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Justify Playing For Free

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#21
The only no-pay gigs we play are non-profit fund raisers(Habitat for Humanity,Special Olympics,Salv.Army drives) and Benefits for those with legitimate need. We also get together with several local bands and put together a fund raiser every year around Thanksgiving where we take all monies from donations and silent auctions and turn it into Gift Cards for WalMart(unusable for tobacco/alcohol) which are delivered by us to those on the local Salv.Army "in need" list..
 
#22
tuckomf said:
Because playing out is a blast. Music is what I do for fun. If it involves a bunch of people having a good time, mission accomplished. I have a job for money. I play bass to get back what my job takes out of me. If I get paid, that's just gravy. If I don't, it's not what I'm there for anyway.
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I appreciate your passion for music. For me this one gets a "no"
 
#23
I just want to make it clear, I am all for legitimate charities and benefits.

I will write you a check, but the band for the most part does not perform for free. There are always exceptions.
 
#25
Of course playing music is fun, or I wouldn't do it.

But it's also providing a service. And I don't understand why people hold music in such low esteem that they believe that that service (providing musical entertainment) should not be viewed as having value, in terms of being worth paying for.

Particularly at a venue whose reputation is based on providing music. If the bartenders and hosts/hostesses and door people and dishwashers and janitors and owners make money for providing their services at a music venue, then why would there NOT be monetary value attached to the services provided by musicians - who, in many cases, have spent far more $$ and time developing their craft than any of the aforementioned folks.

Sorry, but saying "we do it cause it's fun" or "I don't need to make money from music" doesn't really address the above question.
 
#27
Tampabass said:
Of course playing music is fun, or I wouldn't do it.

But it's also providing a service. And I don't understand why people hold music in such low esteem that they believe that that service (providing musical entertainment) should not be viewed as having value, in terms of being worth paying for.

Particularly at a venue whose reputation is based on providing music. If the bartenders and hosts/hostesses and door people and dishwashers and janitors and owners make money for providing their services at a music venue, then why would there NOT be monetary value attached to the services provided by musicians - who, in many cases, have spent far more $$ and time developing their craft than any of the aforementioned folks.

Sorry, but saying "we do it cause it's fun" or "I don't need to make money from music" doesn't really address the above question.
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I like where your heads at.

I think for some of the " it's my passion, I'm not in it for the money" is code for "it's to hard to figure out how to get paid for this."
 
#28
Steve said:
1. Fund raisers for a cause you support put on by a registered nonprofit organization. APPROVED

2. Fund raisers for someone you know personally in legitimate need of help. APPROVED (got one of them tomorrow actually)

IF...either of those events are held in a bar and I can't determine to my satisfaction that THE BAR OWNER ISN'T CASHING IN, you'll get a discount rate but no freeby.

Any event, any location, where I'm working for free or at discount and someone other than the individual for whom I'm working is profiting...DENIED.
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+1

4. Venue with spectacular stage, sound, and lighting, catering to the BAND'S desires for presentation, in order to showcase for established booking agents with credentials for the express purpose of later paid bookings.
 
#31
A good friend of mine, who sings for a well known local cover band had to bury his father recently. This put him and his wife $4,000.00 in debt.

Next Sunday there is a benefit at one of the band friendliest bars in the area. Lots of band types are going to be there for a jammy type thing to raise money to help cover the funeral expenses.

Lots of them (myself included) have pledged the money (or at least a portion) from their gigs this weekend for the cause.

I have a fill in thing this weekend that should net me $200.00. I intend to throw it all in the pot. I have no qualms about it at all.
 
#32
I play for free or just to cover costs because I am in a couple of originals band, not interested in getting a label or making music my primary source of income so I have no game plan as far as getting out there and selling a product. Not too many people listen to metal punk or the like in my country anyway. I play for my enjoyment and creative output. I put my music for free in the internet and if someone likes it great but I won't make them buy it. Just have at it. If I'm playing covers or playing with others who live off playing I'll charge money but I'd play those for free too. Music is its own reward... the only way I'd make a living off music here is to play stuff I don't enjoy at all or hate and that would be more depressing than a day job.
 
#33
Playing for free for anything, anywhere, when money is changing hands between customer and owner, patron and proprietor, is beyond my understanding. I would pause to even do this for a charity on the basis that my playing will bring in more donations.
 
#35
bluewine said:
I like where your heads at.

I think for some of the " it's my passion, I'm not in it for the money" is code for "it's to hard to figure out how to get paid for this."
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ya know, and it IS hard to figure out how to get paid for playing the music you like to play. I'm in a good jazz/funk/fusion/blues band now and it's ALWAYS a struggle to get good paying gigs. I'm hoping that it will loosen up soon, as we're still relatively "new" as a band (although all veteran musicians), but, meanwhile, ya gotta scratch and fight for gigs.

And I'm NOT as hardcore about this as I used to be. I have and will play some free and low-dough shows - in certain situations, particularly for some fundraisers, etc. But I'm opposed to being taken advantage of by others who are making $$ off of my services.
 
#38
Phalex said:
A good friend of mine, who sings for a well known local cover band had to bury his father recently. This put him and his wife $4,000.00 in debt.

Next Sunday there is a benefit at one of the band friendliest bars in the area. Lots of band types are going to be there for a jammy type thing to raise money to help cover the funeral expenses.

Lots of them (myself included) have pledged the money (or at least a portion) from their gigs this weekend for the cause.

I have a fill in thing this weekend that should net me $200.00. I intend to throw it all in the pot. I have no qualms about it at all.
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Good cause, my condolences.

For me, in this example I would write out decent check from the band fund in a minute.
 
#40
I am in a fairly busy Brazilian band that plays 50-70 shows a year. We do an occasional benefit but our band policy is only 2 benefit shows a year for free. We will do other benefit shows but our policy on those is it is up to each individual member to donate or keep their share of our standard fee.....I always donate mine but I like this policy cause everyone chooses what to do with their piece of the cash
 
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