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Justify Playing For Free
- Thread starter bluewine
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I don't know what the scene is like where y'all are from, but in the 715 area code, there aren't a lot of bars who make a ton of money to put toward hiring bands. The following is my business manifesto.
A lot of times you get a cut from the till at the end of the night. On a decent night, a lot of bars can afford to pay $300-$500 for the night's worth of music. If your band has a significant draw, they might give you an up front price. If you're an unheard of band and you command $1000 minimum, and the bar doesn't make enough to cover that, then you just screwed the guys playing next weekend from what they might have made when the bar has to make up for the loss. That's why I have no problem playing a few sets for free with an original band. If we establish our name, make some friends in the crowd, and get our name out, it's going to be a lot easier to up the percentage from the till after a handful of gigs.
It also give you a chance to build a fanbase, and that is easily a thousand times better than making a handful of cash out of a till. If the venue can't hire me, I can't be heard. If you play three weekends in a row at the same bar, I can guarantee that if the band is worth hearing, someone in attendance will have told a friend about it. By the third weekend, if the bar isn't packed, you're doing something wrong. That's when the offers for better paying gigs start coming in, and there are usually at least a couple of fans who will spread the word around town for you, and there are a whole lot more who have a good time listening to your band. You can make a lot of connections and have a steady rotation of paying gigs.
If there's an open weekend and somebody who regularly comes to our shows wants us to play a graduation party or house party or whatever, but they don't have money to pay, I'm not going to say no. Fanbase > money, any day of the week. Also, playing bass > not playing bass. If I only played bass when there was money involved, I'd have given up early on.
A lot of times you get a cut from the till at the end of the night. On a decent night, a lot of bars can afford to pay $300-$500 for the night's worth of music. If your band has a significant draw, they might give you an up front price. If you're an unheard of band and you command $1000 minimum, and the bar doesn't make enough to cover that, then you just screwed the guys playing next weekend from what they might have made when the bar has to make up for the loss. That's why I have no problem playing a few sets for free with an original band. If we establish our name, make some friends in the crowd, and get our name out, it's going to be a lot easier to up the percentage from the till after a handful of gigs.
It also give you a chance to build a fanbase, and that is easily a thousand times better than making a handful of cash out of a till. If the venue can't hire me, I can't be heard. If you play three weekends in a row at the same bar, I can guarantee that if the band is worth hearing, someone in attendance will have told a friend about it. By the third weekend, if the bar isn't packed, you're doing something wrong. That's when the offers for better paying gigs start coming in, and there are usually at least a couple of fans who will spread the word around town for you, and there are a whole lot more who have a good time listening to your band. You can make a lot of connections and have a steady rotation of paying gigs.
If there's an open weekend and somebody who regularly comes to our shows wants us to play a graduation party or house party or whatever, but they don't have money to pay, I'm not going to say no. Fanbase > money, any day of the week. Also, playing bass > not playing bass. If I only played bass when there was money involved, I'd have given up early on.
Por que? It is basically an extension of practice. We rehearse 8-10 and then go play at 11. We rehearse the songs, then see how the audience reacts.
To the other poster, I'm aware that they aren't shows, but the thread title is "playing for free."
No, not really. If the bar is stupid enough to pay you $1,000 (a fee I've never made it a bar), and then run out of money to pay other bands later, that's the fault of the bar. That's not the fault of your band.
And, honestly, "getting a crowd" is the bar's responsibility, too, not a band. If a bar wants to consistently bring in a crowd with music, then pay decently for good bands, and develop a reputation for providing good music. In the long run, that's better for the bar - because they won't have to depend on any single band or group of bands to bring the crowd - and better for the bands, because they can be paid decently.
Of course, when a band plays said bar, then, yes, the band should pump up the publicity - so much easier to do in the day of social media - Facebook band pages & event invites, etc.
I do think this discussion should be segmented into original vs. cover bands... in nearly no situation whatsoever would I be ok playing for free in a cover band... in an originals band? maybe... but i'd still be very sparing about giving away services for free in most situations.
If your originals band is good enough your promo pack should be of a quality that it warrants someone spending money on you. If its not then you're not ready to play out at the same places paid bands do imo.
If your originals band is good enough your promo pack should be of a quality that it warrants someone spending money on you. If its not then you're not ready to play out at the same places paid bands do imo.
if you're in a cover band and want to make a "donation" to a "legitimate" cause the value of your show (your normal fee) is tax deductable, so that would be one reason to do it (as a cover band).
- Jan 12, 2011
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I am not the worlds greatest bass player but I have been playing since I was 15. I'm 56 now and I do not play for free. When I think of all the study, training, practicing, playing through pain, money spent in lessons, and on equipment I can hardly jusitfy playing for free anymore. That is for a gig type of situation. If I go out to an open mic then yes I'm playing for free monetarily but you usually run into someone that turns out to be a contact for a future gig etc. There is a benefit to it. another time I will have played free is when my job has their annual picnic. There are a few of us who play and we play for the folks. It turns out to be one great big party. so I'm still getting something out of it. A former band called me for a fill in and said it was a benefit gig, I turned them down and said no, I'm not interested in playing a gig for free. I haven't heard from them since. Just think if a doctor or lawyer actually put as much of themselves into what they do as we do. You can't even talk to a lawyer over the phone with out the meter running. I've studied the bass as much as he has studied the law so I'm playing for free when he or she won't even talk for free? Not. Like my wife said, I may not depend on my bass playing for my existence but I've been playing long enough, and I'm a decent enough talent that I'm a Professional Bass Player. Professionals get paid for what they do. This is purely my subjective viewpoint. When I play I really, really enjoy it, but I came up in a tradition of competition and perfecting your craft as every neighborhood had a band and we competed against each other for bragging rights. When I play, I stand and deliver and I'm not joking around. I'm generating, and percolating, and laying down that Funk man, baby can you dig it? I do have a sense of humor about all this. The question is why should I play for free?
you are my hero.
another reason not to play for free, ever, is alienating the people who pay good money to have you come in and play... the guy who's giving you "x" on saturday will probably not be too excited about continueing to do that when he hears you played down the street for free on friday.
the best answer is that you shouldn't.
I'll say it again... playing for free hurts the music scene and takes away income from your fellow musicians in the long run.
If playing for free beer is more important than giving back to your local music scene then imo you really dont deserve to be a part of that local music scene.
just my $0.02.
I don't think I have played in a band that plays for free in a LONG time. But, I do help out my friends in the band that aren't as fortunate. This is my choice to help out those that don't have another job. I don't support the band playing for free unless it is for a benefit, like the Wounded Warrior Foundation or the Special Forces Association.
Yup New Jersey passion in the 70 and 80's many great places to play back then Blue you can take the guy out of Jersey but the Wine remains the same ha ha ha
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