do you guys tip your house-supplied sound guys? i have before, but my current band feels that the soundman is typically making more than we take per guy... so why bother. i can see both sides, but was curious what you guys thought? our best nights are maybe $1200 to the band, but split among 7 guys, and subtracting band-expenses... i might take $120 on a good night. figure the soundman is making similar (and more on the weaker nights).
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tips (cash) for live sound engineers?
- Thread starter hgregs
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buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Depends on how much we got paid, and whether we want to play there again. Even a few bucks, or a plate of nachos if he is hungry, can help.
I'll tip an attentive / GOOD soundguy, especially if i work with them alot.
Just a few bucks, buy them a beer, whatever. I do it individually, but no harm in that OR in involving the band- a little goes a LONG way
FWIW in most bars and clubs, its OBVIOUS if the place is set up to pay the sound guy much at all.
and finally- if you made tips, the soundguy helped.
Just like I would occasionally get tips from servers when I cooked- if i did a good enough job, it would happen occasionally. Dont we work MUCH closer and put more trust in sound guys?
Just a few bucks, buy them a beer, whatever. I do it individually, but no harm in that OR in involving the band- a little goes a LONG way
FWIW in most bars and clubs, its OBVIOUS if the place is set up to pay the sound guy much at all.
and finally- if you made tips, the soundguy helped.
Just like I would occasionally get tips from servers when I cooked- if i did a good enough job, it would happen occasionally. Dont we work MUCH closer and put more trust in sound guys?
If the sound engineer did a really good job and was easy to get along with, there is no reason not to throw him a $10 / $20 at the end of the night. But I would make it a true gratuity, not to be given just because someone showed up and did their job adequately, but saved for those that really made things awesome, and did so in an awesome way.
Also, is it possible to get away from the term "soundman"? I am usually not terribly PC, but I've worked with enough female sound engineers (and one of them is the best engineer I've ever had the privilege of working with - we bought her a nice bottle of wine the last gig we did with her) that the gender-neutral "sound engineer" or SE feels like a better option going forward. "Sound woman" just doesn't ring that will for me, and then when speaking generally, you have to use both terms. Ok, this is TB, so you will ignore me, I accept that ahead of time.
Also, is it possible to get away from the term "soundman"? I am usually not terribly PC, but I've worked with enough female sound engineers (and one of them is the best engineer I've ever had the privilege of working with - we bought her a nice bottle of wine the last gig we did with her) that the gender-neutral "sound engineer" or SE feels like a better option going forward. "Sound woman" just doesn't ring that will for me, and then when speaking generally, you have to use both terms. Ok, this is TB, so you will ignore me, I accept that ahead of time.
Fat Steve
The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Yes. Even if it is only $20 or a beer, the sound engineer will appreciate the gesture. Well, they'll usually appreciate the gesture.
What do you do when the sound man works for the bar, and does the booking too? He is not only being paid by the bar, but is the one that determines what the band is paid.
He probably gets free food and drinks already, and throwing him a $20 seams like too little. But the whole band is making less than $100 a head already.
He probably gets free food and drinks already, and throwing him a $20 seams like too little. But the whole band is making less than $100 a head already.
The soundman at the bar up the street is a woman. IIRC she introduced herself as "the soundman". My aunt has been an actor (rather than actress) since about 1980. If you're speaking generally, just be authentic and avoid phrases like "soundmanorwomanorpersonofalternategenderrole" just to be PC. If you're worried, just say something like "is soundman ok?". Problem solved.
I'm glad this came up, we just played a big event with house supplied sound. The guy was super nice and friendly, tweaked things just right for my in ear monitors, stayed at the board more often than not. We got paid fifty bucks less than we usually do at that venue so we didn't tip him. Maybe next big event we have we'll hire him, instead of running sound ourselves, and double tip him then.
Are you referring to a sound man who is hired and brings/sets up/ breaks down his own system?? If so..........NO! He's making anywhere between $300-$600 or more depending on gig/venue/event. Just my opinion through my experience.
I was at an Event planning office for work . . . they do some of the very biggest events in town, so I asked them if bands are expected to tip the sound engineer. They said they could think of a few examples in the past years where they gave tips, but the band wouldn't be expected to.
our friday gig starts at seven, so rather than rush out from our day jobs to set up the PA we're hiring the same soundguy who ran the event last weekend. Hiring someone again is the best tip I can imagine.
our friday gig starts at seven, so rather than rush out from our day jobs to set up the PA we're hiring the same soundguy who ran the event last weekend. Hiring someone again is the best tip I can imagine.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Every situation is different. If you are getting $100/ player, I think a drink or something similar is fine. He knows what you are getting paid. Just something that shows you appreciate him works.
This came up recently and I think I posted the same thing in that thread:
Because I play exclusively in originals bands at the dive bar level I find the concept completely ludicrous since I'll be lucky to take home at the end of the night what the sound guy makes in an hour.
But then I've also never heard of a "venue" that didn't have its own PA, which is another ludicrous thing people talk about on these boards with regularity.
Because I play exclusively in originals bands at the dive bar level I find the concept completely ludicrous since I'll be lucky to take home at the end of the night what the sound guy makes in an hour.
But then I've also never heard of a "venue" that didn't have its own PA, which is another ludicrous thing people talk about on these boards with regularity.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Places that are dedicated to music or other live acts generally have their own PAs, but many bars/clubs do not, and that is where many of us weekend warriors do a lot of gigging. Believe me, I would love to play places that have their own PA/backline every gig, but we are not all that lucky.
And the sound guy is between you and the crowd soundwise - for that reason, if he does a good job, and I will be working with him again, some token of appreciation is always appreciated. Never mind he may be talking to the owner, and that may determine how often you are asked back. But to each his own.
And the sound guy is between you and the crowd soundwise - for that reason, if he does a good job, and I will be working with him again, some token of appreciation is always appreciated. Never mind he may be talking to the owner, and that may determine how often you are asked back. But to each his own.
I suppose I'm closer to "weekend warrior" than "professional" - like I said I play primarily at the bar/club level and have done so all up and down the West coast and once across the country. Outside of the most DIY punk hole-in-the-wall places, I've never heard of an establishment booking shows without a PA.
Generally, you tip professions who would be making poopie money without it. By that logic, the soundguy should be tipping me.
Generally, you tip professions who would be making poopie money without it. By that logic, the soundguy should be tipping me.
I've yet to meet a soundguy who had anything to do with booking.
That being said, I am always sure to say "thanks for helping us sound great" and shake hands at the end of the night, and if I like the guy I'll often get him a drink.
