Playing "Benefit gigs" (rant)

[basscapes]

I don't mind legit benefits, or even so-so legit benefits if the PA is supplied and all I have to do is show up with my bass. If we have to lug the PA and setup, tear down, unload then I would rather pass. We did a benefit last year that had a low attendance, but it was at a really cool venue and the venue (a clothier) had a killer stage, PA, drums, amps, and even the beloved SVT. I didn't mind that at all.

If I wasn't getting dollar one from a charity, that is the LEAST I would expect.

Yup! Back in the day, if I had to bring my rig (meaning amp/cab, the rest being supplied), then I would like to see some compensation. if the entire thing was "back-line supplied", then I was kind of okay with that (seeing that beat to crap Peavey Combo at 3 different venues one year got old really fast !)...

If the band had to supply EVERYTHING (back-line, lights, PA, which we had available), and/or supply it for multiple-band events, then I/we are sorry; that was gonna be (at best) a slight discount of our regular fee, PLUS a rental fee for gear. Contracts were signed. Checks (for at LEAST the rental, as well as HALF of the band pay) were issued and cashed BEFORE HAND.

 

[Big Hoss]

I guess this should start with the conversation / idea of... What is the band making music for? Playing charity / benefit is perfectly legit, if everyone is on board, but I will tell you right now, a sure fire way to get me riled up, is to insist that I support your XYZ cause with my limited time, resources, and energy when I need to put food on my table, or support my ABC cause instead...

An example I will give, I am in a band, that does small home / private party gigs. (barns, backyards etc...). Typically under 100 people although we had one that got to 250 before the law showed up but I digress... These gigs we do for pay. We were approached by a friend of the guitarist on doing a benefit to raise money for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. Mind you, the guitarist himself, and the drummer were both flooded in Harvey. We as a band talked it through, yelled a bit, and voted on it, and decided we didn't want to set that precedent.

I do fill in for P&W teams on Sundays, and Wednesday youth services from time to time. Those gigs I consider charity / benefit.

Oh FWIW, while we didn't play the Harvey benefit, we DID work it in a different manner. The issue was one of precedent we didn't want to get into. Instead we DJed the thing ran lighting, and ran sound for 2 other bands that did do the job. MUCH easier night, did our part for a cause we believe in, and kept the precedent we wanted to.

 

[xroads64]

Nope. One or two a year for me, and they better be damn good causes.

 

[mellowinman]

I will give my time and money to select charities.

• Society for lonely attractive models, who only date musicians
• Society for lonely attractive waitresses, who only date musicians
• Society for lonely attractive flight attendants, who only date musicians
• Society for lonely attractive investment bankers, who only date musicians
• Society for lonely attractive scientists, who only date musicians...

 

[lfmn16]

I will give my time and money to select charities.

• Society for lonely attractive models, who only date musicians
• Society for lonely attractive waitresses, who only date musicians
• Society for lonely attractive flight attendants, who only date musicians
• Society for lonely attractive investment bankers, who only date musicians
• Society for lonely attractive scientists, who only date musicians...

You're such a giving guy! An inspiration to us all.

 

[Marc valero]

Also, there is a difference between a multi-band benefit with supplied PA and/or backline (with a 1 hour slot) and you being the only entertainment and having to setup and play a full three or four sets. Most of the benefits we do are multi-band. I had a fill-in play for me last time because I had work to do at home. Time is money.

 

[AdamR]

Limit yourself to two benefits or so a year.

 

[mellowinman]

You're such a giving guy! An inspiration to us all.

I give until I have nothing left to give. I don't want credit for it. Giving is a reward of its own.

 

[Medicine Man]

I like benefit shows if they are well organized, and I don't mind helping out a good cause. That said, we put a hard limit of 3 free benefit shows per year, cuz I could book 3 a week, no trouble. People need to understand that playing a free benefit it equivalent to donating your bands fee to charity when they ask you to play.

 

[Joebone]

My main band is a group of five - three of us have day gigs, the other two are full-time musicians/performers/songwriters. We do a high proportion of benefits, but that's because we're kind a of a "cause" band - the material is left-progressive, in Spanish, about 1/2 are originals, and we do a lot of fundraisers for political and cultural organizations. We all have a ball working this material, and are happy to do what we can to promote causes that we support.

Even in my mercenary "musician for a living" days, I was thrilled to find outlets where I could couple my enthusiasm for playing with my enthusiasm for a good cause...a couple of times I found a sub for society band weekends, so I could play for free or for a pittance in small pit bands for political theater, or bands supporting causes important to me. I'm not good at knocking on doors, and phone banking is a drag, but the chance to couple a groove with a worthy cause has always been pretty appealing to me. And I suspect that many of those praise and worship players out there get a similar charge from doing what they do...

 

[sunnyboy010101]

I think the big issue with many "charity" events is that everyone is getting paid full salary except a very select few (a.k.a. the "suckers"). Bands are #1 suckers, but so are the many volunteers that get suckered into doing various jobs at these things.

Now, if you like doing them and that's what makes you happy, then go for it. But one should never, EVER confuse unpaid gigs with anything else. They don't pay you because they know they don't have to. If you turn them down, then there's another band willing to jump in and replace you.

The problem, as noted by another poster, is that once you get a reputation as a free act (a.k.a. sucker), you will never shake that. Then, if you even gently suggest you'd like some compensation (honorarium, etc). you will get in return the the typical high-minded response: "HOW DARE YOU!!!!".

I was told years ago by a professional wedding singer (I was playing organ at the time); "Always demand full payment for EVERY gig. You can always stuff some cash in an envelope and give it to the bride after the wedding if you want, but NEVER let anyone think you work for free. EVER."

Likewise, get paid for the "charity" gig. If you really like the charity, then write them a cheque. At least then you'll get a tax receipt for your generosity.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Who really benefits from benefit concerts?

 

[redwingxix]

four a year is plenty for karma's sake.

Unless this band is the greatest hang and every note of every song on every setlist is pure joy then I'd bail.

 

[trevcda]

What's the difference between donating your time to a charity or your money?
Hint - donating time to play music is more fun, and easier on your wallet.

I beg to differ here; if I'm playing a charity gig with 30-50 attendees tops, I'd rather donate $25 out of my wallet than take an afternoon off or kill an entire weekend day to spend time, gas, wear and tear on me and my equipment. Marginally less fun than playing but much less of a resources hit in the end for me. If everybody in your band did that, they'd be that much more ahead. Most small "charity" gigs are pretty much keggers under the guise of a purpose and much like "Bob's Canned Food Drive" mentioned above, are more about the effort than the result. There are exceptions; highly attended, properly organized events that not only significantly advance the beneficiary and do expose the band to a potential client base can be worth while. Want to find out how above board your "charity" is? Let them know that in order to claim your work as a donation, you need to be paid your full amount by the charity and would have to donate it back to them in kind. That scares most of them off.

 

[MobileHolmes]

We've been offered paying benefit gigs, but couldn't due to scheduling. Typically have shot a slightly reduced rate, but we don't play free. Actually, I always play free, but you have to pay me to move my rig Still, I don't move my rig for free for anybody

 

[buldog5151bass]

I beg to differ here; if I'm playing a charity gig with 30-50 attendees tops, I'd rather donate $25 out of my wallet than take an afternoon off or kill an entire weekend day to spend time, gas, wear and tear on me and my equipment. Marginally less fun than playing but much less of a resources hit in the end for me. If everybody in your band did that, they'd be that much more ahead. Most small "charity" gigs are pretty much keggers under the guise of a purpose and much like "Bob's Canned Food Drive" mentioned above, are more about the effort than the result. There are exceptions; highly attended, properly organized events that not only significantly advance the beneficiary and do expose the band to a potential client base can be worth while. Want to find out how above board your "charity" is? Let them know that in order to claim your work as a donation, you need to be paid your full amount by the charity and would have to donate it back to them in kind. That scares most of them off.

That may be up to you, but that is not a fair comparison. You make what - $100-200 for a decent gig? Never mind many people here play music primarily because they enjoy it, NOT because of the money. Most of us would make more per hour flipping burgers, if we include all the rehearsal and practice time. I'd rather play an occasional free gig than shell out $150 out of my pocket each time (never mind the tax implications). And while I don't believe in playing a gig "for exposure", more than once I've made contacts or gotten decent paying gigs from playing a benefit.

 

[gitfiddl]

I've done my share of benefit gigs, both legit and otherwise. Most of the legit organizations I've played for wrote us a receipt for the $$ amount we felt our time and energy was worth for tax purposes. Others actually cut us checks which we endorsed and returned as a donation and wrote it off that way. If you're playing to raise money for Billy Bob and Joleen's new roof, you're on your own and the food better be good.

 

[jnewmark]

I was in a very popular band for 20+ years. This wasn't a hobby band, this was a business. Most of the guys in the band depended on its income for living. We typically played 3-4, sometimes 5 nights a week. We did about a half dozen benefit gigs a year, but we were constantly being asked to do them due to our popularity. We tried to explain that, since this was our JOB, we could only due a certain amount of these gigs. The hardliners would still come at us, so the conversation went something like, How many days a year do you work for free at YOUR job for charity ? The answer was usually a frown or a disgusted look . Look, I get that most benefit gigs are worthy and help some folks out, but when you depending on band income to live on yourself, you have to draw the line somewhere. If you are in a band just for a good time, or just for something to do, then, fine, do as many benefits as you like. But when its your living, doing a certain amount agreed upon by all band members is a reasonable modus operandi.

 

[JohnnyBottom]

Just because the band is playing a fund raiser, benefit or charity doesnt mean the band has to
play for free. Sure in some cases a band can do that, or offer to donate a pct of thier income
from the gig, or cut the event a good rate. Its bizarre how some folks think that play for free is expected at a 'fund raiser'. In effect they expect each band member to donate $100-$500 each
to 'the cause', plus the work of load in and out. When most folks attending are donating far less.

 

[40Hz]

I generally don’t like seeing situations where one half of a couple routinely volunteers their spouse or SO for things. I like it even less when somebody else’s SO feels he or she has the right to volunteer me for something without the courtesy of asking me first.