Playing "Benefit gigs" (rant)

[kev451]

Does not compute. "Other musicians play with worse equipment than you so you should be happy to play for free". aka the Invalid Link Removed. Just because others have it worse than me doesn't mean I should completely devalue my time and abilities.

Wuao I didnt know a message of just being thankful for what you have could be twisted in this manner. I seriously hope you find a modicum of happiness in your life. My message was just to be happy to be able to play. It’s in no means one to be forced but an opinion. Because being this bitter over a message to just be thankful for what you have just shows you may be unhappy.

 

[Medford Bassman]

I'm going to throw another comment into the mix. You see, I also blow glass (i.e. make vases, bowls, drinking vessels, ornaments, etc.).

Guess what? I'm always getting asked to donate a piece to some charity event. So are all the other glassblowers I know. So are all the good painters I know.

Basically there is a general devaluation of everything "art" in this world. If you're an artist, you will be so humbly touched and honored to be chosen to donate your art for FREE to some cause that you will just break down in grateful tears of joy.

B.S.

The world is full of people who get paid a wage for doing their job. Yet somehow everyone has fallen for the nonsense that artists should be "honored" to work for free. The usual song-and-dance is mumble-mumble EXPOSURE, but I honestly do not know a SINGLE ARTIST who ever made a sale from doing or giving away free work.

If you work for free, you tell everyone exactly how much you value your own work.

Bingo!

The famous, "if you play for free, you'll get great exposure". My band has yet to book a paid gig from a freebie benefit we've done.

I've always said, "if you take $100 for a gig that's what you're worth, if you get $2000 for the gig, I guess that's what you're worth."

I've also found by bidding higher for paying gigs has actually brought more gigs to our table. We are more than willing to travel out of state for a gig as long as you make it worth our while. The band pays me mileage for the use of my truck and trailer when we travel, so we factor that into our asking price as well. It never ceases to amaze me though when I'm contacted for an out of state wedding, let's say 3-4 hours away and they want to pay us $800. I've actually had some potential customers get indignant over the phone and tell me that they can get many local bands in their area to play the wedding for $800 or so. I generally just politely recommend to them they should hire one of those bands if they're willing to do the wedding for that fee. I love saying it because I say it politely enough and usually they don't know how to respond to kindness.

ok rant over, sorry

 

[Medford Bassman]

I used to hang with some lawyers and they were adamant that people value their services in equal amount to what they pay for them--giving people a price break leads to the opposite from what one would expect--disdain rather than gratitude.

I recall Pete Townsend in an interview explaining he originally asked Jim Marshall for high powered amps and large speakers primarily to repel those who tried to approach him while performing.

To my thinking, if a band leader has a wife who derives status and praise from getting a free band to events, the band leader should pay the band members--to me there is nothing generous about pressuring others you have power over to work without pay.

I am an attorney and I don't do discounts as i agree it devalues my profession and business.

 

[Walking]

Wuao I didnt know a message of just being thankful for what you have could be twisted in this manner. I seriously hope you find a modicum of happiness in your life. My message was just to be happy to be able to play. It’s in no means one to be forced but an opinion. Because being this bitter over a message to just be thankful for what you have just shows you may be unhappy.

'this bitter'? Let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy day!

 

[kev451]

'this bitter'? Let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy day!

Some people like to walk in the rain

 

[Bass Viking]

I’ll say this, I’ve been to places around the world where I’ve seen people who have NOTHING.

Where the musicians are playing instruments that you wouldn’t even give someone you don’t like lol. And what I’ve learned is this playing music and having the ability to play music and the gear to do so is a blessing in itself.

For every gig whether it’s a benefit or paying gig there is a musician who is sitting playing a guitar or bass with just one or two strings...(yes I’ve seen this in Iraq and Kuwait) so I’ve learned to just be happy playing music whether it’s a benefit or paying gig. Just be happy.

OK, just don’t let others take advantage of that happiness.

 

[kev451]

OK, just don’t let others take advantage of that happiness.

I agree 100% you can be nice and do a few here and there for good causes. But this is also dependent on what you are in it for. Is it love of playing or love of getting paid for playing. Nothing wrong with either one. I’m just one that after everything I’ve seen I’m just happy to be able to play music period. Money comes and goes. What people remember about a performance lasts years and often a lifetime

 

[Bass Viking]

I agree 100% you can be nice and do a few here and there for good causes. But this is also dependent on what you are in it for. Is it love of playing or love of getting paid for playing. Nothing wrong with either one.

I don't see it as either/or. You can still love playing while being paid for it. Unless it's Brown Eyed Girl!

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Paying gigs can be few and far between, depending on where you are located and the type of music you play, so you may have to temper your expectations

I live in a rural area of northern California. Paying gigs are few and far between. I've played quite a few benefits around here. Can't speak for big cities, but in this rural area, running a 503(C) not-for-profit organization is how MANY people survive. They pick a cause (often it's help the homeless, help the downtrodden, etc.), figure out how to get a grant or two, hire a few buddies and off they go. Small operations, small budgets, small impact (except we've got more "helpers" than "receivers" but that's another topic). The main point is when a fund raiser occurs, you can be sure that the Managing Director will be paid, as will the Assistant Managing Director, etc. etc. before benefits flow to the needy. Even if you're dying to play for free because there are limited paid gigs, make sure you're OK with who's getting the donated cash. SOMEBODY ELSE always gets the money.

 

[The Bass Clef]

I’d tell em “I’ll give you 2 benefit shows a year... choose wisely”. If that’s not acceptable, tell them to find a replacement bassist for the freebies.

 

[marmadaddy]

Wuao I didnt know a message of just being thankful for what you have could be twisted in this manner. I seriously hope you find a modicum of happiness in your life. My message was just to be happy to be able to play. It’s in no means one to be forced but an opinion. Because being this bitter over a message to just be thankful for what you have just shows you may be unhappy.

Bitter? Pointing out what I believe to be a logical flaw in your statement means that I don't have as much as a modicum of happiness in my life?

Again: does not compute.

 

[kev451]

Bitter? Pointing out what I believe to be a logical flaw in your statement means that I don't have as much as a modicum of happiness in my life?

Again: does not compute.

Your logic is what does not compute. Sorry to say. One can be grateful to just have the ability and means to play music. You seem to take issue with that simple fact. You have your train of thought I have mine.

 

[AlexBassMP]

I explained in a thread before that I don't mind to do benefit gigs if they're for a good cause and they are leggit.... but I find that 50% of benefit gigs in the schedule are a lot..

If you're not happy with the situation , quit , offer the band for subs if they need and move on...

 

[bumperbass]

Did one last night. Texted BL: "Do I need to take my head/cab?" BL: "No. Backline provided".
Well, guess what? Yeah. The "bass amp" was a Behringer PA head plugged into a Marshall 412 guitar cab. There were about 30 people there, and by 9:30, they were pulling out.
When I got to the door to tell them I was with the band, the girl collecting the money gave me a hand stamp and said "You can still donate if you want".
The monitors didn't work, so I couldn't sing or do any harmonies. Had a heck of a time dialing in a decent sound for bass. The entire band was out of sync.
It S U C K E D. I have no idea how the singer sang on key. No idea.

 

[Slater]

Did one last night. Texted BL: "Do I need to take my head/cab?" BL: "No. Backline provided".
Well, guess what? Yeah. The "bass amp" was a Behringer PA head plugged into a Marshall 412 guitar cab. There were about 30 people there, and by 9:30, they were pulling out.
When I got to the door to tell them I was with the band, the girl collecting the money gave me a hand stamp and said "You can still donate if you want".
The monitors didn't work, so I couldn't sing or do any harmonies. Had a heck of a time dialing in a decent sound for bass. The entire band was out of sync.
It S U C K E D. I have no idea how the singer sang on key. No idea.

Seems like a total waste of everyone’s time that is not benefiting (pun intended) anyone.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

I have nothing against benefits/charity gigs per se, but I would want to set some limits. I'm a busy guy. I get two days off work a week and I have a family, hobbies/projects and community responsibilities outside of music that also occupy my time.

I'm happy to help out a good cause, but if I'm rehearsing one or two nights a week, then on Saturday I have to load up the car, drive across town (paying for my own gas), unload the car, set up, play, pack down, load up the car again, drive back across town (paying for my own gas), unload the car again... There's a limit to how many times I'd want to do that for no return (other than goodwill). Music isn't my "pay the bills" job but my time is worth something too. So it's an arbitrary line I'm drawing in the sand, but for me I'd say doing that once every couple of months would be my limit.

An old band of mine from the early 1980s does get together once a year for a benefit gig. I have to fly to another city to do it so I'm well out of pocket at the end of the weekend. But I don't do it for the charity - I do it because I really like the guys and it's great to have an excuse to get together and play when we're spread across five different cities now.

Excuse me bro, you're a kiwi aren't you?

Well I'm an Aussie, and us Aussies and Kiwis, well....we don't pay for 'gas'. We pay for ...PETROL

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

I'm going to throw another comment into the mix. You see, I also blow glass (i.e. make vases, bowls, drinking vessels, ornaments, etc.).

Guess what? I'm always getting asked to donate a piece to some charity event. So are all the other glassblowers I know. So are all the good painters I know.

Basically there is a general devaluation of everything "art" in this world. If you're an artist, you will be so humbly touched and honored to be chosen to donate your art for FREE to some cause that you will just break down in grateful tears of joy.

B.S.

The world is full of people who get paid a wage for doing their job. Yet somehow everyone has fallen for the nonsense that artists should be "honored" to work for free. The usual song-and-dance is mumble-mumble EXPOSURE, but I honestly do not know a SINGLE ARTIST who ever made a sale from doing or giving away free work.

If you work for free, you tell everyone exactly how much you value your own work.

EXCELLENT post

 

[whero]

Excuse me bro, you're a kiwi aren't you?

Well I'm an Aussie, and us Aussies and Kiwis, well....we don't pay for 'gas'. We pay for ...PETROL

True. Just thought I'd translate for the masses. Let's get into the jandals thing next.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

True. Just thought I'd translate for the masses. Let's get into the jandals thing next.

Jandals? You mean thongs dont you?

 

[joebar]

I’ve played a few fundraisers this year but even then, we usually got paid something; just a reduced amount.
As an established hired gun in these parts, I’ve recently decided I’ve A $100 minimum from now on for any musical function for anyone. I’m worth every penny.
A lot of bands make the mistake of taking these opportunities because they want to play so badly. It’s true; everyone else is getting paid at these events so why aren’t you? It’s bloody insulting.
I do play a few times each month for some friends at their church for free because the music so good all the time that it keeps me sane- a lot of gigs I play are painful, depending who’s on drums