I just got fired because I wouldn't Play for Free

[mobax]

+1...

yes, at the very least, I would be expecting to cover my petrol, get a few drinks on the house and maybe a meal thrown in as well.

I think a club gig should pay around $100 per man minimum. That is not a lot of money; just about enough to buy one good dinner out for me and the wife. I don't drink on the job and don't count free drinks as pay. I also agree that non-professionals should not offer to play for free in clubs where pros regularly work.

 

[Lorenzini]

It ****S it up for the rest of us trying to make a living doing it.

Just because it's amateur night on Friday night doesn't mean the pros that come in on Saturday should also make $50 a man.

********!

Music is worth something. Make it so, and have fun doing it!

 

[aborgman]

It ****S it up for the rest of us trying to make a living doing it.

Just because it's amateur night on Friday night doesn't mean the pros that come in on Saturday should also make $50 a man.

********!

Music is worth something. Make it so, and have fun doing it!

I say if you can't show an employer you're worth more than a free band to their bottom line, don't expect to get paid.

If you can show an employer you're worth more than a free band to their bottom line, you will get paid - regardless of whether people are working the area for free or not.

Don't worry about what everyone else does - show the bars/clubs/etc. what you can do for them. Bands that bring in more customers will ALWAYS make money.

--
aborgman

 

[Stumpy]

Wow that was a nice letter.

You need to take care of you and if they are in line with that great ...if not great-just move to the next one.

JMHO

 

[tycobb73]

You guys treat it like it is a job. Maybe to you it is. To me it is not. I tell people:

My wife scrapbooks. I play in a band. Those are our hobbies.

Are people going to pay my wife to look at her scrapbooks?

I also told a prospective guitar player who wanted to join our band and change our setlist so we could make $1000/night at corporates/weddings (according to him when he saw what we had):

I have a day job where I have to do things I neccessarily don't want to. And I get paid quite well. I will not turn my band into a job.

We passed on him.

I don't know if we'll ever play for free or not, but I wouldn't be opposed to it. To me, its a hobby, not a job.

 

[Lorenzini]

You guys treat it like it is a job. Maybe to you it is. To me it is not. I tell people:

My wife scrapbooks. I play in a band. Those are our hobbies.

Are people going to pay my wife to look at her scrapbooks?

I also told a prospective guitar player who wanted to join our band and change our setlist so we could make $1000/night at corporates/weddings (according to him when he saw what we had):

I have a day job where I have to do things I neccessarily don't want to. And I get paid quite well. I will not turn my band into a job.

We passed on him.

I don't know if we'll ever play for free or not, but I wouldn't be opposed to it. To me, its a hobby, not a job.

What do you do for a living?
Imagine if someone did that for a hobby and went to all your clients and gave the product out. Those clients aren't going to buy your product as readily.

I say, if it's just a hobby, don't go into a professional playing atmosphere where others are getting paid to play, doing it for little to no money.

As far as treating it like a job... Yes it is a job! Probably the one of the funnest jobs anyone could have. What's wrong with that?

 

[tycobb73]

What do you do for a living?
Imagine if someone did that for a hobby and went to all your clients and gave the product out. Those clients aren't going to buy your product as readily.

I say, if it's just a hobby, don't go into a professional playing atmosphere where others are getting paid to play, doing it for little to no money.

As far as treating it like a job... Yes it is a job! Probably the one of the funnest jobs anyone could have. What's wrong with that?

I'm a glorified accountant. If someone else wants to do what I do for free, fine, it only takes a masters degree and 50 hours a week.

We are in Ameirca, I can go wherever I want and charge what I want.

Nothing's wrong with that. Just don't get upset with me if I take your gigs. It's a free country. And by the way, I love my job a lot more than playing.

 

[mobax]

What do you do for a living?
Imagine if someone did that for a hobby and went to all your clients and gave the product out. Those clients aren't going to buy your product as readily.

I say, if it's just a hobby, don't go into a professional playing atmosphere where others are getting paid to play, doing it for little to no money.

As far as treating it like a job... Yes it is a job! Probably the one of the funnest jobs anyone could have. What's wrong with that?

You took the words right out of my mouth. I believe that it takes not only talent but a certain amount of courage and conviction to pursue a career in music. The competition is tough enough without throwing hobbyists playing for free into the mix.

 

[mobax]

I'm a glorified accountant. If someone else wants to do what I do for free, fine, it only takes a masters degree and 50 hours a week.

We are in Ameirca, I can go wherever I want and charge what I want.

Nothing's wrong with that. Just don't get upset with me if I take your gigs. It's a free country. And by the way, I love my job a lot more than playing.

I'm speechless.

 

[tycobb73]

why?

 

[Lorenzini]

why?

At this point you just seem to be opposed to the whole idea of "professional musician" and are just trying to be a dick about it.

Good day!

 

[Lorenzini]

You took the words right out of my mouth. I believe that it takes not only talent but a certain amount of courage and conviction to pursue a career in music. The competition is tough enough without throwing hobbyists playing for free into the mix.

+1

 

[mobax]

why?

Read your post and think about it. I am an accountant also. In fact, I am the top accountant at a successful manufacturing company. Be that as it may, I can sincerely say that the day I can honestly say that I enjoy accounting more than music, is the day I will leap from the center of the Mackinaw Bridge. Further, I find your attitude towards those who pursue in earnest something that I feel most TBer's hold very dear to be perplexing at best. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[tycobb73]

Read your post and think about it. I am an accountant also. In fact, I am the top accountant at a successful manufacturing company. Be that as it may, I can sincerely say that the day I can honestly say that I enjoy accounting more than music, is the day I will leap from the center of the Mackinaw Bridge. Further, I find your attitude towards those who pursue in earnest something that I feel most TBer's hold very dear to be perplexing at best. Just my 2 cents worth.

I understand why you hate accountng. I didn't like it when I was in manufacturing either. NOw that I work in education and only about 40% of my job is accounitng, I love it. I turned down an offer to be a controller at a chain of guitar stores to come here, and I'm glad I did.

Plus, being able to buy a home, spending time with my kids, playing music that I want to play; that gives me great joy than having to take every gig to survive, living out of hotel rooms, and spending little time with my family.

I in no way put down professional musicians. They are however putting those down that will play for free. My teacher is a professional musicain and I have great respect for him. It is not for me.

My point is, if I want to play for free, it is my right to do so. It is your right to charge whatever you want. But please don't get mad at me because I am willing to play for free (which I haven't done, but maybe I will).

But again I in no way put down professional musicians.

 

[Lorenzini]

I understand why you hate accountng. I didn't like it when I was in manufacturing either. NOw that I work in education and only about 40% of my job is accounitng, I love it. I turned down an offer to be a controller at a chain of guitar stores to come here, and I'm glad I did.

Plus, being able to buy a home, spending time with my kids, playing music that I want to play; that gives me great joy than having to take every gig to survive, living out of hotel rooms, and spending little time with my family.

I in no way put down professional musicians. They are however putting those down that will play for free. My teacher is a professional musicain and I have great respect for him. It is not for me.

My point is, if I want to play for free, it is my right to do so. It is your right to charge whatever you want. But please don't get mad at me because I am willing to play for free (which I haven't done, but maybe I will).

But again I in no way put down professional musicians.

I am certainly putting down those that want to play for free. The reason is because it lowers the value of the music. Why you would want to do that makes no sense.

And I think your reality of a "professional musician" is interesting. Living off of the next gig and calling the next hotel room your home is not how it is. Only if you're touring constantly, and that's just like a business trip.
However, the living from gig check to gig check is how it will be if people like you offer to play for free. Isn't that ironic?

 

[mobax]

I understand why you hate accountng. I didn't like it when I was in manufacturing either. NOw that I work in education and only about 40% of my job is accounitng, I love it. I turned down an offer to be a controller at a chain of guitar stores to come here, and I'm glad I did.

Plus, being able to buy a home, spending time with my kids, playing music that I want to play; that gives me great joy than having to take every gig to survive, living out of hotel rooms, and spending little time with my family.

I in no way put down professional musicians. They are however putting those down that will play for free. My teacher is a professional musicain and I have great respect for him. It is not for me.

My point is, if I want to play for free, it is my right to do so. It is your right to charge whatever you want. But please don't get mad at me because I am willing to play for free (which I haven't done, but maybe I will).

But again I in no way put down professional musicians.

How do you presume that I hate accounting? The essence of my remarks is that I could never enjoy accounting as much or in the same way that I enjoy music. In fact, the accounting field has provided me with a good life and I am appreciative. I find your comments to be at best insulting and arrogant. The difference between us is: I became an accountant subsequent to a failed career as a full time professional musician; you were born an accountant.

 

[tycobb73]

I am certainly putting down those that want to play for free. The reason is because it lowers the value of the music. Why you would want to do that makes no sense.

And I think your reality of a "professional musician" is interesting. Living off of the next gig and calling the next hotel room your home is not how it is. Only if you're touring constantly, and that's just like a business trip.
However, the living from gig check to gig check is how it will be if people like you offer to play for free. Isn't that ironic?

1. I would want to do that because I love to play what I want to play, even if it means for free. Many people do hobbies that cost them money for free because they love it. It is no different for me.

2. Your arguement carries over to the hard hit manufacturing sector of MI very well. It is the same as those who are upset about all the jobs moving over seas. I understand why they're upset, I understand why you are upset. But is it not my right to play for free? Just like it was my boss' right to take his business from a local supplier to China?

I understand what you are doing and why you are doing it, but why can't you uderstand why people would pay for free? If they love music that much shouldn't it be their right?

 

[tycobb73]

How do you presume that I hate accounting?

I can sincerely say that the day I can honestly say that I enjoy accounting more than music, is the day I will leap from the center of the Mackinaw Bridge.



I could say you were arrogant to me too with this remark. But I understand not everyone loves being an accountant as much as I do. What a lot of people here don't understand is that not everyone loves being a musician as much as them and just wants to play a few free shows on the side.

 

[mobax]

I can sincerely say that the day I can honestly say that I enjoy accounting more than music, is the day I will leap from the center of the Mackinaw Bridge.

That statement in no way infers that I hate accounting. It does clearly (and maybe a bit over the top) state that I enjoy music more than accounting as would most normal beings, in my opinion. Maybe it is time for some remedial reading comprehension education?

 

[Vandelay]

1. I would want to do that because I love to play what I want to play, even if it means for free. Many people do hobbies that cost them money for free because they love it. It is no different for me.

Lots of people do hobbies that cost them money because they enjoy it. The difference is that scrapbookers, amateur chefs, amateur photographers, etc. don't enter the commercial marketplace to offer their service to strangers for free. You want to play at a friend's party for free, fine. You want to play at a bar on a Saturday night for free, I have a problem with that.