Why didn't you guys get your share in hand that night?
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So the bar "overpaid" us...
- Thread starter Bass Man Dan
- Start date
Why didn't you guys get your share in hand that night?
I would have assumed it were a mistake. What if that missing $100 wasn't part of the pay? This mistake might have cost someone's livelihood.
Its pretty common to have a low tier 100-a-man minimum, and then give the preferred bands an extra 100 or more. I suspect someone got confused, and you got the 2nd tier pay, or they thought you had one more member than actual. Or, it *might* have been a tip, but that usually comes with compliments and new bookings.
In other news, I happened upon an old-style carnival on July 4th a few years ago with my family. We took our two daughters on the Ferris Wheel.
They were a couple cars ahead of us. When we got off, I found out one of them found $20 in their car, and she was nice enough to let the carnie know she'd found it. He promised to make sure it got back to its rightful owner.
They were a couple cars ahead of us. When we got off, I found out one of them found $20 in their car, and she was nice enough to let the carnie know she'd found it. He promised to make sure it got back to its rightful owner.
I'd have reacted the same as the OP, not because of the $100, but because of the what the singer did. That's not his own money, it's the band's money..or intended to be the band's money by whoever gave that $100... so he has no right to do what he did.
If we have an agreed upon price, and the bar overpays us or shorts us, I will ALWAYS bring it to the bar owner/bar manager/bartenders attention. We're a decent band and we make pretty good money, and we have a great reputation as being an honest bunch of guys that are easy to deal with. I won't jeopardize that for a few bucks. If the bar overpays you intentionally, they'll let let you know. If it was an accident, they'll think you guys are heroes for sticking to the agreement and not stealing money from them. The one thing I also won't ever do, which your singer did, is not tell the rest of the band about something that involves money. We fired a guitar player for doing that.
Bottom line, he was right to take the money back to the bar, but he screwed up by not telling you guys. I'd have a come-to-Jeezus talk with him about the consequences of money and not communicating with the rest of the band about said money...
Bottom line, he was right to take the money back to the bar, but he screwed up by not telling you guys. I'd have a come-to-Jeezus talk with him about the consequences of money and not communicating with the rest of the band about said money...
Having a reputation for honesty and fair dealing is worth far more than $100. Maybe he should have consulted the band before going back to the bar to see if it was a mistake, but he did the right thing. If you never want to play there again and know you'll never interact with any of the staff there, sure, you could have pocketed it and said nothing. But this was a safer course of action.
Unless you're certain it's a tip, be honest, you will gain respect, not lose it. Just say 'thanks for the tip', and even if it was a mistake they might let it go. If you don't mention it, when the bar is short $100, someone may well get their a$$ kicked, and then they realise they've overpaid the band, it doesn't exactly generate goodwill.
- Oct 18, 2012
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If they gave you an extra $100 without intending to, your lead singer did the right thing by returning the money. Sounds like you're the type of person who when a cashier in a store accidentally gives you too much money back, you keep it without giving any consideration to the fact that the cashier might be written up or terminated. Can you say "Craftsman"?
yes, because being honest is no way to go through life.
you sound like a tool if you think it is OK to take extra $$$ by mistake. you "think" it was a tip, but are not sure. the only right thing to do is ask and return money if it was a mistake.
worse case is you have a gig location for a long time
Not the same. If someone made incorrect change, that's a clear mistake. My position on this is it was a tip. Had to have been. Why would someone with the bar give you $100 separately? It was a tip. He gave it back.
I am sure the bar was happy though.
who knows? the correct and honest thing to do was to ask and return if it was a mistake.
We played a private party last year and all five of us were to receive $100 each. The host gave the cash to our drummer (who had arranged the gig) and as we were cleaning up, the drummer gave us each our allotment. A few minutes later, the host came up to me and handed me a hundred dollar bill. I said "oh, that's ok, Dave already paid us." He said "I know, but I'd like to give each of you another hundred."
They really liked the band. We're scheduled to play for them again this fall.
They really liked the band. We're scheduled to play for them again this fall.
My feeling is you call it a band because you operate as a unit. Which means good communications, no bad surprises, and everyone on the same page.
Having a band member go off and do his own thing with money coming into the band is problematic. Especially if he’s as clueless as your guy seems to be. Because he’s tipping someone on a split? Seriously? Who in their right mind would think of doing that. Unless…it actually was an overpayment, and the venue split it with him for being honest. Doesn’t explain the tip however. But whatever. The bigger issue is him going off on his own without consulting the rest of the band as you said in your first post.
I think you need to clarify what limits and responsibilities your BL holds if your singer is acting as your BL. Because BLs come in two flavors.
There’s the informal BL who speaks and acts on behalf of the band.
And there’s the formal BL who speaks and acts for the band.
The informal BL is a spokesperson and bagman. But at the end of the day, he or she is still just another band member. “First among equals” to use an old phrase. These BLs are in a relationship. And like with any good relationship, important things need to be discussed and agreed on by all the parties involved before action gets taken.
The formal BL is The Boss. Period. He or she isn’t just another band member. They are “the band.” They own the name. They get the work. They pay the bills. Everybody else is “in the band” is their employee and doesn’t need to be consulted about money, bookings, PR, or management decisions.
So if your singer is acting as your informal BL, you’ll all need to all sit down and discuss limits and responsibilities. And if you’re in a band that doesn’t really have a designated BL, the time has come for your band to sit down and do a little structuring.
Luck!
Having a band member go off and do his own thing with money coming into the band is problematic. Especially if he’s as clueless as your guy seems to be. Because he’s tipping someone on a split? Seriously? Who in their right mind would think of doing that. Unless…it actually was an overpayment, and the venue split it with him for being honest. Doesn’t explain the tip however. But whatever. The bigger issue is him going off on his own without consulting the rest of the band as you said in your first post.
I think you need to clarify what limits and responsibilities your BL holds if your singer is acting as your BL. Because BLs come in two flavors.
There’s the informal BL who speaks and acts on behalf of the band.
And there’s the formal BL who speaks and acts for the band.
The informal BL is a spokesperson and bagman. But at the end of the day, he or she is still just another band member. “First among equals” to use an old phrase. These BLs are in a relationship. And like with any good relationship, important things need to be discussed and agreed on by all the parties involved before action gets taken.
The formal BL is The Boss. Period. He or she isn’t just another band member. They are “the band.” They own the name. They get the work. They pay the bills. Everybody else is “in the band” is their employee and doesn’t need to be consulted about money, bookings, PR, or management decisions.
So if your singer is acting as your informal BL, you’ll all need to all sit down and discuss limits and responsibilities. And if you’re in a band that doesn’t really have a designated BL, the time has come for your band to sit down and do a little structuring.
Luck!
I could be wrong, but I think that the same people who are OK with taking money that was given to them by mistake would cry like babies if the situation were reversed.
