Just got another call to play for free....sigh...

[Thumpinshelton]

Just got one of those phone calls....basically wanted me to dedicate the next 3 months to writing, record, and help teach other musicians for a gospel project. Now don't get me wrong here. I do the occasional benefit/charity gig, but that's probably 3-5 a year and I do it for the cause and not for self gain. And after the project was completed they want to take it to the next level and start promoting the project by doing weekend gigs (again all UNPAID!!). I let them know that I cannot dedicate that amount of time and effort into something and not get paid. I would have to put my paying gigs on hold and turn down other offers as well. From the reaction I received you would have thought I had naked pictures of their moms and posted them on Facebook! This is not the first time I have run into this issue. I get calls all the time asking me to do one off gigs and other gigs that don't pay or pay very little. And most of the time when I turn them down its done and they are cool. This just got under my skin today.....

 

[bluesdogblues]

Honesty is good, and to be honest, you can be diplomatic

 

[N.F.A.]

Props to you for being honest with them.

 

[KingKrabb]

I've been there, man. "You'll get exposure, it's great!"

Exposure, in itself, don't pay the bills, though. Furthermore, you'd be sacrificing paying gigs, and your time and money as well.

I'd say you did the right thing; honesty's the best policy here.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I assume those people are the ones who are running these projects. Just different priorities. You handled it well.

 

[Nashrakh]

Maybe you have that kind of reputation among your peers - the goody two shoes who will say yes to about anything you ask of them. Just a thought because I know how that feels.

 

[Luke19Boarder]

I'm not one of those guys who will refuse to play for free on principle. This, however, sounds ridiculous.

 

[-Kramer-]

I've been there, man. "You'll get exposure, it's great!"

Exposure, in itself, don't pay the bills, though. .

My standard response to this is "If I am going to be exposing myself on stage, I better be getting paid for it."

I have yet to have a single unpaid gig "for exposure" turn into a paying gig or even result in new fans for the band.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Just ask them if they would trade their paycheck for "exposure". Two people who customers/clients never seem to feel should be paid - musicians and attorneys.

 

[David Jayne]

Life's too short to do things you'd rather not do, particularly when they keep you from the things you do want to do.

 

[Dan Paveley]

It's so frustrating isn't it. I get it as well when people moan about the rates. They seem to think you just spring up through the floorboard and music comes out of your arse by magic. No idea about the practice, driving, equipment purchasing, loading, unloading, learning, setting up, marketing, network building etc etc etc.

I always want to turn it around on them. Anyone see this one a couple of months ago?

Craigslist Ad:
We are a small & casual restaurant in downtown Vancouver and we are looking for solo musicians to play in our restaurant to promote their work and sell their CD. This is not a paying job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get positive response. More Jazz, Rock, & smooth type music, around the world and mixed cultural music. Are you interested to promote your work? Please reply back ASAP.

A Musician's Reply:
Happy new year! I am a musician with a big house looking for a restauranteur to come to my house to promote his/her restaurant by making dinner for me and my friends. This is not a paying job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get a positive response. More fine dining & exotic meals and mixed Ethnic Fusion cuisine. Are you interested to promote your restaurant? Please reply back ASAP.

 

[mellowinman]

Just got one of those phone calls....basically wanted me to dedicate the next 3 months to writing, record, and help teach other musicians for a gospel project. Now don't get me wrong here. I do the occasional benefit/charity gig, but that's probably 3-5 a year and I do it for the cause and not for self gain. And after the project was completed they want to take it to the next level and start promoting the project by doing weekend gigs (again all UNPAID!!). I let them know that I cannot dedicate that amount of time and effort into something and not get paid. I would have to put my paying gigs on hold and turn down other offers as well. From the reaction I received you would have thought I had naked pictures of their moms and posted them on Facebook! This is not the first time I have run into this issue. I get calls all the time asking me to do one off gigs and other gigs that don't pay or pay very little. And most of the time when I turn them down its done and they are cool. This just got under my skin today.....

Link to your Facebook page, please.

 

[Tom Howland]

We have all gone through this. I'm all for the benefit / charity gig. But at some point you must establish a worth for you time & skill.
You learn to say pay me or no. It's all about your self-worth. No money no respect. And if they don't respect you, they will walk all over you.

 

[joebar]

It's so frustrating isn't it. I get it as well when people moan about the rates. They seem to think you just spring up through the floorboard and music comes out of your arse by magic. No idea about the practice, driving, equipment purchasing, loading, unloading, learning, setting up, marketing, network building etc etc etc.

I always want to turn it around on them. Anyone see this one a couple of months ago?

Craigslist Ad:
We are a small & casual restaurant in downtown Vancouver and we are looking for solo musicians to play in our restaurant to promote their work and sell their CD. This is not a paying job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get positive response. More Jazz, Rock, & smooth type music, around the world and mixed cultural music. Are you interested to promote your work? Please reply back ASAP.

A Musician's Reply:
Happy new year! I am a musician with a big house looking for a restauranteur to come to my house to promote his/her restaurant by making dinner for me and my friends. This is not a paying job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get a positive response. More fine dining & exotic meals and mixed Ethnic Fusion cuisine. Are you interested to promote your restaurant? Please reply back ASAP.

+1 that about sums it up.

 

[MrLenny1]

"But you guys love to play."
Sure, call the plumber & see if he wants to come over for free.

 

[SteveHeissner]

My honest answer would simply be, "thanks for calling, hey that sounds GREAT ... I'd love to do it but my schedule is booked solid. Good luck and let me know how it turns out."

 

[lfmn16]

My standard response to this is "If I am going to be exposing myself on stage, I better be getting paid for it."

I have yet to have a single unpaid gig "for exposure" turn into a paying gig or even result in new fans for the band.

Most non paying gigs result in offers for more non paying gigs. The exposure you get is a reputation for playing for free.

One possible way to handle this is to decide how many freebies you'll do a year and when you reach that, or get an offer which will take you over that just say sorry, I've done my alloment of free work for the year.

That rough when they turn into dicks when you refuse to play for free. I wonder if they do the same thing when people refuse to give money?

 

[fdeck]

They seem to think you just spring up through the floorboard and music comes out of your arse by magic.

Even if it does, it still costs money.

 

[lowfreq33]

Seems like it's always church people that expect everyone to work for free. Sorry, I'm not a member of your church. If I want to volunteer I'll do it at mine.

The fact is, if someone asks you to do something free that they KNOW you normally get paid to do, they're already pushing it. In 22 years of gigging I've never seen a free gig lead to anything other than more free gigs. Not once. But to get bent out of shape when you refuse to LOSE money to help them out with what is invariably a vanity project... On the wrong day I'll verbally shred that person to bits.

 

[mellowinman]

My standard response to this is "If I am going to be exposing myself on stage, I better be getting paid for it."

I have yet to have a single unpaid gig "for exposure" turn into a paying gig or even result in new fans for the band.

If I am going to be exposing myself on stage, I am going to be at a strip club, making tips.