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Volunteer Gigs?

bassbully

bassbully

Endorsed by The PHALEX CORN BASS..mmm...corn!
Sep 7, 2006
12,760
6,556
Blimp City USA
#1
Today I got a reply on a big event in our City that even has prize money for those who compete but all the bands who play for those attending are to volunteer their time?
The event has a bunch of bands already signed up. My area does suck for music venues and decent gigs but I'm getting a little sick of these large sponsored events that expect bands and musicians to perform for free...for the PR $$$ :rollno:

We were asked to play another large Green Day type event this year that was charging per person to get in. They also asked all bands to volunteer their time. My band is not all about money and does not charge enough when we do get paying gigs ..that's for sure. We just need to cover costs etc.

My band does enjoy playing benefit shows and even those who pay we always cut them a break since they are fund raisers etc. We even offered our time and played a city festival this year for free in the arts district that was a blast just to support this area of the city. We are not about the money but when i see big Corp ran events with enty fees, prize money etc, its starting to get me upset. Do you have this in your area or is this becoming an issue? I know you can just say "No" to them but some of these events are the largest in the city with thousands of people.The other thing is they always get allot of bands that will play for free and even have to turn some away :rolleyes:
 
#2
Man thats a tough one.

Exposure vs. Costs/Time/and dare I say profit .....

Does your band have any CD's or t-shirts or other schwag? If you have the goodies for people to take home you could maybe make some money off of the merch but it all depends on the rules of the event. If nothing else get a stack of business cards made to hand out at the event for future bookings.

It's fun to play the big shows but eventually your band needs its own time and space to build up a following. Do a couple of events but I wouldn't make it the usual gig. Don't sell yourself or your band short. It takes a lot of time and money to develop a successful band and you should be compensated for your art.

If it's a corporate sponsored event THEY are making money off of the tickets and other merchandise they're selling. They are essentially milking all of the bands for whatever they can get away with. Exposure is nice for a band but eventually, even if you guys aren't all about the money, you need to get reembursed for your talent and time.
 
#3
In this area, at least, these things tend to ebb and flow.

There are some years where venues expect local bands to always play for free. Or everyoneandtheirmother sets up benifit shows.

It's a VERY case by case scenerio. Use your best discression and don't feel bad to say 'NO' if it's not worth your time and effort to play the gig(s).

+1 to having merch available. It helps. Especially Vinyl... it seems these days vinyl is the only thing bands can really make money off of. No one buys CDs and things like stickers and shirts you almost have to charge the same price it cost you to make them just to sell them.

In any case, good luck!!
 
#4
I have nothing against volunteering my time for a benefit here or there to try and help someone out.

I've had more than my fill of playing big events "For the exposure".

People freaking die from exposure.
 
#6
People freaking die from exposure.[/QUOTE]

:D That's funny stuff right there. I get PO'ed when I see big Corp sponsored events with entry fee's the whole nine yards and the event planners etc act like they are doing you a HUGE favor letting you play for free. Yeah right ..we give away our time and talent for what?
Benefit gigs are a whole different story all together. Any event that charges per head to get in should pay a band expenses at least.

I guess the "Exposure" thing and playing in front of a big crowd is their way of giving you something. For now on I am using Phalex's quote when they ask us to play for free and for the exposure we will get :rollno:
 
#8
Are you talking about the marathon race? Don't they just set you up at some random place along the route and you play for the runners? I don't even see how you'd get any 'exposure' from that. The runners aren't paying attention to the band name or anything.
 
#9
edhead said:
Are you talking about the marathon race? Don't they just set you up at some random place along the route and you play for the runners? I don't even see how you'd get any 'exposure' from that. The runners aren't paying attention to the band name or anything.
Click to expand...

Yes, they also have music stationed downtown at the lock etc. They even offered us to play at the DIY block parties they help people set up :rollno: I think the music is more for the followers of the race and by-standers. This race pulls in big money and has corp sponsors and prize money yet pays the bands nothing...no thanks.

They are not the only ones. We talked to several events in the area and beyond this past year that asked you to pay for the almighty exposure dollars.
 
#11
Too many bands who consider playing "for the exposure" consider only quantity of exposure: i.e. How many spectators will be there? - but not the quality of exposure: i.e. How high a profile will your band have? What day & time of day will it perform? For how long? In what specific area of the venue? What possible restrictions - on material, merchandising, stagecraft, etc. - will apply? And so on and so forth...

To determine whether the gig will be at all worthwhile for you, you really need to have all the facts - preferably in an ironclad contract - so that you can conduct a thorough evaluation. My guess is most events such as these aren't really about providing that kind of information to the bands - to them you're considered a commodity.

If you're competing against more than a handful of other bands for this precious visibility - and especially if you've been dealt a less than desirable place in the venue or less than desirable day/time in the schedule - the poor quality of your exposure could easily undermine the otherwise decent quantity of the exposure. In the long run, you're far better off blazing your own trail - especially so you're the only band on the bill, or at least the headliner or the opening act... :hmm:

MM
 
#12
MNAirHead said:
The absolute waste of gig time is volunteering at coffee shops.. ..
Click to expand...

Hummm..dont quite agree there. In my area we have a few and when we tuck in during the winter and play a couple we always have good turn outs sell CDs and make decent money thru tips. A few shops even give us some pay (lthough small)and we get the rest thru tips,cd's. We like the gigs and have made many new fans and friends thru them.
My band's main focus spring thru fall is festivals so we grab the inside "warm shows" and we have a few nice coffee bars that offer some of the best musicians in the area even touring artists.

To be honest we have made more money and fans thru a couple of Coffee shop gigs than doing a public event volunteering our time to folks doing something else not paying attention to the band at all.
 
#13
I am directly involved in organizing numerous regional festivals and events. All the bands are paid for them and given tons of advertising exposure as part of the event and no musicians or other performers are asked to perform for free. The events look at the bands and other entertainment as drawing cards to get more people to attend the events.
 
#14
My last band did one for Easter Seals, it was cool because they provided top notch sound, engineers and lighting.

However, in the future I would really dig in to the event top dog, make sure the media will cover it and you will get some footage on the local news.
 
#15
HAH! This happened here recently. Some lady in the communications department at my university decided she wanted to put together this HUGE 3-day event "for peace." This included contests, food, prizes, etc etc and a slew of live music. I think that 8-9 local groups were contacted. The lady didn't know quite what she was doing, because when the issue of money came up, she dodged the issue saying things like "...you'll get your money...proceeds go to fund next year...yaddayadda...sell enough t-shirts etc then we can pay you."

um, wat :eyebrow: She apparently expected 700 people to come (more like 50 methinks), and wanted to pay us down the road once fundraising had paid for next years event. :rollno: Also, since there were so many groups originally scheduled in a small window of time, every band was expected to play for 15 minutes. :rollno:

I'm all for peace and everything, but I don't usually play for free, I work too hard for that. Turns out the entire event flopped because of poor planning (go figure).
 
#16
And, when you are asked to play gratis, then have the venue / booker sign a donation of time and services statement, which you then turn around and deduct from taxes.

Even if the band is not a business entity, tell the freeloaders that they will need to sign a donation of time and services statement. If they won't do it, then you do not want to be working with them.
 
#17
This kind of thing has been discussed so many times here. It deserves a sticky!

My short answer would be: Don't do it!!!

If other people are making money on a gig, regardless of what kind of gig it is, then you should have a share of it. It's a basic principle of what is RIGHT.

Sure, you can sell T Shirts or other merchandise, but that's just a bonus.

The truth of it is, bands are on, the event has promoted itself as having bands on, so you are all or part of the attraction, and as such should be compensated.

If it's a benefit, that's another story. But if anyone's making money, then it should be fair.

In a perfect world where money didn't matter, everyone was lovely, nothing cost any money, we all lived to 700 and never had to work, I'd play for nowt.

We all love to play, and these 'promoters' know and exploit it big time, especially young acts. This makes me quite cross!

I would not expect a builder or a plumber or whatever to work for nothing. It's immoral. So why should musicians?

In the past the 'exposure' gigs I've done have ALL been a waste of time as far a getting more or better gigs.
 
#18
I know this has been covered before and I didn't want to beat the old dead horse. Why do you think these events feel that musicians and bands will play for free? Why do they have no guilt in asking us to perform for free when they are paying for other services,security,lighting,tents,food etc?

Do they really think the exposure gimmick works anymore or does it?
 

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