.
 
#11
People will always pay more attention to the lead singer. But the singer does need a good band to back him up. When they are drooling over him, little do they know that they are saying that the whole band was great.
If singer boy was up there in front of a hack band, he wouldn't look as good.
Your job as a bass player is usually to hold down the band. It's just like New England's offensive line never gets credit, but they make Tom Brady look damn good.
 
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#12
I am going to take another tack on this, not from personal experience, but from what I know about a very successful wedding/event band in the area, which is a big band that has a "Frank Sinatra" and a "Sarah Vaughn" and an "Aretha Franklin" and an "Otis Redding" on each gig they play. The BL actually runs *two different bands* under the same name. He pays musician's well, a flat $200 per gig (and sometimes rhythm section and some select soloists will have to play an additional dinner jazz set - no extra pay for that, still just $200). He pays his singers $300 each, and it is possible that some of the better ones get even more. He goes through musicians like it's going out of style, but he wants to keep his singers happy. This band is pulling down $10K to $25K per gig, it's a big business. He's putting a 12-piece, sometimes up to 16-piece band on stage plus 4 great singers and a deep catalog of tunes, and he's the only one really pulling off the big band / swing dance thing, and it's paying off. The singers get more $$. The BL gets the most $$$.
 
#16
The issue lays in somehow quantifying the band member contribution. I believe the quote is "you can't manage what you can't measure." If you have a fair system for measuring this sort of thing, have at it, but i can't imagine you do or anyone else does. You would have to have the whole band agree to a set of metrics that determine pay, then have a way to accurately report those metrics which translates to amount paid. I think your intentions are good, but in this case the details likely wont work out.
 
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#17
Rich O'Hanlon said:
I'm the BL for a Top 40 band in Canada that's been together for about 4 years. Traditionally we've split proceeds from our gigs evenly, but about 18 months ago we got a new front-man who is unbelievably good. He's a super talented, good looking kid with incredible presence and a knack for charming the crap out of audiences. His talent has totally raised the profile of the band and after we put a promo video out last year, the band has taken off like you wouldn't believe. Now we're landing fantastic gigs that we wouldn't even have dreamed of before singer-boy joined us. This weekend though, I was paying paying the lads and I handed everyone a wad of cash that they were all delighted with, but it occurred to me that it's singer-boy who has got us to where we are, so I've told the lads to be prepared for a change in how we pay on our big gigs. What's the answer though?? I'd love to figure out a formula that will apply to all gigs. Maybe a percentage of profit based on our individual contributions? We all show up and play, but no one is telling me we're a great band because of my guitar skills or because our drummer is so tight. It's all singer-boy. Love to hear some input to help me figure out what's fair and the right thing to do.
Click to expand...

Please keep in mind this is just my humble 2 cents, and I'm trying to be helpful. :)

If you pay your singer more, you will be contributing to LSD (Lead Singers Disease).

You're forgetting that while the singer contributes greatly to the growth of your band, the other members have spent years practicing to become as good as they are. They've spent thousands of dollars on gear, hauled it around for years, and been through a lot of crappy "growing pains". .

Once you pay the singer more, everyone else in the band is going to be peeved. They may accept it at first, but the resentment will grow. Eventually, it'll come to a head. And every musician I've ever known loves to talk. Especially when they can complain about former bands and BLs.

IMO, you don't want a rep as the band that pays the singer more than everyone else. If your singer becomes a star, gets a record label, wins "The Voice" or whatever, then sure, he and his manager can charge whatever rates they want. But that won't be your issue.
 
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#18
Dumb question. Equal pay is established pay. If the gigs pay more, then everyone gets paid more, including the front man. If I was one of the fellows in this act and you dropped this on me, I'd be pissed. I'd stuck it out through equal pay when the gigs paid less and then when they become more lucrative you cut my percentage? I'd most likely walk on that. Flat rate or equal pay from beginning and stick with that.
 
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#19
Option 1.You can still split it up evenly, then give singer boy a portion of your cut, then you will know how others would feel if they had to take less.

Option 2. Give singer boy a healthier portion than everybody else, then watch the band fall apart.

Option 3. Keep it even Steven, keep your sanity, keep your friends, keep your band mates and enjoy the ride while it lasts.
 
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#20
Singer boy joined your band at the rates it was originally paying. The pay has gotten better. Im sure he's happy.
Did you ever think that he is just one part of the equation? The chemistry of the band improves with the addition of a member who raises the bar. Everyone is responsible. He is doing his job, just like you. Equal pay for everyone or expect your singer boy to suddenty come down with a severe case of LVS (lead vocalist syndrome) and someone else to come down with Nonappreciativitis.
 
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#20
Some thoughts:

If it was the front man's project from the get-go, meaning he developed all the relationships with clients and hired all the musicians in the band, then sure, he can pay the band what he wants. That's not the case. He has joined this group.

Almost every band I've ever been in has had an AMAZING singer. That's how I like to work. That one dynamic, crazy charismatic focal point out front in the spotlight. Those bands could not have existed without them. Yet, always equal pay.
 

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