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pay cut for backup singers

#43
IMHO.....if the back up singers are joining the band, coming to practices and shaking it on stage all night then cut the money evenly between all members. Having 2 attractive female singers that you can market in band pictures, websites and booking agents will add a lot of value and future gigs. They are adding a lot more to the bands stage presence then looking at 5 middle aged guys. If you can get the singers to "doll it up a bit" (make up, nice hair...short cocktail dresses etc) without coming off like sexist pigs the better. Explain to them that everyone in the band has a role.....their role is sing great and look great. Don't worry about them loading gear......it takes a lot of energy to look great. Don't forget the women have great social and networking skills and could attract additional fans to the band. They are probably worth the money.
 
#44
If they said they don't need a full share then start them out with half shares. Make sure everyone is happy with that. However, make sure it's open for discussion at a later date. They may prove they are worth much more and at that time renegotiate and give them more.
 
#50
With the price of petrol these days most couples will be travelling with their partners unless they REALLY don't need the money. I'd go with full shares and hope they do something useful during setup and teardown. There's a mess of mic stands, cables to be run and plugged for starters!

Split duties between schlepping and setting up. You could even have a practice so you look pro with that as well.
 
#51
guy n. cognito said:
If they are happy with half a share, then give it to them. As additional compensation, don't require their assistance with setup and tear down. They can show up later and leave earlier, and that brings some equality to the situation.
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Let them earn a full share. Don't give what isn't earned with expectations of future benefit. Reward effort, not boobs. Gentlemen or not, don't give a full share. It will eventually create a resentment with those that have honed their craft, and bust ass loading in, setting up, playing, tearing down and loading back out.

In the meantime, I'd give them $50 a show, no demand of load in/outs. And when either of them are singing lead on the majority of the material, or when either start pulling their weight "off the court", then full share them. But otherwise, I guarantee every guy in that band has worked far too long and too hard to be dissed in the financial pecking order. It's not about needing the money, it is all about earning and deserving it.

PS. forgot to mention it....your drummer's wife and her girlfriend now have a say in what happens in the band. If they have no experience other than doing the Fond du Lac Two-Step (cig in one hand, beer bottle in other doing a shimmy dance) while her hubby's band was playing, then now your valid and well earned opinions have the ability to go up in smoke as you now have two votes for playing songs you may really wish you didn't....
 
#53
I once had a drummer that wanted to be the frontman/lead singer of a 4 piece in which we all sang. Forcing us to go to a 5 piece, decreasing each members pay, he agreed to take less money. He went 2 gigs before complaining that he wanted a full cut. The band leader relented to keep him happy. I put up with it a bit, but with the further onset of LSD, forcing old dusty tunes on us, whining and complaining and missing practice, I quit at the beginning of the new year. Never been happier, and never looked back.

Moral of story....heck if I know.
 
#55
duff beer said:
Why do so many find it hard to understand that some people don't "need" the $100 or so they might earn from a gig? Everyone in the band is successful in their private life and we all earn far more at our jobs than any gig would ever pay. We happily play charity gigs for free, but we charge for private gigs because we are providing a service.
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I have been in this position many times and it has always been a half share each for backing singers and everyone has always been happy with that.
 
#56
I have not read every post. However, if we are talking about a 6 way split at the 600.00 level I guess that works.

I think your fee will have a lot to do with this. $600.00 and up ok, but if you get ito that 400.00- 500.00 range a 6 way equal split gets expensive.

Blue
 

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