Play for free, huh? Not cool!

[leftyjohn]

your songs are strong enough to stand on their own without needing a full band behind them, and you’re comfortable putting yourself out there without having a band as a safety net, I say go for it. The troubadour tradition is still alive and well.

The only catch is you have to be really good. [/QUOTE]

But you'd still sound better with a bass backing you up.

 

[Lobomov]

If you guys are loosing gig cos I play for free .. then why do you think your craft is good enough to get paid for?


Either get good enough or start working call centers instead

 

[bcbassman]

My band will play at an open mike for free to try out new songs. That's 5 songs maximum and usually 4. We just prefer a live audience to slogging it out in a basement.
If a band wants to play for free as a trial gig in order to get booked into a club, I think they are being smart.
Especially if its a recurring gig. I'll play for free to get a slot in a rotation the gives my band 4 or more gigs a year at the same club and using their PA system. That's a good deal.

The thing that hurts all bands made up of of middle aged players is that there are just too many of us after the few gigs available. The market is saturated with bands playing blues, classic rock or what ever your local bar wants to promote.
There will always be five bands willing to play for 250 bucks and tips just to get out and play and many of them will play for free.

You can hold out for more money and you can work your way up in a local market if you work hard, play and SING great and promote your band all of the time. Just understand that in holding out for the better gigs means you will play less and sit home some nights.

 

[Downunderwonder]

So, unless I have missed a few, what I have so far is that Mr. Sheeran’s experience is different because:

• He is exceptional,
• He writes catchy music and lyrics,
• He is his band (not sure what that means...solo artist?)
• He “played it smart”,
• He started off playing for free anywhere he could get an audience,
• Slept on couches, etc as needed,
• (From Wikipedia) was writing music in his mid teens, and released his first EP at 19 or 20,
• Was lucky... very lucky.
• Got a break... maybe several breaks.

Have I missed anything important? Because that sounds a whole lot like the stories I have read of other well-known artists who were talented to begin with, started small, worked hard, self-promoted like crazy, using every bit of social media available at the time, and kept it up until they were in the right place at the right time.

It is nice to see that it still can happen!

Come to think of it, the above principles apply in virtually every form of entrepreneurism... artisans, writers, musicians, inventors, etc. can all pretty much follow that pathway. And there are no guarantees, and never have been.

Thanks, all! That was enlightening.

..maintained homeboy couch surfer aura after breaking out.

 

[DWBass]

If you guys are loosing gig cos I play for free .. then why do you think your craft is good enough to get paid for?


Either get good enough or start working call centers instead

My band is def not losing gigs. I don't think anyone's bands are losing gigs but they get devalued.

 

[AlexBassMP]

I said it more than one time:

I don't care to play for free if it's a real exposure opportunitty or benefit event which I think it deserves my time and help. I never play for free at a corporate gig. A friend of mine was so excited to play in the Harley Davidson days here in Barcelona... I still laugh when I ask him how many gigs and fans they got after that gig...(sometimes I can be so mean)

 

[QORC]

Maybe they found the secret formula to pay their bills with exposure bucks...

so are bands that play with backing tracks instead of hiring someone else, either out of greed, or to play for less, or to make themselves look better

 

[QORC]

 

[QORC]

Doesn't matter. the original post was deleted by author.

What shame since Norfolk is HUGE in music and as influential as LA and NYC now. simply a tragedy for all music everywhere!

but he high-tailed it outta there

 

[MultiScaleMale]

so are bands that play with backing tracks instead of hiring someone else, either out of greed, or to play for less, or to make themselves look better

I've seen top touring bands doing this. Have also seen them strutting out local musicians, like marching drumlines that basically air drum. So, they turn into a prop.

 

[QORC]

YUP! seen the same thing!

 

[dannylectro]

Is this band?

I think I played with that drummer...

 

[DrMole]

not so fast! i've done that before to great advantage and success:

"we will be one of your top bands/draws! we have the 'stuff' and we will put that on the line = we'll play the first trip for nothing just to show you. and when you book us back = it will be for what we're worth/asking! a win/win potential with little-to-no risk for you!"

never had anything but a happy ending! and we raised the bar for everyone! it's possible,* just sayin'.


* it works better if you're really good at what you do!

Sorry, No.
Playing for "exposure" at a venue where anyone else ( server, bartender, cook) is paid... no way.

 

[ThePez]

hey must have caught a lot of flak because the "post was deleted by author. It was from the Tidewater area of Virginia anyway. How much can be going on there musically in any case?

but he high-tailed it outta there

the cover band scene here is pretty great actually, which is why this guy is begging to play for free. there are a ton of working bands here and a lot of restaurants and bars that hire live music. there are so many bands that getting into good venues is tough. you have to know people and you have to be good. the places that pay well, would never book a band begging to play for free. that’s what open mics are for.

 

[DWBass]

hey must have caught a lot of flak because the "post was deleted by author. It was from the Tidewater area of Virginia anyway. How much can be going on there musically in any case?

Ha! Ever been here? There is a LOT going on musically in Tidewater/Hampton Roads, VA. Might actually be oversaturated with bands!

 

[QORC]

yeah, i'm sure. ALL kinds of national acts getting signed out of Norfolk. LOL.

hey there is live music everywhere, but Norfolk isn't exactly NYC or LA...or Memphis...or Austin..or Seattle...or or or...

the only point is that this ONE cover band isn't "ruining" live music for thousands of bands by offering to play for free...in Norfolk. Its a small fishbowl. yes, I've lived in Virginia. Know all about the tidewater area

 

[ThePez]

yeah, i'm sure. ALL kinds of national acts getting signed out of Norfolk. LOL.

hey there is live music everywhere, but Norfolk isn't exactly NYC or LA...or Memphis...or Austin..or Seattle...or or or...

the only point.

i specifically said cover band scene. we gets paid. i’m not into the original scene much, but there are a few musical successes from here... Missy Elliott, Mae, Last Bison, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and others

 

[QORC]

never heard of any of those, sorry

 

[QORC]

My apologies. what was I thinking? LOL. I'll go back and edit my comment!

 

[DrMole]

never heard of any of those, sorry

Dude, seriously, never heard of Missy Elliot or Pharrell Williams?
I don't follow their music but they are far more famous than likely any bass player- possibly in all of eternity.