Playing for just tips?

I'm not, but I would with a brand new band trying to get off the ground.

You have to rehearse of course, but nothing gets a group up to speed like playing live for an audience. And the fact that the house is not paying you takes the pressure off in some ways. My personal feeling is if you're being paid to play you owe the house and the audience the best performance you can deliver, something that takes time to develop.

If you play for tips and still end up making money you know you're on the right track...people don't feed the kitty if you suck

 

We got us a winner right here!!

 

Problem with doing that is that the customers think that the house is paying the band and don't tip you. You are then faced with doing the strip-club DJ thing, "Remember men, these girls work for tips and tips alone, so show them your love."

I played for awhile in a piano bar where the patrons were informed by the bartender that they were expected to tip the piano player. I worked with a singer and in two hours we'd get maybe $50 each in tips, but that is the exception, and it was only because the audience was all regulars who knew the deal.

 

Never have, never will. No pay, no play. Just ask the owner if he/she will sell their services for "tips only" and see what response you get.

 

oh come on now, look at this craig's list ad..maybe this doc got a free high quality open heart gig!
Docs should have tip jars too!



Wanted: Heart Surgeon for 1/2 Day Gig - No Pay

Hi,
I need a triple bypass surgery and want to have it done ASAP.
We don't have any funds at the moment, but I'll have a friend videotape the whole procedure, and you can have a copy of the DV tape. We're also planning to pitch the idea to some honchos at HBO, so you'll be in on the Ground Floor!

It shouldn't take more than 6-7 hours.
No amateurs - Experienced Heart Surgeons ONLY!





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I've heard of certain religous leaders who perform circumcisions just for the tips....

 

If it's an original band - yes.
If it's a venue that usually has cover bands or usually pays their bands - no.

 

It's all relative. If the venue has a natural draw, and there is a tradition of tipping the performers, then do it. We've played a few gigs for tips. Mostly for-fun stuff to keep us in the groove when we don't have other gigs scheduled. We don't do it often though.

There are some places in the USA where it's the norm however, bands on the main strip in Nashville play for tips exclusively. There are no cover charges, and everyone knows (and the bartenders and musicians will remind you) that tipping is part of the experience.

 

Do it.
For a band just starting out and playing original music, you're lucky to get paid anything at all. Man, I did so many shows for free with my old original band at first.

We would play for free, opening for local bands on crappy nights of the week for pitchers of beer, a small portion of what the bar brings in, or for nothing at all. It wasn't until we put out a good EP, marketed ourselves in the city, had a few successfull sell-out shows at a hotspot in town which made the bar TONS of money that we started to see some cash. And even then it wasn't that much - anywhere from $300-$500. After paying the opening bands, you're lucky to be left with $200.

Until you get some recognition, create some buzz and prove yourself, its going to be tough at first. Such is being in an original rock band

 

I hear this a lot from musicians.

I understand it, but I think it boils down to how much you want to play and why you do it.

No disrespect intended to anyone, but if your primary reason for playing music is to make money, you are likely in one of these camps:

1. A hired session guy who is versatile enough to read and play anything thrown at you and willing to work the referral network for gigs.

2. Highly delusional!

The reason is simple supply and demand. There are so damn many musicians that at the club level they don't have to pay you decently (if they pay at all) because somebody will always be willing and available to do it if you don't.

I'm not talking about QUALITY here. I honestly don't think your average club owner gives a rat's ass about musicianship. All he cares about is selling alcohol. If your band does that, however good or bad they may be, he's happy.

There are about a million ways to make money that are easier and more lucrative than playing music. If you want to make MUSIC do it, but realize that some gigs pay, some don't, and if you love it you do it regardless.

If you want to make MONEY...you're in the wrong business!

It only took me 13 years of playing full time to come to that conclusion

I could be completely wrong of course.

 

Musicians are terrible at business. Thats why most don't make any money. Hey lets play for free! Next time we will get paid. Once you start playing for free you have set the value of your band. If you are not worth any money then you should stay in the garage where you belong.

 

AAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHH

 

I wouldn't do it, but then Ive got myself to the point where I can fill my schedule with paying dates so I have that luxury. I played for basically free a couple times when I was starting out. Looking back on it, I think that I maybe shouldn't have done that from an ethical stand point.

Depends on the venue as to whether or not this would bother me ethically. If this coffee house doesn't normally have music, then go for it. If they do, then they need to be paying something. Otherwise, people are getting accustomed to having musicians play for free. I know people that feed their kids with gig money. People who devalue the work of other musicians by offering it up for free makes it harder for the people who do it for a living. So if the coffee house normally doesn't do the live music thing, knock it out. Maybe they'll realize that live music could benefit them, and then they'll start hiring musicians. If they do normally have musicians, then it irks me that they wouldn't pay at least a nominal amount to those musicians.


Alternate suggestion. Find another band that is playing a paying gig and offer to open up for them for free or as close to as to make yourself attractive to them. That way you avoid the whole "music isn't worth pay" thing. Plus that way you will get exposed to a larger number of people.
Just a thought...

 

I have a close friend that is an outstanding DJ, best in the area, and turns down work all the time. He also runs the sound for our band. He can make 500 - 600 on most weekend nights and split it with NO ONE. He runs the sound for us for a buttload less than that, sometimes nothing , but will turn down a DJ gig in a heartbeat to play with us, so I guess its not about the money. To me, money is great, but it has absolutely nothing to do with my decision to play. I'd rather have a really good time, and just make gas money, than make good and have a crappy evening playing, but thats just me.

All us guys have day jobs though, so that may have something to do with my position. I'll play for free in a heartbeat if its something that looks like it will be a good time, but thats just me.

 

I will give you some solid advice. Play covers. Get paid and slip in a original here and there. As you become established and you build a draw then you can go to playing originals for money.

While you heart is in the right place your bussiness model is a proven fialure.

 

it's warmer than busking.