Should the guy pulling the trailer get gas money?

[troy mcclure]

mnairhead: I proposed a sound man long before I started upgrading the PA and everyone balked.
The yeti: My company took away all cars a few years back forcing us to buy our own and reimburse us for mileage on the job. Therefore I bought a smallish car. When I pay off the car if the band is still viable, I guess I will buy a vehicle that is capable of towing.

 

[STRINGSLINGER]

When we play out of town I pull a trailer and the band rides with me. Usually around $20 for fuel is tacked on my cut and no one has a problem with it. Then again, why would they complain, they get a ride to and from the gig, and we are not trying to fit everything into 3 SUV and a mini-van + fuel.

 

[the yeti]

No. I am implying that in my band we are all friends and we don't quibble over $5.

cool. some people like to account for every penny. neither way is neccesarily correct. preferring one over the other shouldn't automatically make someone a "prick".

 

[the yeti]

mnairhead: I proposed a sound man long before I started upgrading the PA and everyone balked.
The yeti: My company took away all cars a few years back forcing us to buy our own and reimburse us for mileage on the job. Therefore I bought a smallish car. When I pay off the car if the band is still viable, I guess I will buy a vehicle that is capable of towing.

i wasn't saying replace the vehicle. i was saying replace driver2.

it sounds like your band is into being a friendly community. except driver2 isn't down for that when he's not the beneficiary. if you can replace him maybe someone more like minded would be better for you.

 

[David Jayne]

i wasn't saying replace the vehicle. i was saying replace driver2.

.

Sure, because there are dozens of great replacements in his area, all equipped with trucks and large parking areas for trailer storage.
Or, he could throw the guy a few bucks and be done with it. Tough choice.

 

[MNAirHead]

Buy him a beer and say thank you

 

[the yeti]

Sure, because there are dozens of great replacements in his area, all equipped with trucks and large parking areas for trailer storage.
Or, he could throw the guy a few bucks and be done with it. Tough choice.

maybe they are, maybe not. that's why i said "if". they don't need a guy with a truck, there's currently another member with a truck who's willing to help (and has until the new plan was apopted). they need a guy with a like mind.

if there's not a pool of replacements in the op's area it's obviously not a good idea to replace him.

 

[Ron Now]

Having pulled a trailer behind my car for several years, it totally does take a lot more gas than normal. I got more of a cut for gas money during those times.

 

[troy mcclure]

I wish 1 beer would do the trick. Honestly he is a great player but has caused other problems and I spoke to driver 1 yesterday as I feel he will probably need to be dealt with sooner rather than later. Guy never had a steady income while I have been playing with him in the last 3 years. Out of the blue he is dating a woman who just had a winfall and he landed a full time job. Reason to be happy, but he just told us no more mid week gigs.
I suggested we pay for a parking place for the trailer as a band and then just let
driver #1 continue to pull it as in the long run we have no dependence on driver #2.

 

[the yeti]

Having pulled a trailer behind my car for several years, it totally does take a lot more gas than normal. I got more of a cut for gas money during those times.

i don't think being reimbursed is unreasonable. it sounds like in the op's situation all but one guy don't want that.

 

[jaywa]

I suggested we pay for a parking place for the trailer as a band and then just let
driver #1 continue to pull it as in the long run we have no dependence on driver #2.

This is the best solution I've seen floated yet. It will streamline your current situation as well as making it easier to dump Driver 2 in total if his other issues ultimately make that necessary.

 

[Floyd Eye]

cool. some people like to account for every penny. neither way is neccesarily correct. preferring one over the other shouldn't automatically make someone a "prick".

I didn't mean to imply it did. Just meant to say that none of us are concerned with penny pinching. Most of our gig money gets pooled and spent on gear anyway.

 

[aborgman]

Tell driver #2 he is absolutely right. Pulling the trailer is an added gas expense.

Give the trailer back to driver #1 even though it's a PITA and charge driver #2 for the gas.

Obviously, I've never been a band leader.

Bingo.

For the driver who says "it's a minor expense" - great, you tow it then.

 

[jaywa]

Having pulled a trailer behind my car for several years, it totally does take a lot more gas than normal. I got more of a cut for gas money during those times.

One guy I know uses a Cadillac CTS station wagon to pull his band's small (5x8) but fully loaded trailer and when that happens his mileage goes from about 24 down to 16.

I've been told that diesel vehicles are not nearly as susceptible to such drastic drops when towing heavy loads, but OTOH many of those vehicles are full size pickups or large SUVs that get worse mileage to begin with, not to mention that diesel (around here at least) routinely costs 30-40 cents per gallon more than regular unleaded.

 

[the yeti]

^caddy makes a non-hearse, non-suv wagon? sweet.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Bingo.

For the driver who says "it's a minor expense" - great, you tow it then.

I don't think you get the idea...

 

[aborgman]

I don't think you get the idea...

No - I get the concept of "everyone is contributing something to the entire band, and towing the trailer is your contribution"

...my problem is with the folks who act like there is zero cost associated with it.

 

[the yeti]

No - I get the concept of "everyone is contributing something to the entire band, and towing the trailer is your contribution"

...my problem is with the folks who act like there is zero cost associated with it.

right, but the post you quoted regarding giving towing duties (and pay!) back to driver1 was saying "agree that it should be compensated, just not to you 'cos you're a whiner" to driver2.

 

[lfmn16]

cool. some people like to account for every penny. neither way is neccesarily correct. preferring one over the other shouldn't automatically make someone a "prick".

It shouldn't, but I've found that people who insist on everything being split to the exact penny are usually difficult to deal with in other areas too. Just to clarify I'm talking about making sure everything is split to the penny and then collecting the change.

A couple of the places we play provide a tab for the band. I don't drink, so the other band members make out better than I do at those clubs. If I wanted to be an ass, I could say that we need to account for that tab when we split the pay. However, I find life is much eaiser (and much more pleasant) when you are easy-going.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

No - I get the concept of "everyone is contributing something to the entire band, and towing the trailer is your contribution"

...my problem is with the folks who act like there is zero cost associated with it.

See below.

right, but the post you quoted regarding giving towing duties (and pay!) back to driver1 was saying "agree that it should be compensated, just not to you 'cos you're a whiner" to driver2.

This.

No one was saying there were no costs associated to it. Rather, no one else has complained about those costs when they were towing it/buying it, and as such it's silly for the new driver to complain about it now when he was getting those services for free before. The others picked up the additional cost before then, and now it's his turn to 'take the hit'.