Here is something to ponder. About a decade and a half ago Dionne Warwick played an aids benefit in the carribean. She donated her performance. There was a huge uproar afterword because the benefit didn't net more then a couple of hundred dollars.
Why? Warwick donated her performance but all her expenses were paid for, including the jet to the island, the 5 star hotel, all her meals, transportation and also for some of her assistants. When questioned about it she said, "I did donate my normal performance fee for free and I did help bring awareness to the cause of aids."
Now, I'm no Dionne Warwick, but I have to agree with her in some way. She probably could have stayed at a more cost effective location and maybe not gone superstar the whole way, but she didn't just do it for free.
Now, I would like to add perspective here. I don't think anyone here in general doesn't agree with doing benefits and the personal benefit it brings. However, there are definitely certain things you have to consider.
Most of the discussion here is either about charities and benefits the band personally knows (local girl who is sick, friends charity, something close to the heart) and the other kind, like blue and the boys are being asked to play (large, faceless charity who puts together big festival or show and contacts random bands with followings to draw and make money.)
Last year I either played, helped organize or worked the door at 8 benefits! All local guys in the Asbury scene who I personally know or someone who was a personal fan or friend and needed some help. I sought them out, and those that reached out to me knew I was close to the person or cause.
I just counted, I turned down 27 benefit requests. (Yes, I keep track of all the gig requests, and good bands should too.) One, while reading my notes, came from a guy who saw that I had participated in three other benefits of a similar nature. He figured I was someone who will do a benefit for a similar cause for free. So, the fact that you become known as the "free band" is in fact true. Of the 27 I turned down, 15 were for no pay no expenses. 10 were no pay, food and drink provided, and two were food,drink, gas paid.
As for Blue, there are 10 bands. A $10 gate. That tells me that absolutely this show is all about the music and using it to raise all the funds. That is definitely 8 hours of music. Most benefits I go to that are for things like breast cancer have about four hours of music and a host of other activities. Harpin' Help is the local one that is all musicians and is for the local food bank. Its 7 hours of music and a $20 door. At the end of the night there is only about $10 of the door left. Why? Because the expenses of all the bands are covered and a backline is provided. The sound guy donates his time, but the equipment he owns is rented from him.
I don't think its wrong to expect your expenses to be covered. You are donating your time, talent and your actual profit or performance. Think about it. If your band typically makes $500 per gig, your expenses (food and gas and drinks) for a whole band might come to $200. You are donating your time and $300 bucks as well as donating YOUR audience and following, which at say 40-50 people at $10 per the gate here is and additional $400-$500 for the venue. So, your normal fee plus your draw = $1000. Your contribution, minus expenses = $800. Not too bad for any charity, especially for an hour of your performance time.
You HAVE to think about it this way, and its okay, fair and not duecey to do this. In Blue's case they have to travel 2 hours, get a nano second to set up, play only the difference between set up and 45 minutes, then tear down and have to pay for a freakin' water, and we all know that you need at least that when you get on and off stage. If you bring your own water fine, but in a sense you have just donated that as well, as its your expense.
I don't find it selfish or heartless to ask for and expect your expenses at some level to be provided. If the organization cannot make money unless you donate every last ounce of you and your performance, then they honestly don't deserve your performance. A well run benefit or charity absolutely will cover your expenses and know they have gotten more then the benefit they otherwise would have without your appearance.
My two cents. And I know I'm absolutely right. 30 years of doing this stuff tells me so.
