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How do you pay a STAND-OUT front man?

#82
HolmeBass said:
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 $$. The BL gets the most $$$.
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You gotta look at scale. things are a leeeettle different, when you are doing gigs where the pay ends with a 'K'.
 
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#84
Keep it equal shares or you will end up with pissed off band mates. Do you book all of the gigs? If so, do you take a bigger cut? You do more of the work. Who brings the PA? Do they get a bigger cut? Because transporting, maintaining and setting up a proper PA can be an expensive endeavor. What about the drummer? He/she arguable has to bring the most gear to a show (aside from the PA) - they certainly spend more time transporting and setting up their gear, do they get more money for gigs? You are asking for trouble if you go this route. If you start paying the guy who shows up and holds the mic more than the rest, then soon enough you will be the only two people in the band. It will become a mercenary type of scenario - no fun - and if nobody is having any fun, it will go to pot FAST.
 
#85
there is a chance that singer boy doesn't think he is any better than everyone else-
why would you inflate his ego when he may actually be humble about his skills?
recipe for disaster if you pay him more.
 
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#87
Stick_Player said:
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.
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Awesome you're hired! You'll be working right alongside Joe, Fred, and John doing the same job. Oh BTW I'm only paying you half as much as those guys but you have the same job description and expectations. I pay Joe more because his candles make the office smell nice. John wears flashy ties and brightens my mood. Fred was my neighbor's cousin and needed a job. Oh nevermind you know more and can outproduce them all your pay will always be less. When can you start? :thumbsup:
 
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#88
BassGuyFL said:
Awesome you're hired! You'll be working right alongside Joe, Fred, and John doing the same job. Oh BTW I'm only paying you half as much as those guys but you have the same job description and expectations. I pay Joe more because his candles make the office smell nice. John wears flashy ties and brightens my mood. Fred was my neighbor's cousin and needed a job. Oh nevermind you know more and can outproduce them all your pay will always be less. When can you start? :thumbsup:
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You left out one small point. I charge 6 times more than your organization grosses, plus a $500 daily per diem. You, Joe, Fred, and John will have to somehow come up with the difference.

And, I do not rehearse.

The ball's now in you court...

What will you do?

:roflmao:
 
#89
In all honesty, the very best and proper way to be a bandleader is not to tell everyone what everyone else gets. Say you get $500.00 for a gig. A lot of you are saying, "hey guys, I booked a gig for $500.00! Since there's five of us, we each get $100.00!"

You say, "we are playing at Ixnay's next Saturday night. I'll pay you $75.00." The guy can decide if he wants to play it or not. You have a guy lugging PA gear? You might offer him $100.00. You have a guy who is chronically late to shows, and won't be doing any setup? Maybe you offer him $50.00. OR, you booked the show; YOU lug and maintain the PA, and you keep $200.00, and split the rest among the band members.

The point is, nobody knows what everybody's cut is. They have been offered an amount to play a show, and they can either like it, or lump it. They can tell you in advance what their minimum is, and then you know you can't book a show where they would make less than that, without checking with them first, just like you wouldn't book a show if they are on the calendar as not available that night.

There's all kinds of ways you can do it. I don't see why every band has to do the whole "four muskateers" strategy towards everything.

I paid for the website.
I booked the venue.
I provided the PA
I brought 2/3 of our crowd, through invites, legwork, etc.
I printed setlists, gave the venue posters, and handled the T-Shirt sales

But I get the same as the guy who shows up 1/2 hour before the show, plugs in and plays?
 
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#91
Stick_Player said:
You left out one small point. I charge 6 times more than your organization grosses, plus a $500 daily per diem. You, Joe, Fred, and John will have to somehow come up with the difference.

And, I do not rehearse.

The ball's now in you court...

What will you do?

:roflmao:
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If you can walk on water, cure cancer and provide Sofia Vergara's phone # we have a deal! ;)

Just making the point that it's a bit unreasonable to pay differently for the same job. If you need a hired hand, ok. But full band members that built it from the ground up? And don't think that they won't discuss money when the BL isn't around.

Only reason I'm passionate about this is I was in a situation a few years ago like this. I got hired at a home improvement store that will go unnamed but they love the color orange. I was initially hired for another department but was transferred to appliance sales because I had previous experience in retail sales. Everyone had the same sales goals but there was a wild discrepancy in pay level. One was making almost twice as much but I had to perform to the same level. I also equaled and frequently beat his numbers and brought it to the attention of management that ok I'm more than meeting my expectations and regularly beating the ones that were "better" because they get paid more and had more experience. I was basically told there was nothing that can be done.
It had an affect on my whole outlook because I had really no reason to perform because I got nothing out of it. To pay someone $20 an hour and another person $12 an hour for the same job and expect the same results isn't just not fair it's crazy and then they wonder why the $12 guy is not happy and has an "attitude".

Of course the singer is gonna get the bulk of the attention but without a solid band and someone doing the "dirty work" I.e. the heavy lifting, soundcheck, loading of the trailer he's just a karaoke guy. Also sorry if I missed it but the OP say that he brings something else to the table besides putting on a great show? Does he own a PA that he lets the band use? Offer his garage for a free practice space? Handle the website and social media? I've been in a situation like that where I did a ton of extra work that the others didn't do and didn't get paid extra for it and I got resentful that I didn't get an extra dime or even a hey thanks for driving all night or hey the website looks great.
 
#92
Stick_Player said:
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.
Click to expand...

NOW inquiring minds want to know...
How is the pay split in YOUR band???
 
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#95
I'd guess that the ones who are saying "It's cool to pay everyone different amounts" are the hired hands in whatever group they play in and the ones that are saying "equal split" are actually members of a band...

Like I said, If you, as a BL, come to me and say "We have a gig and I need you to play bass on this night, for $XXX." and I say "Sure, that sounds ok.", then I have obligated myself to play for that amount irregardless of what anyone else in this group is making.

OTOH, if I've been there since day 1, and we all contribute to the betterment of the BAND, your cut and my cut better be the same or you can start looking for another band...
 
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#100
Stick_Player said:
Yep.

And, this is how the OP B/L should handle it. No need to discuss anything with anyone in the band.

Free Market system - always.
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I would agree 100% in any scenario where there is a band leader or someone who runs the band and hires players.

From reading the OP's comments it sounds like this is a band they built together that has always been an even split. How do you suddenly say "guys, this thing we built together is now mine and I am calling all the shots"?
 

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