Playing for free as "good marketing"?

[svlilioukalani]

Few gig pay well in my part of the world, unless you want to do covers in a casino. I have played full time in the past, and it was all about the money. But now I live in Seattle. I don't think I could make a living gigging in this town.

I am not going to do a 4 hour cover gig for free. However, if one of my original band scores a gig at a cool place; I am all in. To me a fun gig is better than no gig at all.

 

[byacey]

So you stop the music to work on the hard parts? Go to the bathroom between songs? All in front of an audience?

I've never gone to the bathroom between songs in front of an audience, but I did make a sandwich during a long solo intro when there wasn't any bass.

 

[bikeplate]

Lol. No

 

[MDBass]

Context: This is a bar band, and we are lucky, as a 4 piece, to get $80-$100 each when we play a gig. We play 12-15 times per year on average. I like the guys in the band, and we get along well together. The music is not my favorite, but is generally kind of fun to play depending on the crowd.

So, I have 2 of the "music, hang, or money" when evaluating my situation in a band although we make very little $$ one could argue I only have the hang...

So, just had a chat conversation with the guys in one of my bands, and once bars reopen they were all talking like we should consider playing for free (actually food and drink, but i don't count that as payment) for the rest of the year to help "give back" to the local bars as they they try to recover from whats going on in the world.

They think it's "good marketing" on our part, shows "we care", and a good way to differentiate ourselves from the other bands as once things reopen, there will be less places to play.

It just doesn't sit well with me, and I declined. While we don't make much money, it's more the principle.

I also told them they had my blessing to play for free with a sub if they desire to do so.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this? (sorry if this is a repeat thread)

If you want to do it out of the kindness of your hearts to help out a struggling business, go for it.

Thinking it will be "good marketing" is totally ridiculous though.

 

[Hambone70]

So... isn't this just an example of standard supply and demand? You'll get paid what you're worth. Savvy venue managers book entertainment as an investment, as enticement to draw customers that will spend and therefore increase the venue's profit by more than the entertainment costs. Simple math.

Aren't we overthinking this?

 

[MDBass]

I agree, in a few weeks so much has changed. People are having their rent forgiven for a while. I just leased a new copier for my office and got three months of the lease chopped.

I'm like a few folks here. Last month I would have said "no friggen" way. Now I don't know. I guess I wouldn't want to, but if the guys wanted to do a "free one" I'd go along.

No one having their rent forgiven.

Some are getting their rent/mortgage payments put on hold for three months, but on that fourth month all four months of back payments become due.

 

[somebrains]

Twitch, Mixer, YouTube, Facebook streaming/video, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Those are the free content avenues I'd use.

The rest is you pay.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Will the beer and liquor distributors be giving the bars their beer and liquor orders for free?

Will the electric and other utilities be giving away free electricity, natural gas, and water?

 

[smogg]

...no how, no way...

^^^^^^^^^ this ^^^^^^^^^

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I wouldn't let it become an expectation.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

No.

 

[MegaSwing]

I'm not buying that at all. Places either want live music or they don't. If they want it, they need to pay up and stop being chintzy with people offering a legitimate product at fair market rates.

Rare is the venue that gives a crap about being 'fair' to performers. Most of them would charge you to use their restrooms, then deduct it from your net if they could. In fact, the more you stand up for 'fair' treatment, the less likely they'll elect to be bothered by you—unless you're just very entertaining.

Back to normal means back to business, not time for handouts.

 

[mark roberts]

Once a musician or band plays for "free" or at a loss as a result of their own costs of performing, that may become the new "bar" by which they are considered forevermore by venues and even band mates. Applicable to professionals and hobbyists, alike. And for local venues, do one that way and the other venues will follow suit with the expectation. I really don't like the phrase "it is what it is", but unfortunately "it is...". All band mates really need to be on the same page regarding this or it could eventually lead to "solo efforts"

 

[RodneyM]

Playing for free to market yourselves is simply marketing that you'll play for free (to the booker/promotor).

 

[Eekum]

It would depend on the situation. If I knew the bar owner and I knew their financial situation, then yes I would play for free a couple times to help them out. If it is just some random bar giving me some sob story, then I would just pass on the gig. You never know who is trying to take advantage.

 

[Fab Superlative]

@gidbass , do these 'guys' in one of your bands have day gigs? Ask them if when they go back to work (assuming they are presently staying at home) if they will tell their employers that they will work a day or two per week for no pay, because of y'know 'good marketing' 'we care' type of appreciation and such. LOL!

 

[Killing Floor]

So for it looks like OP has about 50-50. Toss up. Half the respondents have plenty of upside to their future live performances with decent pay and roughly half are a little more pessimistic.
Here in the live music capital of the world there has not been a live performance in over 5 weeks and we are months away from the next one. Somebody reply with the name of a "band bar", night club, or other performance space that is privately owned who's owner has the free capital to pay their lease for a few months without any revenue. Name 1.
Please tip your wait staff and bartenders.

 

[gidbass]

A lot of great advice here.

Playing is a hobby for everyone in this band and we love to play/perform, but that doesn't mean we don't want to get paid. Each gig is about 6-7 hours when it's all said and done not to mention the wear and tear on our gear. I would play for free for any of the following after reading all the posts here.

1. If we had a close relationship with a bar and that bar was good to us, I would have no problem helping them out with discounted, even a free gig and as some suggested play for the door and tips to help them out.
2. Charity. I'd play for free for most if not any charity given the chance.
3. Friends party/personal friends etc.

Thats probably about it. I tend to agree with the folks who think that once we start playing for free, those same bars will have difficulty paying us down the road for future gigs. There is no "goodwill" that we will realize down the road if we play for free, especially with the bars around here, IMHO of course.

Outside of those three above, if I want to play/perform without being paid, I'll just go to the local jam night around here and crank out a few tunes and enjoy the live music all for an hour or two...instead of 7....

Again, thanks for sharing everyone.

 

[Renaissance]

Like most TB threads that go over a couple pages this one has branched out a bit from the original post.

Since the OP's band is already a gigging band, I don't think he meant playing for free to "market" the band (even though that is what he said). I took it to mean building goodwill. Kind of like marketing your willingness to pitch in and help. I don't think there's anything wrong with helping someone if you can. Only you can decide if they need help or if you're being conned. Make your best judgement and do what you think is right.

I agree that having a sliding scale for payment is problematic under normal circumstances. These are not normal circumstances! I'm sure you also have venues or buyers that you're more willing to help than others. You don't have to post on your website you're willing to play for free for everyone. Approach the venues you want to help with your offer. Ask them to keep it between them and you. Yes, I know - bar owners all meet up on Sunday mornings at the pancake house to compare notes! If your relationship with the owners / managers is so bad you can't trust them when you're trying to help them, then don't offer to help.

When my band was first getting started I was having a tough go getting booked into the events we wanted to be playing. We needed to be "gigging those gigs to get those gigs". I finally had an event make us an offer. It was lower than what I wanted but I took the gig. The following year they raised the pay a little when they contacted me, but still not up to what I was booking the band for normally. This is a Parks & Rec job. I told my contact they took a chance on us the previous year and I would accept their offer because I owed them one. The following years would have to be at the going rate though. They have accepted and have been beneficial in us getting additional shows. I've had one buyer hint they "heard through the grapevine" we played at a lower rate. I had no problem booking the event at regular price after I told them they should have taken a chance on us when I first contacted them! My point is - negotiate in good faith, build a relationship, and help when you can. I have another Parks & Rec (referral from the first) that has helped us get even better shows. If he came to me looking for some consideration on something - you can bet I would help! I never look at shows as one offs.

On a side note, as it has been broached in this thread already. If you are afraid your competition is going to water down your price by playing cheaper - you need to up your game.

 

[somebrains]

You guys need to watch Twitch streamers take in follows and cash.

They're the new rappers, gamers that get paid in real time are what kids aspire to be now.

I don't understand how musicians are so slow discovering new mediums. I guess interests aren't as broad.