Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,039
- 45,880
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
That's actually what it says, as far as I can tell. @Geri O: please clarify.
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It really stinks when….
- Thread starter Geri O
- Start date
I agree, clarification would be good. Others have interpreted it to mean that the whole band gets one night a weekend while the Artist gets four.
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
My main project(s) for a while have been without drums (sax/bass/guitar or sax/bass/piano), and after our guitarist retired from my last main band, my sax player and I have been marketing ourselves as a duo, with the option to expand to a trio or quartet if desired. Gives us a lot of flexibility. Ironically, we've been getting hired just to play duo, or MAYBE trio depending on the room. Everyone is in 'cost containment' mode it seems.
So...they've figured out a way for a system that historically never paid for its self to be even less financially and artistically rewarding?
Perfect....
Perfect....
Someone (a label? A patron?) was throwing money at the artist’s career initially to finance band touring is no longer doing so? The investment hasn’t paid off, hence the new way forward? Just guessing, sorry it sucks but maybe don’t take it personally, sucks for the artist too, if their thing isn’t working out. Best wishes for your next move!
Yes, that is indeed the case. The full band, as he’s put it together, has one show booked this entire year.
And yes, there’s definitely other opportunities to pursue. I and one of the other players work as a team in production and recording, and the other clients understand that we may or may not be available at various times.
It’s beginning to be clear to me, anyway, that’s it’s not so much the one gig we have this year with this artist, but the way we found about the schedule. On a Facebook post. No other discussion about things.
That’s certainly more common than anything and we mercenary players oughta be used to that sort of thing, I guess….
Still kinda hurt, though….
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JazznFunk
Supporting Member
To quote the great Ricky Bobby: 'That ain't worth a velvet painting of a whale and a dolphin gettin' it on.'
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,039
- 45,880
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Ouch! And yeah, not such a swell way to be informed of what sounds like a very big change.
I was once out on the bus for 7 weeks . . . . and six gigs. I came home owing money, even eating and getting by like a slave.
Nope.
Nope.
I have noticed even at festivals that I think I am going to see a band but a guy shows up with a guitar and maybe a laptop or some other kind of backing music. It's always so disappointing. One weird part about it is that ticket prices continue to rise astronomically. Where does the money go? I also notice that in local gigs getting any percentage of sales is going away, and on top of that now we are getting money taken out for the door person and the sound person. Everyone is getting nickel and dimed. I'm not trying to be all doom and gloom, but it seems like there is no support for artists anymore.
If you only have one gig booked for the entire year with this artist/BL/whatever, and he/she is booked 2-4 nights a week that’s a big problem. Add to that, the fact that you found out by a FB post, I wouldn’t be walking away, I’d be doing my best Road Runner impersonation. Beep F’ing Beep.
Condolences.
Yep - "all good things", especially in the gig world. Best of luck finding another opportunity(s).
I'm not that convinced that a band or artist used to make their real money off their sales; that might have been true for someone with at least a hit single/album (well, the single would have carried the album), but never for the "indie" acts. Yes, Pink Floyd famously lost money on their Wall tour, but that was because of the (over)complexity of the show. In general, artists tend to lose money on their tour when they overdo it (too many gigs, too expensive a show, etc.). I'm seriously doubting that Sonic Youth, for instance, really made much money selling their albums.
The artists "going solo" are simply those who don't have enough of a following to justify a band. So they go on stage with an acoustic guitar or maybe a keyboard posing as a piano. Once upon a time, bands would have been a bit more appealing than solo artists (but there was more of a "live music" culture, probably; and/or a more passionate audience). But they would never have made money off record sales even back then.
Via google - Sonic youth first record which did “ok” sold 160k in the US and 90k in UK. Quarter of a million records is a lot of records, no one buys music these days, indie bands would kill to sell that many. They most definitely made money off that. Not to mention google says their second album did 160k again as well in the US. Add in foreign sales and they did fine.
Yes, but I doubt that they made that much money anyway. If they got $1-2 off each copy (realistic, since they sold for $10-ish), we're talking about maybe $300k at most revenue off each album. Then you split the proceeds among the band members (not necessarily evenly). Then you pay tax. Still a decent income (probably on par with the signing fee), mind you, but at that level, I'm still thinking they got more money from touring.
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Unfortunately, yeah.
Still kind of crappy the way it was communicated. I've got a friend who's been no-retainer touring with a well known legacy act for about a decade. He at least gets a heads-up from the tour manager when things slow down.
Not impressed if an artist doesn't keep you in the picture for the next 6 months at least.
That's just BS ...
Understand cutting costs and downscaling but they didn't work out until late Dec they'd in effect have to cut people??
It doesn't look good on the crew that they choose that way to do it..
I joined an ongoing project, got 'promises' which I think they themselves really wanted to believe but I bailed because I wasn't going to block out time.
It never was a thing..although I still get updates about plans for summer 2026...but there wasn't anything that was cut..it was just never more that talk, imv.
What sort of loyalty does someone expect from one date..
If its a nice date, the work and money is sorted then I might keep the date upto a point but I might also commit to another date priority if someone else gave me a lot more work.
The thread title says it all...
That's just BS ...
Understand cutting costs and downscaling but they didn't work out until late Dec they'd in effect have to cut people??
It doesn't look good on the crew that they choose that way to do it..
I joined an ongoing project, got 'promises' which I think they themselves really wanted to believe but I bailed because I wasn't going to block out time.
It never was a thing..although I still get updates about plans for summer 2026...but there wasn't anything that was cut..it was just never more that talk, imv.
What sort of loyalty does someone expect from one date..
If its a nice date, the work and money is sorted then I might keep the date upto a point but I might also commit to another date priority if someone else gave me a lot more work.
The thread title says it all...
You have a single booking the entire year? It’s not a choice to find another gig, it’s a necessity, the ‘decision’ was made for you (in a badly communicated way). You are one cancellation away from zero gigs. One gig per year isn’t worth the effort of keeping the set ‘in active working memory’ imo. Are you on a retainer? Sounds like you were able to believe one thing but the situation is a different thing - sounds like you are ‘at the artist’s convenience’ rather than part of a team. Sad situation - I hope you find a good replacement gig!
