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I just got fired because I wouldn't Play for Free
- Thread starter Jimi Cleek
- Start date
I can see taking a free gig that will lead to better paying gigs...ie a charity event for publicity so you can shake hands and hand out business cards, but I agree you can't undervalue what your music is worth. If you are a cover band you should get paid.
Most original bands play for free early on to gain a fan base. I know of a local band here, that makes more money on merchandise at every gig than they make on ther gig itself. I think that is the new business model for indie bands...
Most original bands play for free early on to gain a fan base. I know of a local band here, that makes more money on merchandise at every gig than they make on ther gig itself. I think that is the new business model for indie bands...
Yep...an original band's main goal should probably be to sell CDs, t-shirts, etc. Unless your band is really established and well known, most people just aren't going to pay an original band to play at their venue.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
This seems to be the standard, tongue-in-cheek reply every time this subject comes up. I've never understood this. Are you saying that if backline is provided, you'll play for no charge?
No. Unfortunately, my ass is the largest piece of equipment I have to move...
Randy
No. Unfortunately, my ass is the largest piece of equipment I have to move...
Randy
Bwahahaha! That's awesome.
No. Unfortunately, my ass is the largest piece of equipment I have to move...
Randy
I hope you're not an upright player.
Selling out to WHO? Satan? The Chinese? The New World Order?
I don't understand the correlation between making money playing music and 'Selling Out'.
Hey all!!
I never give charity. At all. Not to the homeless guy on the street, fundraiser events for "research money", or religious charity donations. Playing for free is nothing more than charity. I expect to be compensated at a fair rate for everything I do.
I ESPECIALLY do not give charity to those making a profit when I am not. If we play a bar, and bring 80 people out (buying beers at $3 to $4 each, plus food, any money they give us for 3 hours worth of entertainment is a paltry sum.
Covers are not always fun. I detest playing Bruce Springsteen, the Beatles, or the Doors, but most of my band LOVES that stuff. I definitely need to get paid if I have to play the Am to Bm groove in "Light my Fire" for more than 20 seconds.
I would never engineer for free (my day job), and I have developed my skllls on bass quite over many years. Why should I play for free?
Chebass88
I never give charity. At all. Not to the homeless guy on the street, fundraiser events for "research money", or religious charity donations. Playing for free is nothing more than charity. I expect to be compensated at a fair rate for everything I do.
I ESPECIALLY do not give charity to those making a profit when I am not. If we play a bar, and bring 80 people out (buying beers at $3 to $4 each, plus food, any money they give us for 3 hours worth of entertainment is a paltry sum.
Covers are not always fun. I detest playing Bruce Springsteen, the Beatles, or the Doors, but most of my band LOVES that stuff. I definitely need to get paid if I have to play the Am to Bm groove in "Light my Fire" for more than 20 seconds.
I would never engineer for free (my day job), and I have developed my skllls on bass quite over many years. Why should I play for free?
Chebass88
I actually engineer (my day job) and do computer support for free much more than I play music. Friends, family, acquaintances, cow-orkers, etc...
I think its always best on to get a bit of money, and if the promoter tries to wiggle out of it, push em against a wall an use the old "you promised us this money so were going to get something, even if its 10 quid less" it normally works well yes
My, what a note of light and kindness. IMO it's good that people's opinions differ on this topic so that there are musicians who will help worthy causes.
It's a funny thing reading about what people think their time is worth.
I've spent 20 years playing originals for nothing. I've written or cowritten or been a part of the songwriting process of some really kickass songs. I've come up with parts that are supportive of or are the main riffs behind some really cool songs. Some of those bands have drawn flies. Some of those songs have never been evaluated with a critical ear. Some of those songs suck. But the thing is, I put myself into it. I thought of what works, I thought of how to approach lines. I wrote my bits.
But then theres somebody who listens to a record, figures out what to play, and cops someone else's lines and ideas and thinks he deserves to be paid because... he played someone else's ideas and lines in a bar???
Am I a fool for putting the effort into "writing" a song for no compensation?
Are any myriad of kids who learn any song fools for putting the effort into learning a song with out monetary compenation?
Don't forget that what you're doing is called "playing."
I love playing. I love creating.
'work is work, love is love; people who do love for work are called hookers.'
It's one thing when someone's making money off your work. Whether it's creatively or on your physical work. It's another thing to demand compensation for something you'd be doing anyway.
Yeah, it's nice to get paid for playing songs you like playing.
Yeah, it is "work" to play songs I really don't like, but people want to hear.
But I would still play songs I liked and loved if I never got a penny in compensation.
I've spent 20 years playing originals for nothing. I've written or cowritten or been a part of the songwriting process of some really kickass songs. I've come up with parts that are supportive of or are the main riffs behind some really cool songs. Some of those bands have drawn flies. Some of those songs have never been evaluated with a critical ear. Some of those songs suck. But the thing is, I put myself into it. I thought of what works, I thought of how to approach lines. I wrote my bits.
But then theres somebody who listens to a record, figures out what to play, and cops someone else's lines and ideas and thinks he deserves to be paid because... he played someone else's ideas and lines in a bar???
Am I a fool for putting the effort into "writing" a song for no compensation?
Are any myriad of kids who learn any song fools for putting the effort into learning a song with out monetary compenation?
Don't forget that what you're doing is called "playing."
I love playing. I love creating.
'work is work, love is love; people who do love for work are called hookers.'
It's one thing when someone's making money off your work. Whether it's creatively or on your physical work. It's another thing to demand compensation for something you'd be doing anyway.
Yeah, it's nice to get paid for playing songs you like playing.
Yeah, it is "work" to play songs I really don't like, but people want to hear.
But I would still play songs I liked and loved if I never got a penny in compensation.
I play in a cover band and have played my share of benefits. There have been a few where we have been payed our usual rate and others where we "donate" our time (and energy lugging all the equipment around). While the free ones are inconvenient sometimes, we only do them for people that someone in the band is personally associated with. And it's always a good cause (eg: we did one this summer for a person that had her breast cancer come back 
). Most of the band knows her, so it's not a bad thing in my book. We've also been around long enough to see through the shady ones (where the 'beneficiary' gets little of the money...you know, the ones that are thrown in bars where they pay for beer, food etc...). You have to draw the line somewhere though, and when it gets to be friends of friends asking for you to play a benefit (for free), you have to say sorry sometimes.
You don't want the word SUCKER written on your foreheads. The time you're playing a free gig could be spent at a paying gig, or with your friends & family. If your friends and/or family are at your free gig (benefit), then it's worth it in my situation because it's always a lot of fun. Events, bars and private parties are where I expect to get paid for my time and effort.
gg
). Most of the band knows her, so it's not a bad thing in my book. We've also been around long enough to see through the shady ones (where the 'beneficiary' gets little of the money...you know, the ones that are thrown in bars where they pay for beer, food etc...). You have to draw the line somewhere though, and when it gets to be friends of friends asking for you to play a benefit (for free), you have to say sorry sometimes.You don't want the word SUCKER written on your foreheads. The time you're playing a free gig could be spent at a paying gig, or with your friends & family. If your friends and/or family are at your free gig (benefit), then it's worth it in my situation because it's always a lot of fun. Events, bars and private parties are where I expect to get paid for my time and effort.
gg
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I hate people who try to suck all the fun out of making money by playing music for free. 
i don't really hate you, i don't even know you.
i don't really hate you, i don't even know you.
Amen, brother. I was asked to play a gig in a couple weeks w/ a couple I'd jammed w/ on occasion a while back. They asked if I'd play ("but we can't pay you anything"...this when I know they're getting paid $350 for the show). Between my time, schlepping gear, gas/wear'n'tear on my vehicle...I won't do it.
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