If you expect to get compensation, but the bar manager doesn't offer any...why play? Lord knows I don't pay to play!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I Don't Remember Getting Gigs Being This Tough
- Thread starter Andy Brown
- Start date
If you expect to get compensation, but the bar manager doesn't offer any...why play? Lord knows I don't pay to play!
Oh. Gotcha. Yeah, so do I.
Often times, for an original band, the payment is in exposure or the like. We played a gig at the Paradise in Boston the other week; we only made $200, but you don't turn down gigs at the Paradise!
Often times, for an original band, the payment is in exposure or the like. We played a gig at the Paradise in Boston the other week; we only made $200, but you don't turn down gigs at the Paradise!
Obviously, we all have to be realistic as well. You are not going to ask $1000 from a small coffee house and you probably should be getting something to play a large festival.
I always like the saying "I play for free. I get paid for carting all the equipment to and from the gig.".
I always like the saying "I play for free. I get paid for carting all the equipment to and from the gig.".
First off I must say that this is my opinion, so please take it with a grain of salt.
When I first read this, it pissed me off. I mean, do you really think bands enjoy sharing the stage with other bands for 20 minutes apiece, ehen they have to take (at the very least) an hour to pack up and load in and another hour to leave plus probably several hours of practice to support the gig? Do you really think that a band gets warmed up, into a groove, and connected with a crowd in 20 minutes? Do you really think that the crowd enjoys a smorgasbord of 20 minute bands in a club setting? (festivals are way different) Do you really think that it is the bands responsibility to draw a huge crowd (no, it's the venues responsibility to draw the crowd, it's the bands responsibility to keep them there. Unless you have major label acts do you really expect local bands to draw large crowds?
Honestly YOU should be ashamed of yourself. It's likely that the bands didn't even make there gas money. Really... Even though the actual gig is fun (if you can even call 20 minutes a gig) but there is ACTUAL WORK being done to make thew gig happen and you say the band deserves $3 if they bring 5 people (remembering that bands have to start somewhere.) I say go **** yourself and I hope your venue dies as far as live music.
When I first read this, it pissed me off. I mean, do you really think bands enjoy sharing the stage with other bands for 20 minutes apiece, ehen they have to take (at the very least) an hour to pack up and load in and another hour to leave plus probably several hours of practice to support the gig? Do you really think that a band gets warmed up, into a groove, and connected with a crowd in 20 minutes? Do you really think that the crowd enjoys a smorgasbord of 20 minute bands in a club setting? (festivals are way different) Do you really think that it is the bands responsibility to draw a huge crowd (no, it's the venues responsibility to draw the crowd, it's the bands responsibility to keep them there. Unless you have major label acts do you really expect local bands to draw large crowds?
Honestly YOU should be ashamed of yourself. It's likely that the bands didn't even make there gas money. Really... Even though the actual gig is fun (if you can even call 20 minutes a gig) but there is ACTUAL WORK being done to make thew gig happen and you say the band deserves $3 if they bring 5 people (remembering that bands have to start somewhere.) I say go **** yourself and I hope your venue dies as far as live music.
Oh yeah... one more thing... and again take this with a grain of salt... your venue doesn't DESERVE to have live musicians
You got that right. The courtesy of a simple response or acknowledgement has disappeared. I do what I can to counter that.
+1 to a lot of this.
Except the thing about people coming if you're good, I've seen tons of awful bands build huge followings and tons of really creative, original, talented bands play and play and never get anywhere.
But yeah, if you're playing original music, you have to take your knocks. Some people actually earn money doing this, and more power to them. But if you require a fee for your time and talent, join a cover band, it's as easy as that. Or do both!
From Fendr1320: "I've seen tons of awful bands build huge followings and tons of really creative, original, talented bands play and play and never get anywhere."
Well said. Sadly it's very true. The industry is so heavily based on youth (For instance, how many famous acts got their break when they were in their forties?), image, sex appeal, and "the flavor of the month" that true creative talent and musicianship very often take a back seat (or are stuffed in the trunk, for that matter).
Well said. Sadly it's very true. The industry is so heavily based on youth (For instance, how many famous acts got their break when they were in their forties?), image, sex appeal, and "the flavor of the month" that true creative talent and musicianship very often take a back seat (or are stuffed in the trunk, for that matter).
There is a small club in my town and the owner is one of the rudest and most nasty, despicable, and unprofessional people I ever met. He treats bands terribly and will book one and then on the day of the gig deny he ever booked them and call them every foul name you can think of and an hour later call back like he never said a word. We will never work for him again but a friend of mine who happens to know this guy was trying to book his group there even though the pay is bad and he heard some horror stories before. After several weeks of getting the runaraound from this guy and calling him again on the day and time the owner told him to call for a booking, the guy said he was tired and sitting at the bar and his date book was at the other end of the bar and he did not feel like getting up to go get it and told my friend to call him back again. Needless to say, my friend said no way.
Dang, sounds like this guy has Tourettes Syndrome, in addition to other problems.
He sounds like he's on meth, or crack. Had a venue owner like that. He used to be a good dude, but then he started on every form of go-fast known to mankind. He became very erratic...angry, then cool, in a flash. He'd forget he booked bands, or double-booked bands, and then get angry. We once came to a gig, to find him in a tree, muttering angrily to himself. He'd promise a certain amount of pay, then not come through. It got so bad, no one wanted to play there anymore. Sad. It was a beautiful outdoor venue, and tremendous amounts of great music were made there. Its rubble, now.
Crazy.
Cherie
Let us know when you've grown up, had a family, and your head is no longer full of rainbows.
You are very, very naive.
Cherie
You are very, very naive.
Cherie
