Slightly different........

[Matt O]

My paternal grandfather played piano for free drinks.

He liked to play and drink. Dead at 49.

Cautionary tale? No. Maybe. Just hought I'd share.

Question for the OP: does the bar already have live bands? What kind of bar is it, and what kind of band do you have? Why do you hate your future grandchildren?

 

[buldog5151bass]

And what does that bar
customarily pay?

 

[Nev375]

The last time I played for free it was at some Eagles lodge in Illinois a month ago.
It was a benefit to help some poor guy who has cancer.

...Jusy sayin' There's a time and a place for such things.

 

[FirewalZ]

Sorry, but you sound like a beginner in the bar gig business. Club owners will and do take advantage of musicians. It is naïve to expect them to honor any "I'll pay you later if..." agreements.
You may as well stand on a street corner with a cardboard sign saying "My band will play for food."

Actually the opposite...I played 3-4 night a week 50 weeks a year for well over a decade
I just don't really play for money anymore...I have a "Corporate" day job and now play music on the side to have fun and grow as a musician, if I get paid great, if not so what.....

 

[KickingBass]

Where I'm from basically everyone plays for free. It's the norm and if you don't like it then you can keep playing for your cat in the garage. If you get a tip for your playing you can keep it, yay! We make money off of selling our EP and shirts. I really don't like people on these threads making generalizations about people that play for free. Maybe where you're from it's different or the style of music you play is more in demand but don't assume everyones in your same situation.

 

[charlie monroe]

Where I'm from basically everyone plays for free. It's the norm

Why do you think that is?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Where I'm from basically everyone plays for free. It's the norm and if you don't like it then you can keep playing for your cat in the garage. If you get a tip for your playing you can keep it, yay! We make money off of selling our EP and shirts. I really don't like people on these threads making generalizations about people that play for free. Maybe where you're from it's different or the style of music you play is more in demand but don't assume everyones in your same situation.

Original music is a different kettle of fish. And when I was playing originals, I still looked for ways where I was not playing for free, such as getting together with other bands, renting a hall or other venue, and promoting it myself.

But cover bands and bar bands - no.

 

[KickingBass]

Original music is a different kettle of fish. And when I was playing originals, I still looked for ways where I was not playing for free, such as getting together with other bands, renting a hall or other venue, and promoting it myself.

But cover bands and bar bands - no.

I can understand that, but is the OP in a cover or originals band?

 

[KickingBass]

Why do you think that is?

Probably because everyone accepts it, but I like playing so I do it for the joy of it and the message of our songs. Like bulldog said, I'm sure it has to do with whether we play covers or originals too.

 

[friendlybass]

Free food, a gig where you have fun, bills are paid, I'm not seeing the problem.
If you are content getting paid with a full belly, a good night, and maybe some cash or beer, then more power to ya.

 

[johnson79]

Cover band = pay
Originals band = wings + beer

I personally LOVE wings and beer, so I'd be content with that.

 

[The Rage]

Where I'm from basically everyone plays for free. It's the norm and if you don't like it then you can keep playing for your cat in the garage.

Where I'm from usually you play for free and if you want to play as support for "bigger" (I mean bigger, but still in the underground) name you have to pay... Lucky you!

 

[KickingBass]

Where I'm from usually you play for free and if you want to play as support for "bigger" (I mean bigger, but still in the underground) name you have to pay... Lucky you!

I definitely need to count my blessings when it comes to that. I'm glad that I've seen very little pay for play going on in my neck of the woods.

 

[DavC]

if one would read accurately ... the OP is the one who called the bar , basically asking if his band could do some ' dress rehearsals ' ( which are usually free and might be open to the public ) ... the band wants to basically borrow the club to work some kinks out ... ! With the prospect of having a club to play in the future .!

most responses sound like the club owner asked the band to play for free ( burgers ) ... that is not the way i read the OP's question . To me it sounds like a win / win for both parties if things work out . There is no way a new unknown band will bump the bigger drawing bands out of their spots ... !!

I actually look at it the other way around , as in, the band is renting the club for free .. ! w/some free food ...

 

[wmhill]

food is better than pay to play... but still sets a bad precedence. It's also a way to get the other local bands to hate you.

 

[dbase]

THIS .....

or THIS .....

 

[DirtDog]

There are tons of ways to not make money while still keeping one's integrity intact.

Sig material!

 

[Shawncavbass]

Well, he doesn't know what he is getting.

This is why demos and press kits come in handy. if you approach a new venue, typically (if you are new in the circuit) they don't know who you are or sound like. have a folder with band pic on front, bios inside, places you have played, a short demo CD of a couple tracks you think best represent your sound. be sure to drop it off with the booker, bar manager or owner. otherwise it will be lost in the mix. always leave with a contact number and follow up within a week. That's how you get your first gig in a venue paid with green papers instead of beverages and burgers.

 

[Cowboy in Latvia]

Thanks for being one more person making it harder for bands to get paid for working.

 

[grinx]

for free wings n beer, we would head out a day early, tailgate in that joker's parking lot and drink/eat until they ran out of one or the other. then and ONLY then would we get our play on....