After seeing the video, I'll stick with "equal pay". Everyone brings something to the band and you guys sound good. You're doing backup vocals on the stuff that he can't hit.
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How do you pay a STAND-OUT front man?
- Thread starter Rich O'Hanlon
- Start date
Just because you ride the "perceived value" to the top of the pay scale, doesn't mean that YOU are going to receive any more. If the BL is of the opinion that the reason the band made it to the top of the pay scale is because of one guy, that's not you, there's really no need to pay you any more than what you make currently. Also, since your not as valuable as "the star", if you make it known that you think you deserve more, you're probably gonna be looking for a new gig as soon as the BL finds another guy willing to play for what you make now.
I'm not in the corporate gig world(mainly because A) we haven't really tried, and B) we don't have that kind of set list), so you guys that are obviously know a lot more than the rest of us how that microcosm works, however, I do play in what may be considered a moderately successful(on a very local level)band. We make good money and we play about as much as we want to play. We have more venues now than we have dates available. I've got a fantastic frontman/singer. He's charming and not a bad looking dude. He's got a ton of friends and everybody knows him. He constantly gets told how awesome he is. The thing that I love about him, is that whenever someone tells him what an amazing singer he is, he always says "I wouldn't be anywhere without the rest of these guys". We've split everything equally for the last 11 years. That's why, even though we took a year off, we were able to pick up right where we left off, because we treated each other fairly...
If I'm a hired gun and we agree on a fee, then I play for that fee even if it's less than the other members, but if I'm a member of a band and I put 100% effort into the band, just like the other members, I expect to be compensated just like the other members.
In the example I gave, the corporate / wedding big band definitely churns through players. But $200 a gig is enough that the BL can always find new players, and he's figured out that if the vocal talent is good, the band can be less than stellar and no one paying cares. As my buddy, who drummed for them for a while put it, "They don't really care, dudes take a complete header and no one really cares." But it wasn't the singer pay inequity that made him quit, it was how much the BL was pocketing per gig over what anyone else was making.
So he quit, and was easily replaced. Since then my drummer friend has started his own wedding/corporate band. I have no clue how they split the money.
But the point is that, unfortunately, it is much easier to find players who can read than it is to find really good singers. So he pays his singers more. You just make sure to still pay the other players plenty, more than they used to get and more than they'd get on average if they jump ship, and be ready to constantly audition new players as they turn over.
The other approach is the "real band" approach where everyone gets equal pay, but that seems more like an original music situation. Long-lived original bands stay together because everyone gets equal pay.
So he quit, and was easily replaced. Since then my drummer friend has started his own wedding/corporate band. I have no clue how they split the money.
But the point is that, unfortunately, it is much easier to find players who can read than it is to find really good singers. So he pays his singers more. You just make sure to still pay the other players plenty, more than they used to get and more than they'd get on average if they jump ship, and be ready to constantly audition new players as they turn over.
The other approach is the "real band" approach where everyone gets equal pay, but that seems more like an original music situation. Long-lived original bands stay together because everyone gets equal pay.
Nice website. Good band! I see your point - good looking kid, good voice and good stage presence.
However all your videos focus almost entirely on him and now you want to pay him more. It seems he should be paying you guys for all the promo material.
I vote equal pay.
However all your videos focus almost entirely on him and now you want to pay him more. It seems he should be paying you guys for all the promo material.
I vote equal pay.
Even split. On the other hand, a demonstration of appreciation by the band goes a long way - not only for recognizing what he's brought to the table but also to help HIM feel like it's a good fit.
What if the other members of the band pooled some $$ and bought him a piece of gear that he's been lusting after? It's a one-time thing that makes everyone happy, and it doesn't muddy the waters by being a cash bonus.
What if the other members of the band pooled some $$ and bought him a piece of gear that he's been lusting after? It's a one-time thing that makes everyone happy, and it doesn't muddy the waters by being a cash bonus.
Pay him in a pint and with your gratitude, but don't give anyone the potential to let it go to his or her head.
Pay him like the other players. He's good but a band is a shared effort.
If you want to reward him, I'd give him a cut of your share as a one-off after a particularly good gig.
EDIT: Buying him a piece of gear like others have suggested is a great idea.
If you want to reward him, I'd give him a cut of your share as a one-off after a particularly good gig.
EDIT: Buying him a piece of gear like others have suggested is a great idea.
A shiny paint may help the sale but people come back for comfort and reliability.The band brought the guy here too.
OP, even if everything you say/believe is true, it doesn't mean you have to pay the guy more. There are other ways of acknowledging his contribution without creating a potentially uncomfortable band dynamic.
One thing worth considering is that simply by virtue of being a lead singer, he gets more attention which undoubtedly strokes his ego, and that may be more than enough to satisfy him. Has he ever asked for a bigger cut? If not, there's really no point in just offering it and opening up a (well-sealed) can of worms.
One thing worth considering is that simply by virtue of being a lead singer, he gets more attention which undoubtedly strokes his ego, and that may be more than enough to satisfy him. Has he ever asked for a bigger cut? If not, there's really no point in just offering it and opening up a (well-sealed) can of worms.
It's just an example. Level has nothing to do with it. My real job is chemical sales. There are 5 other guys with the same job at the company but I doubt we all make the same. I'm also pretty sure I make more than the delivery guy even though he does more heavy lifting and is better looking.
I don't see anything wrong with paying someone that brings added value more money.
They would say, "Why do I need to pay a band? I can get a Karioki machine for $500."
Equal cut. Always the safest
I agree here. As soon as you start paying someone more money than anyone else, funny things happen. Equal cut for everyone. Youre right, you all show up, you all play. If you took just one of those out of the equation, you wouldnt have THE band that is getting paid as a whole. Is he writing all the material or just performing what hes told to? Does he write at all or is his only contribution his performance? If that is the case, dont worry about the boy-singer and thinking hes not getting paid enough. Hell get paid plenty in other ways. Girls, attention...... Yeah. Equal pay. Thats what I say.
And yet...
You choose to ignore it.
Why bother asking???
Hoping for validation of an answer YOU already have???
If you're a band then equal pay is the way to go. However, if you're a business then members are paid based on their contribution to the business.
I would keep splitting the money even to keep drama out of it, unless the singer-boy is the talent that you are selling. For example I play in a backing band for a singer/songwriter and he gets a much larger cut than the rest of us because it is him that we are selling. It's his voice, his songs, and his name on the bill. However all gas and hotels also come out of his cut. But do whatever will keep the drama out of the band. It's hard enough to keep a band together without adding unneeded bs.
Stick_Player
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- Nov 13, 2009
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I have absolutely NO problem with people, in the same organization doing the so-called same job, receiving different pay-amounts.
Usually, if you ask for more, you'll get it. Or, find out that you have been overpaid.
Equal-pay is a concept for insecure day-dreamers and ne'er-do-wells.
I've rarely been in bands where the front man/woman wasn't the star. I once hired a singer for a band I had started, made him the focal point of the band and renamed the band after him. But I never paid any front man an extra penny just for being a front man. If they want more money they can start a band; hire personnel, buy a PA, provide rehearsal space, pick a song list, book the band, and deal with all the headaches. I'm not saying the the front man isn't a critical position in the band, but until you've done everything else on the list, it doesn't matter how good the front man is.
Now I have no problem paying the BL more than everyone else - they usually earn it; but another band member???? If my band told me that, I'd start looking immediately. If you want a graduated pay scale, use hired guns, don't insult the people who have spent time building this band up, only to be sent to the back of the bus.
Now I have no problem paying the BL more than everyone else - they usually earn it; but another band member???? If my band told me that, I'd start looking immediately. If you want a graduated pay scale, use hired guns, don't insult the people who have spent time building this band up, only to be sent to the back of the bus.
