Playing at famous venues

[DD Gunz]

My singer booked a show at the Whisky in LA about 4 months ago. I said no because it was pay to play. He paid for the whole thing to get the video footage. We played to about 25 people and got the video footage. Because I did not personally pay, it was a good experience. However, I would still not pay for it.

These clubs use their name to get bands to pay on off nights when they don't have a drawing band play. It is a way for them to ensure revenue even when there is no one in the place. Honestly, many of these "big name" places would be out of business these days without pre-sale tickets. Any band willing to pay for tickets can get a gig on an off night.

 

[Odinbass]

Blaaah I hate these types of scamgigs. As others have said, if you are going to get some sort of sweet promo material out of it like a video; than do it. Otherwise it sounds like a raw deal.

 

[obimark]

" My band paid to play the Whiskey, just like GnR back in the glory days"- Yawn. Not worth it.
These clubs are a scam. (same goes for the House of Blues)

There is one of these in Marietta, GA as well- "Hey your band can pay to play to a room with 4 of your friends, and then pay extra for the video tape"--- Nice. My drummer in an old band, paid them, and while it was a nice room, it was quite empty on the Thursday night we played it.

 

[static0verdrive]

I've played the same stage I had seen Mike Watt and Mudhoney on - (actually, plus another I played first and THEN saw Mudhoney on!) what a trip. It was also pay to play, and despite the "never pay to play" guys on here, some bands have no choice (or some cities offer little choice) once you get to certain venue size - or you get handed an 'opportunity' like this one. Sometimes, to some, it is worth it even if just once.

To me, it was absolutely worth losing some cash, not to mention the 2-hour drive each way... Bragging rights I guess you could say. But I don't "brag", I agree that is for losers. It was more of an internal acknowledgement that we had made it that far, if that makes any sense. Sure only a few friends came and overall we lost money rather than made any, but for the one experience I do feel it was worth it - once. I wouldn't do it again but I wouldn't change having done it.

I LOVE the idea of recording while you're there. "My Band Live at the Club," even if just EP length is something - Primus's first album is live in that way! Granted you'd want to bring some loud-@$$ screamin' friends... they can help film, take pics, etc.

"It's better to regret something you did, than something you didn't do." --Butthole Surfers

You had to ask if you should, so some part of you wants to.

 

[buldog5151bass]

The only ways I would do it would be:

if there was going to be a crowd, like opening for a draw. Also if I was using it to make a promotional video (that would be used to get paying gigs).

Doesn't matter where it is. playing to a large empty room sucks.

 

[swarfrat]

1) if it's not paying - it has to be evaluated as a promotional expense
2) If you're not going to have a crowd, Forget video - take stills and mix in the Shea stadium crowd noise on the 'live album'.
3) If you're going to treat it as a promotional expense don't forget to price your photo/video folks.
4) If you're going to do all the above, consider making it a free concert - you don't get paid for empty seats anyway.

 

[JMacBass65]

I answered go for it, then I sobered up. I have to ask: Why is the venue famous? What made it famous? Is what made it famous still there or is it just a room with a name that points into the past?

I think paying to play on a Monday or Tuesday without a real audience is probably not what made the fame. I'd rather play for a paying audience in a lesser known venue.

The only ways I would do it would be:

if there was going to be a crowd, like opening for a draw. Also if I was using it to make a promotional video (that would be used to get paying gigs).

Doesn't matter where it is. playing to a large empty room sucks.

1) if it's not paying - it has to be evaluated as a promotional expense
2) If you're not going to have a crowd, Forget video - take stills and mix in the Shea stadium crowd noise on the 'live album'.
3) If you're going to treat it as a promotional expense don't forget to price your photo/video folks.
4) If you're going to do all the above, consider making it a free concert - you don't get paid for empty seats anyway.

I voted yes before I read your OP. I officially change my vote to NO.

You lost me at "pay to play", with an asterisk *

* Since this will cost you money anyway (travel, food, room, time off, tickets), there "might" be an argument to spend a lot more to make a promo video, if, and only if, you think it would help further your bands cause. But it would need to be really good, and as others said, you'll need good editing to hide the empty room factor.

Other than that, screw it. That sucks that clubs are trading on their name and legend to get bands to pay to play.

An empty room still sucks, I don't care who stood on the stage before. I played a benefit gig at a semi famous indi club local to me. Never crossed my mind who had been on stage before me (several names I respect and admire), it was simply a gig.

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

Uggh. there's no way I'm paying to play anywhere. Economics aside, the single most important asset you have is time. 10 hours, an overnight stay (basically a 2 day commitment) cramped motel/ hotel accommodations, and these cheep skates can't throw you a couple C-notes? Save the wear on your van, equipment, back and ears. Stay closer to home, build your fan base and avoid vultures (oops I meant shady promoters).
Playing in front of a crowd that paid to see you, that's bragging rights.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Playing a cool venue doesn't mean jack if there isn't a band with draw. Been there. We played a venue once that I always wanted to play. It was a wednesday night and we were the main act. There were maybe 40 people there which wouldnt have been bad at a bar but it felt kinda empty. We played the same place a few months later, opening for Sick of it All and it was a totally different experience. Packed.

 

[blixild]

Personally, I would be wary. Unless the venue has some personal attachment to you and/or your band. There's a promoter around here that rents out big-name venues and then stuffs a bunch bands on the bill for 30-minute sets. Then the bands have to sell $15 tickets (which usually isn't very successful). The participants are mostly bands starting out who get nothing out of the show except to say they played there, but the promoter and venue get their money either way. There's also a "Battle of the Bands" variation on this theme.

 

[kikstand454]

I recently did an opening slot at a venue that has been a local legend in my area for decades. ive seen many many famous acts there, and it was always a dream of mine to play there. It didn't pay and we only did 30minutes.......but it was fun/ exciting. There were 3-400 people there, but the place seats about 1k so it seemed dead.
Did the promoter get over on us? Yeah.
Should we have demanded SOME compensation? Probably.

Worth it? ?? To me it was. It was fun. It got us some really slick, professional looking pics for promos, with full stage lighting and such. We got alot of great feedback/ response from both the crowd and the promoter/venue/ radio station that invited us....and we feel confident there will be a similar gig in the future. Chalk it up to promo sacrifice.

I will say though. ....this gig was in our hometown and required zero travel or other expenses. Your situation would be tougher for sure.

 

[Big Hoss]

I'd do the gig, make sure to get video and post it on my band's website. Seeing people play at famous venues is always cool to me.

What he said, and as an added bonus, it shows you off in a more positive light for your local scene. So your fans can get the feel you are bigger than just a local band, giving them some sense of connection with a bigger scene can be a good selling point...

 

[interp]

A drummer I worked with was once in a band that was invited to open for the Beatles in St. Louis in 1966 (for no pay). Their manager had already booked a paying gig in Kansas City on that date and refused to cancel it. Even though that band was getting $500 per man per gig at the time, I think I would rather have the memory of sharing a bill with the Beatles than the 500 bucks (even in 1966 dollars).

 

[fretter]

I've played a couple of clubs that have hosted international touring acts. Nobody cares. I didn't care for the other unknown acts that appeared with us on those slow nights, either.

 

[electracoyote]

Monday and Tuesday nights are dead nights unless you're opening for a really well known band.

This is the only way I'd do it under those circumstances. Great photo ops are everywhere, you don't need to drive 5 hours and play for an empty room and golf claps to get good pics and vids.

 

[KeddyLee]

Depends on how famous.

 

[Runlikegregg]

It's fun to play places like that, and even more fun to tell people about it years later when you've forgotten all the poopy details.
The pay to play part is fairly galling. But, maybe you can talk your way out of that part! or at least less of it.

 

[JMacBass65]

A drummer I worked with was once in a band that was invited to open for the Beatles in St. Louis in 1966 (for no pay). Their manager had already booked a paying gig in Kansas City on that date and refused to cancel it. Even though that band was getting $500 per man per gig at the time, I think I would rather have the memory of sharing a bill with the Beatles than the 500 bucks (even in 1966 dollars).

Yeah, but that's not the case here. It's not "no money", they will pay to play. And......will be doing it with other no name acts. Hardly opening for the Beatles.

 

[garp]

I LOVE the idea of recording while you're there.

That's precisely what I did back in the days before cheap digital recorders were commonplace. The band I was in at the time -- circa '93 -- managed to snag an unpaid 40-minute set at a high-profile venue in New York City. It was nothing less than a royal PITA to lug my reel-to-reel deck along with all of my other gear and set up two boom mics in order to get some decent stereo separation. However, that recording became our demo and led to booking numerous other paid gigs, thanks in large part to the popularity of the venue where it was recorded.

 

[swarfrat]

My answer was sort of tongue in cheek with the heavy caveats - but after looking at some of the others - I'll revise it just a bit.

Only if you can fill the seats. Without that it's not really any different than novelty book publishers.