meal and drink tickets are unconditional. it would be a big bummer if they ever weren’t. i do however reserve the right to limit public access to the backstage beer bucket if there happens to be one. “hey hey those are for tha band!!”
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Taboo or Not - Giving Your Free Beverage to Someone Else!
- Thread starter CoffeeLove
- Start date
I rarely played anywhere the band could drink free, except for Cokes or coffee, etc. I usually had an arrangement with the bartenders that if someone bought the band a round I wanted 'Jack and Coke', and they 'd send me a Coke, looked the same.
I had a steady gig at a lounge that was attached to a great 24hr Diner, and part of the pay was a free meal after the gig each night. Trying to not wear out my welcome, I'd order pretty modestly, until the owner took me by the arm and said he appreciated it, but really, go ahead order whatever you want, it's on me.
I got to admit steak and shrimp beats a cheese omelette by a lot.
I might have very occasionally got mine for somebody else, but I always believed it was a benefit for me and not transferable.
I had a steady gig at a lounge that was attached to a great 24hr Diner, and part of the pay was a free meal after the gig each night. Trying to not wear out my welcome, I'd order pretty modestly, until the owner took me by the arm and said he appreciated it, but really, go ahead order whatever you want, it's on me.
I got to admit steak and shrimp beats a cheese omelette by a lot.
I might have very occasionally got mine for somebody else, but I always believed it was a benefit for me and not transferable.
all the time, I give them to friends, family, girls, guys, first person to come up and say, "Hey I really like XX song you played!" Same with meals, I'll give them to just about anyone.
If the venue comps drinks and I don’t want them, I don’t give them away. I usually only have one, occasionally two beers. I think it’s unethical for me to keep going back for more and then give them away. We’re talking about the livelihood of the pub owner. The whole reason I’m there is to sell drinks for the venue. I have no illusions that those people are there just to hear me play. So my answer is yes, it’s taboo to give them to someone else.
I wouldn’t give it to some random person, but if I really didn’t want a free beer (which is unheard of for me) I’d just ask for a soda instead.
That stinks, you guys must be in a "band-heavy" area. We have a decent amount of bands in our area in relation to venues, but about 90% of them play the 60's, 70's, with a splash of 80's classic rock. So any band that is solid and plays 80's, 90's, and 2000's rock & dance tend to get the better paying venues. It's not much, but our 4 piece won't play for less than $400, and we usually stick to the better spots that have solid tipping customers. We are just weekend warriors but feel the 5+ hours we spend is worth more than beer, but it's cool, to each their own.
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Every situation is different. But as a rule, no. Some other bands around town have a bad reputation because of this sort of cheeky stuff. The staff at venues aren’t too fond of it as a rule. Even when using our own rider/privileges I tend to be very discreet and respectful.
If you’re being paid fairly for the gig and the free drinks are just kind of a courtesy you have no business giving them to someone else. If you’re not thirsty then don’t ask for a free drink. The venue hired you to draw people in to buy lots of drinks, not to give out their merchandise for free.
It's just perspective I guess. My wife does not take up several "paying customer" seats, and usually just hangs for a bit. But it matters not, it's cool to hear different perspectives
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Taboo? No. Poor form? Possibly. A bad look for your business? Undoubtedly! You do realize the business arethat paying you uses the money they make from selling drinks and food to pay you, and future employment is going to be based on how much they make from food and drinks?
Unless it in the contract, I wouldn't give comped food even to my wife.
My choice is
-There is no such thing as a free beverage
comped is not free, that is your earned; COMPensated beverage. Do with it as you please.
-There is no such thing as a free beverage
comped is not free, that is your earned; COMPensated beverage. Do with it as you please.
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It's just perspective I guess. My wife does not take up several "paying customer" seats, and usually just hangs for a bit. But it matters not, it's cool to hear different perspectives
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In a previous band I gave mine to the drummer but then he got sloppy and we had to fire him. In my current band I give mine to our sound guy because he isnt considered a member of the band by the venues and doesnt get any. I dont drink but consider it part of the comp. It IS a bit of bad form to give them away to audience members. If the band gets 8 or 10 drink tickets they are fair game for anyone in the group.
Well, there are plenty of bands, but it's also a university town, which means there are a lot of music school students willing to play for free beer. The old timers know better and have a pretty good ethic about it, but there's plenty of college kids who don't care - they just want to play and drink. I've been a freelancer for 15 years and the real pros only deal with money. That doesn't stop the venues from offering "free" beer as payment. It's a sore point.
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It's never come up. Probably because I only ever order one beer for the first set, which lasts me into the third. I don't care if it's warm, it helps me hit some high notes.
