Venting: Potential big gig ends up being a freebie

[-Asdfgh-]

Doubly funny as we did that in my last band. Anybody actually get through this?

If I did the speedway gig every song would be an original that I wrote right then:
They’re too cheap to pay us!
Hey you, give us tips!
We play for free, don’t steal our gear!
Hey you little kid: tell your mommy or daddy to give us money so our kids can eat too.
Give us $20 and we’ll slag off whoever you want in a song!

Actually the best thing would be to say “hell yeah!” (If you’re not booked)
Show up with the rinky-dinkiest PA. Wear a weird disguise outfit so nobody will recognize you afterwards. Pirates! Yar! Then Tom green the poopie out of that place. Make sure you have a bunch of band members that are really bikers.

Ah, good ways to ensure that people get to hear your band sounds awful and is unprofessional. Offers of paying gigs will flood in after that.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

All the guys in my current band are doing it for fun. We don't need the money, but we won't play for less than the going rate. Ever. If a bar or event is making more money with us being there, then we get our share, even if the going rate kinda sucks. The thing is music and other performing arts are not like any other business. People will do it for free, just to get a chance to perform. That's a reality that isn't changing.

Even though I noted I have done a few 'exposure' gigs it has been relatively rare, and mostly the charge has been some sort of 'going rate'. Exposure has often been things like smaller scale festivals that are rooted in local communities which in theory could pay something but don't have a lot to spare. One I would no longer play, though, but that's a long story!

The biggest grossing gig I insisted we turn down as I felt it was unethical. No BL, but a decision based on the collaborative band structure seeking to respect all the points of view of the members.

 

[Nunovsky]

Got contacted by a large Speedway/Racetrack, they need band(s) to play their campgrounds on Race weekends....Thurs-Sat nights. Seemed like a great gig, i love playing campgrounds on summer evenings.

• Band supplies PA, needs to be powerful enough for a large outdoor campground
• You will need to setup and tear down each day.
• Band can camp and get into the race for free.
• Oh, and your compensation is the fact that we will promote your group and you get to camp for free?

Of course I said thanks but no thanks and ended it on a positive note, they seemed to understand and offered to keep our contact should something else pop up. However part of me was highly insulted and wanted to scream back at them....this is a very large venue/event/facility that is pulling in tons of ca$h on race weekends and you want us to play for free? I bet they didn't ask anyone else to work for no pay, why is it acceptable to ask musicians to work for free? Ill have to haul in a very large, heavy and expensive PA system that needs to be set up and take down each night, you want us to play for 3 hours, we are local and have no need or interest in free "camping", and any publicity would be nearly useless........
Venting Over!

I would reply by saying that the PA needs to be rented and that it would cost $ X (X=the normal cachet that you would ask for such a gig).

 

[Mili]

Is there any Clown that works for free?! I mean nobody expects a free Clown!!! What's wrong with people!!?
This is ridiculous!
Ps:I respect Clowns.

 

[JimmyM]

Actually that isn't really true at any level of racing. Prize money never covers running and build costs for racing. The only way the teams make money is through sponsorship and endorsement deals. This is something musicians may want to take note of as music is headed the same way.

Whatever.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I would have taken it as camping is a great training exercise for homelessness.

Riis

 

[craigie]

I would have taken it as camping is a great training exercise for homelessness.

Riis

For the win.

 

[TheReceder]

When people would say, "The gig pays in exposure" My response was "Exposure is what I die from when I don't pay my rent."

That line is so good I have to steal it.

 

[dheafey]

Good for you. Too much work for nothing. I only do something like that for a great non-profit cause.

Hind sight is 20/20, your response made me think of one:

OP: Awesome! Which non-profit will the race proceeds be going to?

Promoter: Ummhhh...

OP: Thought so. Have a nice day.

 

[beaglesandbass]

I would reply by saying that the PA needs to be rented and that it would cost $ X (X=the normal cachet that you would ask for such a gig).

That’s a good approach. Gonna have to keep that in the back pocket.

 

[Chad Michael]

Don't lie, don't cheat, don't deceive.

Negotiate.

 

[GBBSbassist]

Yeah, that's definitely not a good gig arrangement.

But before we get annoyed or angry in those situations, I think we should attempt to negotiate proper pay first. I'd wager that many of the people who get stuck booking bands or live entertainment for events really has no clue what it should cost them if anything.

 

[40Hz]

I get and understand that perspective....however that approach works to drive down the market price for other musicians and bands that do care about the money. Imagine going around and doing contactor work for zero labor costs....you would put good people out of work.

Exactly. Any labor market with a glut of professionsal (i.e. paid) workers or a large presence of amateur (i.e. not paid going market rate or completely unpaid) workers will drive down the market’s overal pay rate. Basic economics.

The big difference is a glut of paid suppliers doesn’t damage the public‘s perception of the market value of the product. It’s just the classic supply/demand formula kicking in.

But a large number of suppliers that will work for free, or for token pay, does hurt the market by reducing the perceived value of the product in the buyer’s mind.

Market economics is as much about herd psychology as it is about the math.


Note: I am using the terms amateur and professional in the strictly economic sense of unpaid/under paid versus paid labor. I’m not talking or inferring anything about quality here.

 

[bassliner50]

Beware of exploitation. Of course if you choose to play for free for a worthy charity, that is something entirely different.

 

[THUNDERGODX]

That daily set-up/tear-down clause would be all I'd need to make a quick decision on that.

 

[THUNDERGODX]

That line is so good I have to steal it.

"Exposure bucks is what I use to pay for gas to go play benefits.

 

[FirewalZ]

Thanks for all the replies....I did end it on good terms, kept it professional and followed up with a good "Johnny Letter",
..."Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. Unfortunately, due to the high expense and overhead costs associated with delivering a high quality performance and sound system, we are unable to perform for no compensation at this time......"
They replied that they will keep our contact, etc, so i'm happy that at least i have a potential contact should something(that pays) comes up. Im over it now, but needed to vent and what better place than TB.....you all "get it"

 

[neddyrow]

this is why the subreddit r/choosingbeggars exists

 

[alanolynn]

Has anyone been to a racetrack with a campground? Its a drunken free-for-all. It would be one giant request for mustang sally all night long. There's no point in trying to find a serious group with serious gear when no one cares about quality entertainment at these things. You could get away with bringing a fender passport and a tape-recorded backing track. The masses would grovel at your feet as long as you could fake three chords and smile.

...extra credit for shot-gunning a beer while playing the national anthem.

 

[BluesWalker]

I played one of those in Bristol, TN. No pay but the tips more than made up for it.