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So about getting paid for gigs.
- Thread starter Tnavis
- Start date
They probably asked you to do it as a friend, i am guessing. That means its a for fun type of gig. It's not a paying gig and you know that. If it sounds like a fun gig, take it. If it sounds like a horrible way to spend an evening, turn it down. No harm no foul either way IMO.
I do agree with others on the lack of food/drink...why exactly is the band not getting fed at the party? If no one said anything i would assume 100% that was included as by playing the gig for free you are pretty much a guest at the party.
No money, no food, no lodging, nothing but rehearsals and out-of-pocket expenses. Are the caterer, venue, bartender, etc., working for free?
If you knew all the material already, maybe I’d say go do it. But if you have to put in hours/days of work, I’d say it’s asking a lot.
Let's see:
Band provides all gear and free entertainment
Party provides no money, no food, no drink, no accommodations
No wonder people don't value the arts!
Question: why isn't the regular bassist available?
Band provides all gear and free entertainment
Party provides no money, no food, no drink, no accommodations
No wonder people don't value the arts!
Question: why isn't the regular bassist available?
Gas food lodging and good music times with friends would probably be enough for me.
However consider that I sub on bass for a group I used to play trumpet with, and they are all still good friends of mine. As a trumpet player I never got paid. As a bass sub, I get paid every time.
However consider that I sub on bass for a group I used to play trumpet with, and they are all still good friends of mine. As a trumpet player I never got paid. As a bass sub, I get paid every time.
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regular bass dude is hungry and a little thirsty.
Weird thing is someone is throwing a party, and there's no food or beverages there. Or is the host charging the rest of the guests? There's something here I don't understand; aren't the band really just invited guests who are dragging along a crapton of expensive equipment to have some fun? Shouldn't the band be affforded the same ammenities as the rest of the guests?
IF it doesn't cost you a paying gig and these really are your best friends, why wouldn't you help them out and have a fun afternoon? They aren't asking you to clean out an outhouse. I love money as much as the next guy (maybe more) but doesn't ANYONE EVER play for fun?
It seems to me those two sentences don't belong in the same account. Is he a friend? The "friend" can't manage a couple of drinks and a snack for the musicians? Plus all that driving? I'd be a little insulted.
I guess if the bromance thing is that strong, you guys would eat dry corn flakes and sleep in a cardboard box for each other. It's definitely a sentimental freebie, and if so, you can't really get too picky about the accommodations or amenities. Even still, it seems kind of callous for the "friend" hiring you guys to not make a better effort. It sounds like he hasn't tried to reward or help you guys at all.
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so , basically , it will cost you time and money to sub ..??
is that how it works ..??
i'll play parties for my bandmates family crap ... but i Will be drinking and eating ..!! and it won't be more than 20 minutes from my house ..!
is that how it works ..??
i'll play parties for my bandmates family crap ... but i Will be drinking and eating ..!! and it won't be more than 20 minutes from my house ..!
I play for fun every single time. I don't charge to play music. I charge to haul my gear, set up, tear down, and haul my tired ass back.
Depends on how much "skin" you want to put in the band. Meaning, if you want to invest in the band and are volunteering your time and effort for personal reasons. I do this often.
The cost of fuel, and $50, I believe is a fair minimum. If the musician is providing sound equipment for the band, $100+. If there is a meal or not needs to be known ahead of time, you don't want a musician showing up starving, or completely out of steam when it's time for load-out. Let's face it, we've all been there. There should always be water provided.
Higher level musicians and sound people will get much more. Also, distance changes everything. A mid-level player with a reasonable stage presence from another part of the world has a mystique and style not locally available, and their "value" goes correspondingly up. And of course, it is the music act's or individual's own work on building themselves regionally that builds their market value. Historical examples show that this often happens on a "delay", such that many musicians and artists had already moved on to something else when the music business coals they left in the fire suddenly potentiate.
Most people today argue that the previously described dynamic is no longer possible, but that more of us have access to the music market creating an exponential number of "long tail" streams of income to a vastly larger number of musicians.
My current take is that this is mostly true, that it is unlikely to see culture-wide supertrends such as The Beatles or Michael Jackson. But , this is no way means there cannot be Beatles or MJs as artists, and the bottom line is that I believe more musicians are "making it" today on their own merits than before.
The "dark time" for musicians was , I believe, the time between when the Big Band scene died out, and High-speed internet, and it peaked when record labels conglomerated , and closed most access for independent musicians to demo with them. Whole generations of artists who did not have a business or marketing knack have lived and died mostly unheard. We must salute them.
And play on - Independent labels selling vinyl and CDs have always been the lifeblood of music, and so it was that the lean time trained us to be ready for the high-speed age. But again, it is a question of adaptation, and many musicians who are great do not have the array of time and skills that are outside music. So we help each out, and good Information abounds ~
holy digressions
how about $50
The cost of fuel, and $50, I believe is a fair minimum. If the musician is providing sound equipment for the band, $100+. If there is a meal or not needs to be known ahead of time, you don't want a musician showing up starving, or completely out of steam when it's time for load-out. Let's face it, we've all been there. There should always be water provided.
Higher level musicians and sound people will get much more. Also, distance changes everything. A mid-level player with a reasonable stage presence from another part of the world has a mystique and style not locally available, and their "value" goes correspondingly up. And of course, it is the music act's or individual's own work on building themselves regionally that builds their market value. Historical examples show that this often happens on a "delay", such that many musicians and artists had already moved on to something else when the music business coals they left in the fire suddenly potentiate.
Most people today argue that the previously described dynamic is no longer possible, but that more of us have access to the music market creating an exponential number of "long tail" streams of income to a vastly larger number of musicians.
My current take is that this is mostly true, that it is unlikely to see culture-wide supertrends such as The Beatles or Michael Jackson. But , this is no way means there cannot be Beatles or MJs as artists, and the bottom line is that I believe more musicians are "making it" today on their own merits than before.
The "dark time" for musicians was , I believe, the time between when the Big Band scene died out, and High-speed internet, and it peaked when record labels conglomerated , and closed most access for independent musicians to demo with them. Whole generations of artists who did not have a business or marketing knack have lived and died mostly unheard. We must salute them.
And play on - Independent labels selling vinyl and CDs have always been the lifeblood of music, and so it was that the lean time trained us to be ready for the high-speed age. But again, it is a question of adaptation, and many musicians who are great do not have the array of time and skills that are outside music. So we help each out, and good Information abounds ~holy digressions
how about $50
I play for fun at a jam just about every weekend, but what I don't do is carve out time for a bunch of extra rehearsals (ETA: make that practice instead of rehearsals) and commit to a lot of driving for those, plus a distant show where I'm bringing all my gear, when I'm not going to be compensated in any way.
I agree with those who say that not being provided food or drinks is exceedingly lame. Won't the regular guests be given those things? Or is this some sort of party where everyone's paying to attend? That's rather lame in itself, but makes it marginally more understandable.
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If I had a dollar for every time I've been asked to play for free, well...hey, wait a second...
Sounds like one of those "Wow wouldn't it be cool if...." situations. Those always turn out to be huge custerflucks. You'll probably end up doing it just to not be a dick. No one will appreciate it but you'll live lol
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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If you bow out, you do it at the risk of losing your musician friendships. Good news is, you won't be asked to do this with them again as they do future nostalgic gigs.
If I could ask a couple of questions to stimulate thought about this:
If number two is the case, the solid is for the partiers. What about the solid from the non-musicians to the musicians for all the hard work and out of pocket exense to make the dream party come true? Seems to me only the partiers get the solid and the rest is out of balance.
BTW....I have done this on more than one occasion....become the bassist of choice for musician friends, who were re-forming the old band for similar events....and have not had a single positive outcome, not even a sincere thanks. Just was privileged to sit on the outside as the social unknown, and end the experience with a hole in my pocket.
If you can swallow that with a smile on your face, go for it. I did, but after about four of these experiences, I won't do it again.
Four, you say.....I try to be a nice guy and guess I'm a slow learner in these circumstances.
If I could ask a couple of questions to stimulate thought about this:
- Did the musicians decide on their own to re-form and do this solid for their friends?....or
- Did some of their non-musician friends ask the band to get back together and do this solid?
If number two is the case, the solid is for the partiers. What about the solid from the non-musicians to the musicians for all the hard work and out of pocket exense to make the dream party come true? Seems to me only the partiers get the solid and the rest is out of balance.
BTW....I have done this on more than one occasion....become the bassist of choice for musician friends, who were re-forming the old band for similar events....and have not had a single positive outcome, not even a sincere thanks. Just was privileged to sit on the outside as the social unknown, and end the experience with a hole in my pocket.
If you can swallow that with a smile on your face, go for it. I did, but after about four of these experiences, I won't do it again.
Four, you say.....I try to be a nice guy and guess I'm a slow learner in these circumstances.
