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Singer’s Daughter

What you should do is add up the exact number of notes every musician plays and divide it that way. Whoever plays more, gets paid more. Easy! What could go wrong?

(She's there putting in the time and adding value so that you can get more gigs and make more! Pay her!)
 
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So the singer’s daughter came to a rehearsal a few times and blew us away with her singing ability.

Her dad sings for us and does all of the set list.

We added some songs for Mary and she is committing to joining the band.

5-6 songs in total-36 song set list.

Now when it comes to pay, is she entitled to dividing the purse equally.

I’m playing every song, do I need to give her a piece of my take for only 5-6 songs?
Easy for me to say, but nobody in the band should be shorted a penny right now, and if anyone or anything, any monetary compensation at this time should come out of Dad's share, exclusively. NO. she is NOT entitled to equal amounts. She is certainly not entitled to any of the amounts of the other people in the band.

However...

...if ALL of you agree she should formally be in the band, even for 5-6 songs, then that is a different conversation with pay open to some degree of discussion and negotiation, all of which ALL of you should also agree on. Frankly, like all performers willing to do the work and be a consistent team player, she deserves SOME compensation. By the numbers, and to make it easy, she's singing about 16% of songs what I presume is a lead vocal capacity (you didn't mention how many, if any she is singing legit harmonies on), and if she's formally in the band her involvement will/should reduce gig pay available for each of you given finite and negotiated payouts from the establishment... unless you negotiate for at least 16% more in band payment with adding her into the band, formally.

Parent/child in the same band... it can work and not upset the balance of democracy and the institution that has existed, but tread CAREFULLY.
 
Now when it comes to pay, is she entitled to dividing the purse equally.

Maybe, maybe not.

Some bands have people from the audience sit in. The payment is typically the opportunity to play with the band/show off. They don't typically get a percentage of the split

IMHO depending on what she does for the band and what function the band wants her to fulfill, she could get a full-share, partial share, or just do it for the experience.

Seems like something that should be discussed.
 
If you expect her to be a member, then she gets an equal cut. Do you count the mic stands and pay people by how many they carry out? Do you pay by how many cords they hook up on the PA? Does the lead guitarist get more than the bass player because they play more notes? Disproportionate pay is a great way to sow discontent in the band.
So is adding members that everyone did not agree to. Its really not clear how she was magically in the band
 
Pay her in full.

If she can sing as well as you say, and adds something musical the band doesn’t already have, it’s well worth the investment.

if she makes the music better… then more opportunities to make money should be the result.

Enjoy the opportunity to expand the band’s horizons.
 
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I would think you pay her an equal split. And NOT for the reason you think.

The reason you pay her an equal share is because y'all lit the fuse for the impending collapse of your band and paying her equally for just showing up and dotting a few songs extends the timeline before you get kicked out. Simple.

Also, after you get publicly reprimanded for some trivial thing like asking for help during load out or "do you mind sitting in the back of the room to tell me how the mix is back there" or "no, it's not ok to have only your vocals in my monitor" the singer will end it right then and there because blood is thicker than water.

SO...
Understanding that your band is now on the precipice of an ugly breakup, paying her the same as you'd make is the best way to extend that band at least through the winter when gigs are less frequent.
Well...that's certainly one way to look at it.
 
If we are talking the bar circuit scene here, and discounting the cheap act options...solo's, duo's etc and tiny place 3 pieces, the difference of pay scale between the not very good to very good bands is about $200 on the gig. A few exceptions justify more...
Is she going to add that to your gig, because if not, you are all on a paycut which may or may not be totally cool with one and all.
She'd have to be great.. she may well be, but its hard getting the premium as it is..and it appears this wasn't all discussed...??
 
So the singer’s daughter came to a rehearsal a few times and blew us away with her singing ability.

Her dad sings for us and does all of the set list.

We added some songs for Mary and she is committing to joining the band.

5-6 songs in total-36 song set list.

Now when it comes to pay, is she entitled to dividing the purse equally.

I’m playing every song, do I need to give her a piece of my take for only 5-6 songs?
I would. Anticipate her singing more songs down the road.

I think you guys need more than 36 songs anyway. If she’s good, and young, she could get A LOT of gigs for you. Don’t be a sourpuss about paying her an equal share.
 
Is she a draw for the band? In other words, do people come to hear her sing?
If she is a draw, she may be entitled to more. It is like the quaterback gets paid $3,000,000 because he draws people in to pay to watch him. Nobody cares about a line man, so he gets a lot less.
Given this, we bass players should be thankful we get a full cut.
Sad to say this is true.
 
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More info needed about the band and the gig (hobby band vs. pro/semi-pro; "we don't care about the money" vs. significant source of income, etc.). Without knowing more, I'd say any pay comes out of dad's cut since it sounds like he invited her. I don't see how a full share (or any share) is warranted. As others have pointed out, this is a recipe for serious animosity. If it becomes a regular thing and she is contributing as a full band member, then equal pay is reasonable.

My 24-yr old daughter is a drummer, and will be sitting in with my weekend warrior cover band next week on a few songs. The band will make around $500 for the gig depending on tips. We are a "not in it for the money" band, but I wouldn't presume that she would get an equal cut for a "sit-in" appearance. More likely, the band will pick up her bar/food tab and maybe throw her a few extra bucks from the tip jar. At the end of the day, nobody will care either way, including my daughter.

In my other semi-pro band, where the money involved is significant for most band members, there is no way anybody is forfeiting a percentage of their cut for a friend or family member can sit in on 5 songs.

Edit: I just reread the OP more carefully. Sounds like the daughter is committed to joining the band. If she's coming to all of the rehearsals and working to be an integral part of the band long-term, then I'd be a lot more OK with her getting an equal share from the start. Again, it depends on your band – hopefully this is a group decision and not an edict.
 
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