...well, they didn't provide enough information to make an accounting-based decision. %s here & unknown sponsors there. WTpoop. There several other issues left totally in the dark. Half-baked management. Was it even a written contract?
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This "deal" is cockamamie. It was formulated by an idiot. Do not do any business with THIS PERSON, ever.
I have a friend who posted that someone offered his band three piece I think, $200 to drive 3 hours, bring PA and piano to play a gig. Really?
You did the right thing.
If your band has the kind of pull to make that deal work well for you, you would do better than that elsewhere. If your band is not sure to have enough pull... then you'll be essentially working for free. Now, I do play some free gigs sometimes, whether it is a charity gig or some other kind of event... but never when it is obvious I am just working to help someone else line up their pockets and I am treated like a chump.
I might feel tempted to reply with a counter-offer: I would work for a flat fee.
That's what we always offer when asked to play. Sometimes they try to appeal to your greed by saying how you could make more money if you agree to a lower fee but a bigger cut of the door or something, but we always go back to the flat fee. If they make more money, great for them... we just want that fee. It is funny the kind of replies we get. A lot of promoters are genuine and they accept without question. Some almost get offended... they're invariably the kind of promoters who just think of the money they'll make on the night and nothing else. A bit like a bar who just wants to hike up the prices of drinks to make more money on their opening night, ignoring the fact that the following weekend customers will not return.
I'm not saying making money in music is easy... but a model based on ripping off people is not a good model.
Does the municipality KNOW he's using the town bandshell as a business? Seems like bad pizza all around here, and I wouldn't be part of it.
Most municipalities run these gigs as a parks & rec opportunity or community service type of thing. That is not the same as the music business. If they want it to be a money making deal then they are competing with local venues and I would argue that is not the role of local government. They should be supporting the local businesses rather than competing with them.
I would not only tell them hell no, but I would complain to my township board.
I would not only tell them hell no, but I would complain to my township board.
At risk of not knowing all the deets, I'd vote bad deal here. Sounds like the sweat of the local bands is securing the funding for the national acts.
One main reason "business" like this continues to happen around musical events is that we musicians are mostly quiet about the contract side of gigs. I think it's largely from fear of looking silly for taking bad deals or playing for less money than others. Our silence generates a general lack of knowledge on the part of musicians.
Telling you how to run your life or career would be dumb of me since I'm not you. Risking that, I will say that it might be useful to "out" this promoter. There are simple ways of spreading the word. Post the contract on craigslist and (anonymous) social media. Ask the other bands if they got the same deal. Make certain your local city/county council rep knows this is how this promoter/organizer is handling public space concerts and why it concerns you. If you are affiliated with a musician's union, alert that union. One band saying no to this deal, doesn't push drive the snake oil salesmen out of town. It takes every, or at least most, musicians saying no. Local musicians with a high business IQs makes a stronger local scene. Good luck out there!
One main reason "business" like this continues to happen around musical events is that we musicians are mostly quiet about the contract side of gigs. I think it's largely from fear of looking silly for taking bad deals or playing for less money than others. Our silence generates a general lack of knowledge on the part of musicians.
Telling you how to run your life or career would be dumb of me since I'm not you. Risking that, I will say that it might be useful to "out" this promoter. There are simple ways of spreading the word. Post the contract on craigslist and (anonymous) social media. Ask the other bands if they got the same deal. Make certain your local city/county council rep knows this is how this promoter/organizer is handling public space concerts and why it concerns you. If you are affiliated with a musician's union, alert that union. One band saying no to this deal, doesn't push drive the snake oil salesmen out of town. It takes every, or at least most, musicians saying no. Local musicians with a high business IQs makes a stronger local scene. Good luck out there!
You supplied your own answers in the OP. It’s a government entity running the show. I won’t risk the topic or my membership with further comments.
I’m surprised by the number of comments here that imply the local government is running this. The OP seemed clear to me that this isn’t the case. It’s a public park and the town is a sponsor of the event. It isn’t an official town event. In fact, I’d bet the “sponsorship” is in just the form of waiving the park rental and permit fees and maybe supplying police/parks staff for the event. As others said, I’m sure the council and mayor don’t know—or care—the details of it. A local business applied to hold a community event, and they approved it. Everything else is between the promoter and the vendors/bands.
I've never seen a 'concert/party in the park' run like this either. Back in North East Ohio concerts in the town square gazebo are a freakin' summertime fixture and I haven't heard of a single one running like this. Sounds like the promoter is renting the gazebo on their own dime. I could be wrong about that, but something smells fishy. The way the local government made it pay back in NEO was with the concession fees and running a beer garden.
My limited experience with this is: the local government has sold this slot to a business or individual. That business or individual is now subletting or pulling the strings.
that could be true. if it is, and i were the local government, i'd make sure the entertainment, vendors and the public know it's not our show.
How in heaven’s name does the so-called “promoter” control access to a public park?!?
Hard pass, and a visit to the city council meeting, preceded by a call to the Mayor’s office.
Hard pass, and a visit to the city council meeting, preceded by a call to the Mayor’s office.
