Wants to be payed for practices

[DWBass]

And you tolerate it, for free, at rehearsals?

Just asking.

I don't rehearse anymore. I told them they're wasting my time. I do the gigs and collect my money + extra for bringing the PA. Note: This is the side band. Not my main band.

 

[DWBass]

My experience has been that some people will show up for rehearsal ready to learn songs they were supposed to already know. I show up knowing the music. If someone is going to stretch my patience there'd better be a light at the end of that rainbow.

Been there too.

 

[Ralphthepainter]

Saw your edit. The most interesting takeaway is that you seem to see the guy in your example, the OP's drummer, a fulltime musician, as not having job. It speaks volumes.


BTW I only move my own gear.

I think it could be legit. He may have a full time job as a drummer and deserve to get paid that way. But that doesn’t sound like the gig he walked into. They may both need to move on.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Tribute bands around here are serious biz. Management booking high $$ gigs at A rooms. Is this the case for your band or is it a "project"? If the latter I don't blame a pro for wanting to be comped for his time.

 

[Brad Johnson]

IN MY R&B BAND, We came across a keyboardist who was THAT guy. Unfortunately, he spread himself around so thin, we couldn't use him because we'd never know if he'd be available or not. He also had him 'minimum' fee. We couldn't afford it.

Were any of the other bands operating on a higher level? That's key.

While I worked corporate I still did some gigging. I realized that playing the SOS for $100 until 1am was not really doing anything for me. So I made a conscious decision to find out what the next level was and how to crack it. I've always been serious about never being the wink link so when I got into the agency band arena I was ready. And playing with those people lead to other opportunities. So I ended up working for a multiple of the old money for a fraction of the time. Those opportunities are here and so am I.

I had a friend who'd commute from Norfolk to the DC area for gigs. Gotta go where the work is.

IME people are either ready to step up or they're not. The OP's drummer stepped up. I ain't mad at him.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I think it could be legit. He may have a full time job as a drummer and deserve to get paid that way. But that doesn’t sound like the gig he walked into. They may both need to move on.

If not for the OP's and BL's mindset it could be.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I don't rehearse anymore. I told them they're wasting my time. I do the gigs and collect my money + extra for bringing the PA. Note: This is the side band. Not my main band.

I had to cut stuff like that loose. It can crush your spirit.

 

[DWBass]

Were any of the other bands operating on a higher level? That's key.

Yes. He would have hung with us though but we couldn't afford him. The other bands paid him his 'fee'.

 

[DWBass]

I had to cut stuff like that loose. It can crush your spirit.

I only hang because I like hanging with them (fun bunch) and I make a little extra money. I'm fulfilled by my main band. Whole nutha level!

 

[fishdreams]

Around here you basically get one rehearsal for free for a paid gig. If you need more rehearsals for your project you'll need to figure out some type of compensation

And everybody has a right to set their price. BLs discuss prices privately per musician. Just because you're 'in a band' doesn't mean everyone should get equal share.

 

[Ralphthepainter]

Around here you basically get one rehearsal for free for a paid gig. If you need more rehearsals for your project you'll need to figure out some type of compensation

And everybody has a right to set their price. BLs discuss prices privately per musician. Just because you're 'in a band' doesn't mean everyone should get equal share.

Man talk about a kill joy and loss of camaraderie. I’m no pro. But I do love music. I love being part of the sum. I’m glad I’m not a pro and start to think less of others and what they contribute.
I sing lead vocals, guitar, do all PA, load in and load out. Book and collect. I split equal and have no problem with it. Can’t imagine thinking I’m a bigger piece of what people enjoy.

 

[2F/2F]

A good musician is worth that, and we all deserve that, if we are truly playing at a pro level. His rates are not unreasonable in the slightest, nor is it out of the ordinary for a professional musician to get paid for a practice. He is charging under scale for a practice and a gig, and isn't even asking for cartage fees for the gig (which drummers should get). If you can't afford it, find someone cheaper, or find a way to make more money as a band. The simple fact of the matter is that most bands don't get paid enough to pay their musicians scale, but they play anyhow. But to do that and then whine that they can't afford to pay professionals what they should be getting paid? Nope. Come on. Can't blame this guy for refusing to do that, and you haven't got a leg to stand on to complain about it. If you can't meet his very reasonable rates, don't complain and don't criticize the guy for having strict standards for his own professional self worth. Simply find someone cheaper. It's as simple as that.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Certainly at the pro level, paid rehearsals are common.

I was in one band that required a 90 minute drive one way to reharsals. The BL (whom I had played with before) wanted weekly rehearsals and didn't have a lot of gigs lined up. Gas was very expensive then and I told him since everybody else was within 10 minutes of the rehearsal space, I was the only one burning 6 gallons of gas plus tolls. He agreed to pay me $25 per rehearsal.

I was once asked to do a single gig with a singer songwriter. The gig was only going to pay $50 and she wanted me to rehearse (3 gallons of gas plus tolls), so I told her I needed $25 for rehearsal. I found out the location of the gig was in an area where I would need to park in a garage or lot so asked for $25 to cover parking as well. So I got $100 total. I wasn't about to waste all of the pay on parking, gas and tolls.

That's the dirty little secret. Everything you have to pay for...

you have to pay for. Some act like they don't realize it. In many cases it could cost you money to gig. Like the five rehearsal on the other side of the Beltway $100 gig I was offered. Thanks but no.

 

[lat]

Definitely a gap in expectations of the band vs the drummer... Communication is key.

 

[Brad Johnson]

In case you're serious (I think not, but I've been wrong before), I'll point out that plumbing is probably never fun, while music almost always is. That's how and why the lines got blurred in the first place. Not saying right or wrong, just that's my observation.

Exactly. We PLAY instruments. Who gets paid to PLAY something?

Then I see a $30,000,000 three year baseball contract and I burst into tears.

 

[Manticore]

That's the crazy thing about this. On a "regular" job that sounds nuts. But even musicians don't treat this like a job. That's the big failure I've seen for decades in this business. People treat it like it's a clubhouse gang or fraternity or charity.

Right? Many call it "show business." Best to attack the "business" part with the same dedication as the "show" part or prepare to be rewarded accordingly. It's actually a fairly simple concept to grasp.

 

[LBS-bass]

Exactly. We PLAY instruments. Who gets paid to PLAY something?

Then I see a $30,000,000 three year baseball contract and I burst into tears.

Yeah, apparently we all ended up with the wrong talent. Oh, well.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Right? Many call it "show business." Best to attack the "business" part with the same dedication as the "show" part or prepare to be rewarded accordingly. It's actually a fairly simple concept to grasp.

Exactly! Unfortunately many of us suck at the business portion of the equation.

Take it as seriously as you would another job and chances are things will change for the better.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Hey all. I have been playing steady in the PHX area since ‘98, so it’s saying something when I say that this is a new one for me. I joined this “ Killers “ tribute band and we have been auditioning drummers for the last month or so. Had a drummer audition last Sunday, dude came prepared and pretty much nailed everything. Had a great conversation with him afterwords and he really liked what we were doing and wanted to be part of it. Sent him on his way and we all agreed that we should continue on with him, BL said he would call him the next day to offer him the position. Got a call from the BL the next day after he talked to this guy and he said the drummer had some “ conditions “. Come to find out, playing drums is all he does for making money and his “ conditions “ are, he wants a minimum of $150 a gig and expects to be payed $75 per practice for gas money. Like stated earlier, I have doing this a loooong time, been in many high/low profile bands and I have never heard of or expected to be payed for practicing! Many of my projects required a travel time of 45-60min and I never once felt like I should be payed to travel for practice, The $150 a gig is another thing that annoyed me, if we do not make $150 per member at a gig, tough ***** dude, we all take the time and effort per gig, and we all deserve an equal share. I expressed my concerns with BL and after a long conversation, he kind of agreed. The BL thinks that drummer is just trying to see what he can get out of us and is going to call him and express our concerns over his “ conditions “, basically calling his bluff. I think that drummer was good, but not that good. Have any of you guys/gals heard or experience this??

Imo asking to get paid for rehearsal for a local band is nice way of saying he’s not really that interested in the gig.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Yeah, apparently we all ended up with the wrong talent. Oh, well.

Yeah, because there are pro athletes who wish they were musicians.