LOL. I've done that gig. Only the bar is in Mission Village. My trio plays some Sundays at a bar in OB, but we get paid, and we draw a crowd in off the street plus our own folks. We'll be there on May 19th (that's 'Retha Franklin).
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Playing Sundays at a dive bar... (small rant)
- Thread starter gustobassman
- Start date
What's the old saying? "I play for free...I get paid to load in and load out."
I still can't believe there are people in this thread saying this guy should agree to this "gig". It's a terrible non-starter of a non-opportunity.
Believe it or not, a band I was in years ago did a couple gigs almost exactly like the OP is describing. Difference is that we had no practice space at that point (long story) and were desperate for somewhere to practice. We played a dive bar in a town full of other dive bars (and several nicer ones) on a couple Sunday afternoons. There was no crowd, no foot traffic, and no one cared about our music. It was a big hassle to load in too (owner was an a-hole on top of it), and between driving there and playing, these non-paying gigs ate up my whole day. In retrospect I should have quit that band before that point but I stayed on out of a misplaced sense of loyalty.
You know you don't want to do it OP, so just don't. Just say "no."
I still can't believe there are people in this thread saying this guy should agree to this "gig". It's a terrible non-starter of a non-opportunity.
Believe it or not, a band I was in years ago did a couple gigs almost exactly like the OP is describing. Difference is that we had no practice space at that point (long story) and were desperate for somewhere to practice. We played a dive bar in a town full of other dive bars (and several nicer ones) on a couple Sunday afternoons. There was no crowd, no foot traffic, and no one cared about our music. It was a big hassle to load in too (owner was an a-hole on top of it), and between driving there and playing, these non-paying gigs ate up my whole day. In retrospect I should have quit that band before that point but I stayed on out of a misplaced sense of loyalty.
You know you don't want to do it OP, so just don't. Just say "no."
Stupid idea. Playing for FREE (which is what playing for beer is) will only serve to make your band WORTH LESS = worthless.
Probably generally the case.
But about 13 years ago the band I was jamming in a garage with wanted to play a dive bar on Thursday nights for beer and wings. We did if for like four months. By the end we were packing the place, making about $30 each in tips plus the food and beer. A regular at this bar happened to be the owner of a cool waterfront establisment. He asked us to play at his place on happy hour on Friday nights for $100 a man. Been at that place now for almost 12 years almost every Friday night, have gotten raises every year or so, and it is the gig that serves to get us our private party gigs which are much bigger money (250-300 a man).
I will admit this experience might not be "typical" but it serves to say that playing for free CAN lead to better things..................
That is not to say I think the OP should agree to play this gig. In my situation above, we had no track record or "ins" with any other bar other than the freebie one. It sounds like the OP can line them up gigs with no problem as soon as they are ready. So I would not do the freebie if I was the OP....
Sure they can, and they usually do, if you are any good. But you have to have that first "paying gig". I would argue that before almost ANY band's first paying gig, there was a lot of unpaid time put in.
OK, discussions were had. Points were addressed and it looks like we're gonna do the Cinco De Drinko show and skip the weekly gig. I made some phone calls and got wheels turning on booking other shows starting a month or so out. I agreed to do that so they didn't feel like i was holding them back from gigging.
And yes, i'll have my sundays open for football season. Awesome.
And yes, i'll have my sundays open for football season. Awesome.
It sounds like the venue you were playing for free at least had a lot more going for it than the one the OP is describing.
Yep.
Had a buddy of mine who I sub for call me up the other day and say he had a gig for us next Monday. No pay, but the bar would give us pizza and 3 quality draft brews for each member.
No thanks. I don't have anything going on Tuesday during the day, so I plan on using Monday night to hang out with my buds, go out to the bars, or maybe stay in and have a Skype date with my girlfriend. My time is valuable, and if I'm not getting paid for it then I'm going to spend it how I want to.
I don't get it.
There is NOTHING that would make me do this more than ONCE.
And ONCE would be hard to convince me on, to be honest.
Why do this?
There is NOTHING that would make me do this more than ONCE.
And ONCE would be hard to convince me on, to be honest.
Why do this?
If you read his latest post, they're only doing the Cinco show and that's all.
From what I've read, the OP is on the same page as you Mellow.
