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No Pay Benefits Shows

#21
Guy is right. At most benefits, the attendees are largely folks who are interested in supporting that particular cause - not music enthusiasts (yes, there are exceptions). Based on what I've experienced and seen, benefit-concert gigs are FAR more likely to lead to other freebie benefit-concert gigs than to paying gigs. In fact, some bands and artists in my area have become known as bands that play benefit concerts and, because of that, it's more difficult for them to get paying gigs.

That said, I've played in and/or organized some benefits, and some ARE worthwhile doing. I was recently involved in one that wound up raising more than $1,500 to help defray a musician friend's cancer-related treatment costs and loss of income from not being able to play. As a co-organizer, I made sure that the bands were treated properly (given food/drink help from the venue), thanked profusely and repeatedly, and given opportunities to sell their merch. I also promoted the heck out of it, and got several good mentions in the local press and on air.
 
#22
I do benefits provided they meet certain conditions:

It's for a REAL charity I believe in. Not the NAMBLA defence fund.

They don't make the bands jump through hoops for the "privilege" of playing. Sorry; we're doing YOU a favour by providing our skills free of charge. At least show us some respect in return.

If they want 10 minute changeovers, they provide backline.

They comp drinks (at least non-alchoholic) and meals for the bands.
 
#24
unless it's for a friend or family member, or a legitimate charity fundraiser, I am very reluctant to do "benefit" shows. more often than not, these "benefit" shows are just an excuse for a bunch of crappy bands to play that couldn't otherwise get a real gig.

If you really feel the need to help a cause, give them 50 bucks, a hundred, whatever. It will do them a lot more good than a ham-fisted version of Mustang Sally.
 
#27
1) Is it a charity I (or a band member) really cares about? If so I will do it.
2) Is there a provided backline?
3) Is it worth my while?
4) Is there free beer?

Basically, the less work you make for me, the more I am willing to play for a charity.

Number 3 might need some clarification. If I am going to take the time to go there I want to at least play. 45 minutes of playing is awfully close to my "not worth the bother of showing up" cutoff. I prefer two sets or at least one hour long set.
 
#28
Benefits are a "take each on their own merit" deal for me.

In reading the OPs words its a benefit with many bands and you get maybe 40 minutes. Not a lot of time to "build your fan base and popularity" Doing bennie shows gives you some of this but not a lot.

What bothers me most about bennie shows, and I've been part in way too many lately due to many old local musicians getting sick, is that the bands ARE the draw for those shows. And all you may get is free food and drink. That donation at the door only gets collected if the people come, and most of them are only coming because of the entertainment.

A local musician who recently passed here was in the hospital not long ago. They held a benefit to help pay his expenses. Fortunately I knew him enough to be able to help his family directly. I went to buy a ticket and the show was sold out in about half a day. So I went to the venue hoping that there might be some door tickets. None.

Long story short, someone had two extra tickets, and as I learned about it I was going to that person when a guy ran, cut in front of me, and threw his money at them for the tix. After that, he ran with his cell phone and started calling his friends.

He was not there because he wanted to support my friend. He was there because there was a great possibility that Bruce Springsteen would show up. He didn't care a lick for the cause.

Now, for things like cancer there are people who will support a benefit show to support the cause and have a good time. However, in most cases, as in my story above, when a group organizes a benefit with that many bands and its all music, they are looking to cash in on the band's following to raise the money.

In my recent experience all the bands got help with loading in and out, a backline of some sort was provided and the bands got drinks and food. Many of them just show up, do their thing and get out.

Yes, the bands are usually the ones who are asked to "donate" their service. The last time I was asked to participate for free I asked them who else was donating all their services for free. Of course they said the volunteers in the organization. I asked about the bar, and they of course said they were donating 20% of the PROFITS, meaning the bar was still making profit and paying the bartenders. Not working for free. All the vendors were getting paid. Some accepted a discounted rate, but they got paid. I asked them why that was. Blank stare. I asked them why should I give you not only my performance but access to my fan base for the day for free? Blank stare.

I only do benefits for people I truly care about or that I have known for a long time and are good to me. I only donate my time if they agree to have me prominently placed on the bill and program and I am mentioned in the radio advertising. Just because its a benefit doesn't mean that all the business goes out of it.

When I get asked TO DO a benefit that just makes no sense but I support the cause, I just go and buy my $10 ticket and attend. Much cheaper then donating my time. And, in most cases, I'll wind up playing with a band a couple of songs anyway.

Blue, in your case I wouldn't worry about this one. Its some weird bennie, that is for sure, and, unless its a cause that will bring about world peace, I can't see it doing a lot for any band. After all, as one poster said, its about the cause. Most people will not care who the bands are if its a good and big cause. If its not a great cause, most of the people who show will be your and the other bands fans and you won't really gain much if any additional following.

Hope that enlightens you.
 
#29
guy n. cognito said:
Will the food vendors be providing their services for free? Will the guy that provides the port-a-potties be providing his services for free? Will the guy providing the stage / lighting / tents be providing his services for free?
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+1000

I have to be really down with the cause to play a free gig, and when I am down, this is what "free" costs:
Band gas: $60
band food: $50-80
Band drinks: $60 (at a minimum)

SO it cost us about $200 to play a free show, unless they are willing to get us food and drinks and come up with some gas money, it ain't gonna happen. I always bring up the catering and PA, chair and table rentals, etc to make my point.

"You get what you pay for" is always my closing line if they decline.

To the person who is trying to get bands for free, saying you have an opprtunity to sell merch is a total cop out, I have that "opportunity" if I don't play any gigs (web store) or at a paying gig with the table, so that is not a selling point (to me).
 
#30
It always depends on the benefit and show. We are doing two this year and both allow us to sell merch and give us drinks. They also supply great stages and PA/lights to good size crowds. We also play benefit shows that pay so not all are free.
 
#31
In my band they ask that I do 4 benefit shows a year - one for a local cancer charity, one for a local volunteer services (firefighters and the like) and usually 2 poker type runs for kids. My band leader makes sure to book them usually on a Sunday afternoon as to not interfere with chances to make money and makes sure we are taken care of as far as food and drink for the entire event. In exchange for me giving 4 days a year of my time (and never more than 3 hours including set up and tear down) I have almost always 2 to 3 paid gigs a week, paid in cash, and never a[n issue]. They use the benefits to write off payroll. It also gets us out to a community that might not frequent clubs. We almost always pull a wedding reception, or big private party gig from playing a benefit. We turn down several every year as well, but I gladly do the ones I am asked to do.
 
#32
If it's a cause I believe in I don't have a problem doing benefits. I donate money to several charities why not donate skills that I enjoy using?

We're actually doing a benefit Friday night. Money's going to a organization that funds breast cancer research. Having a mother and a wife and daughter that's something that I can get behind. I don't know if we're getting free food and drinks and really don't care. I'm gonna eat and drink whether I play or not.
 
#33
guy n. cognito said:
With all due respect, this is the type of illogic that promoters feed to bands to get them to play for free all the time. In reality, most attendees don't have a clue who's on stage, don't care, and certainly don't form a "bond" with the band simply because of their presence at the event. With 10 bands playing at the OPs event, it would seem to be a lot of work for very little stage time and "bonding" with the crowd.
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+1
 
#35
Dusk said:
not getting paid is one thing...not getting paid and getting a bunch of red tape and BS is another...
Click to expand...

This. Benefits can be great - exposure, fun, good karma, and you get to help out (and the exposure is casting you in a positive light).
But you're donating your music and your talents, which are valuable - you should be treated well.

JK
 
#36
I will do a benefit if I believe in the cause and most importantly the organizer is a legitimate charity that can provide me with the appropriate documentation so I can use it as a tax write off.

I especially will not do a charitable event where an organizer expects me to play for free, they charge for admission and sell beer and food. At the end of the day the organizer makes a donation to the cause and the organizer gets the tax write off at my expense. I have seen this happen too many times.
 
#37
We do a couple of benefits every year. There's one in a couple of weeks for the benefit of a little girl who was diagnosed with cancer. I'm playing the show because I want to help the girls family financially. That's what the whole thing is about.

Usually, food is thrown in lieu of pay. Drinks are not uncommon either.

At a benefit for a friends wife who had a serious brain injury, I bought an inexpensive bass, played it on stage for a set, and donated it to the raffle. I may have been better off just giving them the money, I'm not sure how many raffle tickets got sold for the bass, but I hyped it as best I could.

I guess it all depends on your views of helping out a person who needs it.
 
#38
ghiadub said:
+1000

I have to be really down with the cause to play a free gig, and when I am down, this is what "free" costs:
Band gas: $60
band food: $50-80
Band drinks: $60 (at a minimum)

SO it cost us about $200 to play a free show, unless they are willing to get us food and drinks and come up with some gas money, it ain't gonna happen. I always bring up the catering and PA, chair and table rentals, etc to make my point.

"You get what you pay for" is always my closing line if they decline.

To the person who is trying to get bands for free, saying you have an opprtunity to sell merch is a total cop out, I have that "opportunity" if I don't play any gigs (web store) or at a paying gig with the table, so that is not a selling point (to me).
Click to expand...

+1

I've done a number of charity events with previous bands (almost all of them for cancer research because it's what I feel passionate for), and at all of them we've at least gotten food and drinks covered for the entire day. Remember, the people volunteering to help setup stuff at least get that. I don't know why event promoters/managers think band members aren't deserving of at least the same if not more.

I'd look to get the setup time changed because 10 minutes isn't nearly enough. 20 minutes, in my opinion, is barely enough. Unless some band is willing to rent their gear out for the day to everyone there's going to be two or three bands that won't get to play at all. It'd suck to be your band.
 

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