Opinions Needed

[wiscoaster]

IMO, I think you should be paid. When you play, you're acting as a hired performer, not as a club member. You're performing a service, not enjoying a benefit. There's no conflict between the two different roles in the same person.

 

[bolophonic]

Just accept the money and stop complicating the situation. I don’t understand why you feel like you need to personally pay for upgrades to the club, but you could just write them a check, no?

 

[lbbc]

I am a dues paying member of a couple of clubs and I get paid every time I perform. On a few occasions, I've donated my cut back to the club (just as some so on 50/50 raffles). I always tip the bartender and wait staff as well. I think everyone who works, regardless of type of job, should be paid.

 

[39-Bassist]

Very easy solution:
Adjust the billing so that you get what you would regularly get paid. Then take your share (if you want) and give it back as a donation marked for upgrades or whatever needs are.

That way all are happy and plus you don't underscore yourself by word of mouth for future gigs that may or may not be thought of as "he gave them a discount well how about us" scenario.

Have fun playing the gig!

 

[gln1955]

What you are getting paid is solely between you, your partner and the club. The idea that you doing a favor for an organization you have a vested interest in is degrading other musicians income is absurd.

 

[3Liter]

I am in an acoustic duo, and we’re starting to pick up some serious steam.

We’ve been asked back this year to play at a local private pool/tennis club. Here’s the spin……I’m a member of this club. Because I am a member and I thoroughly support our club, I did not want to get paid. However I have been very clear that my partner in this duo will get paid.

This obviously makes us cheaper than other acts. Look we ALWAYS get asked back places because we’re darn good

I’ve gotten wind of a few comments that I’m undercutting other acts by not taking payment myself. But as I said, I’m a member and I’m supporting them by having crowded evenings where the pool has extra money from guests, selling concessions, etc.

What does TB think of the situation? I do this as I love playing and it’s actually a nice spot to play in the summertime. Am I actually doing a disservice under the guise of “for the benefit of the club”?

You could accept full fare and give it all to your partner.

My bands played twice at the HOA's Summer Concert series. We got paid whatever market was and I never thought twice about it. The HOA still sends me love notes about my son's basketball net out front.

 

[RichardW]

My band had to turn down a gig at a local country club for a July 4 party because our keyboard player was a member and they had a very strict "no business with members" policy. They wouldn't even pay the rest of us but not him. We were bummed; it would have been an awesome gig.

Re the OP, take the money. As he noted, the club is going to make it back on concessions.

 

[Egg250]

If others are worried about being undercut, it's none of their business. They need to lift their game, You are doing what (you feel) is best for the club. If the club or your bandmates, however, are concerned that you aren't being paid, then accept a stipend from them and donate it back.

In the real world a company provides a service for $xx.xx and I come along and offer the EXACT same service for $xx.xx - 1 then the onus is on my competitors to match my price or risk losing the job. If my competitor undercuts me and I cannot match their price then wisdom would dictate that I let the competitor do the job. What is the point of going broke trying to match someone else's cheaper price.

I understand the point you are making, however, there is huge gap between x - 1 and 50% less.

 

[Rib 13]

Heres what Ive done in similar situations:

Take the payment but donate it back in some fashion......as an example, If you are getting paid $200 per man, open a first-come-first-serve $200 bar tab to the audience...Or give the wait staff/bartenders generous tips

 

[JRA]

I’ve gotten wind of a few comments that I’m undercutting other acts by not taking payment myself....What does TB think of the situation?

i'm thinking it's a "big whup!" but i wonder how your competition "got wind" of your intended arrangement with the club. any theories?

 

[getrhythm]

How do other potential acts know about your financial arrangement with this club?
I don't even ask current band members what their cut of a gig is. None of my business.
Take your pay and buy 'em some new beach umbrellas at the end of the season if you feel the need to kick back some dough (which I don't really understand).

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I am in an acoustic duo, and we’re starting to pick up some serious steam.

We’ve been asked back this year to play at a local private pool/tennis club. Here’s the spin……I’m a member of this club. Because I am a member and I thoroughly support our club, I did not want to get paid. However I have been very clear that my partner in this duo will get paid.

This obviously makes us cheaper than other acts. Look we ALWAYS get asked back places because we’re darn good

I’ve gotten wind of a few comments that I’m undercutting other acts by not taking payment myself. But as I said, I’m a member and I’m supporting them by having crowded evenings where the pool has extra money from guests, selling concessions, etc.

What does TB think of the situation? I do this as I love playing and it’s actually a nice spot to play in the summertime. Am I actually doing a disservice under the guise of “for the benefit of the club”?

Here is an easy solution. Take the payment, then donate it back.

 

[3Liter]

i'm thinking it's a "big whup!" but i wonder how your competition "got wind" of your intended arrangement with the club. any theories?

I doubt he meant in real life. TB is full of "don't play for less cause a low tide sinks all boats" comments. I see some of the point.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I’ve gotten wind of a few comments that I’m undercutting other acts by not taking payment myself. But as I said, I’m a member and I’m supporting them by having crowded evenings where the pool has extra money from guests, selling concessions, etc.

We don't have enough info on where the comments about undercutting come from.

It's a double edged sword. I/we don't play for free unless it's a benefit/charity event. But I don't have a problem with you making a decision for yourself and your affairs. When booking a new venue we often give a discount to new venue for the first gig with the agreement that if things go well all future gigs are at our normal rate.

My advice is handle your business the same way as your gig and make a decision you're good with and move on. There will always be someone to tell you you're doing it wrong but that's life.

 

[Kevorargh]

I am part of an executive board for my professional organization. Over the years, I have provided and played in bands that provided evening entertainment for the annual conference we put on. To keep things above board, I didn't take any pay but made sure the band members got paid.

 

[fhm555]

I am in an acoustic duo, and we’re starting to pick up some serious steam.

We’ve been asked back this year to play at a local private pool/tennis club. Here’s the spin……I’m a member of this club. Because I am a member and I thoroughly support our club, I did not want to get paid. However I have been very clear that my partner in this duo will get paid.

This obviously makes us cheaper than other acts. Look we ALWAYS get asked back places because we’re darn good

I’ve gotten wind of a few comments that I’m undercutting other acts by not taking payment myself. But as I said, I’m a member and I’m supporting them by having crowded evenings where the pool has extra money from guests, selling concessions, etc.

What does TB think of the situation? I do this as I love playing and it’s actually a nice spot to play in the summertime. Am I actually doing a disservice under the guise of “for the benefit of the club”?

I’ve never worried about money for playing. I’ll take it if it’s offered but i usually gave it to a fellow band member who may not be as fortunate financially, or to wifey for whatever. If I gave it to a band member I always did it privately because I didn’t want to possibly embarrass them or let other band members know I was doing it. The quickest way to loose me is shine a light on things I do to help others. I insist on anonymity in those matters.
If your musical partner could use the money, take a full payday for a duo and give it all to your bandmate.
Supporting the club is nice, but I doubt the money they pay for a duo versus a solo, will break them.

 

[jdjk7]

I am in an acoustic duo, and we’re starting to pick up some serious steam.

We’ve been asked back this year to play at a local private pool/tennis club. Here’s the spin……I’m a member of this club. Because I am a member and I thoroughly support our club, I did not want to get paid. However I have been very clear that my partner in this duo will get paid.

This obviously makes us cheaper than other acts. Look we ALWAYS get asked back places because we’re darn good

I’ve gotten wind of a few comments that I’m undercutting other acts by not taking payment myself. But as I said, I’m a member and I’m supporting them by having crowded evenings where the pool has extra money from guests, selling concessions, etc.

What does TB think of the situation? I do this as I love playing and it’s actually a nice spot to play in the summertime. Am I actually doing a disservice under the guise of “for the benefit of the club”?

In this case, it's really just easy and simple enough to get paid. You're a member of the club, but you're not there playing as a member, you're there playing as a musician providing a service. If you want to donate your cut, or give a bigger cut to the other guy, then sure, go for it. But screwing around with "half-paid" gigs seems like a pretty easy way to bring up problems.

 

[Slevage]

Price your duo at market price. Take your pay for the evening and find a way to "funnel it" back to the club.

 

[LBS-bass]

How do other potential acts know about your financial arrangement with this club?

I'm not the OP so I don't know, but the way this often works is that the club is looking to book another act for another date and balks at that act's rate by saying "so-and-so is doing it for this much less."

 

[pglaser01]

i'm thinking it's a "big whup!" but i wonder how your competition "got wind" of your intended arrangement with the club. any theories?

actually that is a question I’ve wondered as well. I don’t have the answer to that one yet as I honestly don’t really know some of these other acts very well.