My negotiation is to sit down and eat with the guests.. nothing more, nothing less. If it's a buffet, we'll fend for ourselves when our table is called. If it's table service, then we receive table service.
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What's with Caterers?
- Thread starter ElectrAcoustic
- Start date
I have to agree with the OP. If he can get food as part of payment or free from the wedding party/business party. Why not. We are people. BUT....
I haven't read the whole thread so I'm sorry if this has been said already.
I've worked at delis all though Junior High School through College. One lesson I will teach you, be kind to the people serving you food. I've seen some pretty nasty things done to some deserving annoyances.
I'm not saying you're an annoyance but:
I'm pretty sure "or something" was done.
Thankfully not.. that was at the end of the night load out... but it's a good point you're making.. I do go out of my way to be kind and courteous. That's one of the main reasons I'm taken aback by the attitude we get when we get it..
Now that was the most intelligent response yet.. Though we're far from "prima donnas".. The fact that these caterers would resent me sitting down to the meal is ridiculous.
I'm guessing that the party-throwers aren't properly communicating with the caterers and informing them that you are "invited guests."
Despite your stance on the subject, bands are HIRED HELP. You are being paid to do a job. You are at work at a gig. Whether you need the money or not, you are an employee. You, however, expect to be treated as a guest, which is quite uncommon. Most bands know better, and I'm guessing that the indignance you're showing here is evident during these little episodes as well.
I'm in a band of working professionals. None of us need to play in a band to make money. None of us need to gig. Yet, when we are hired to play private parties, we follow the rules laid out by the employer. If they prefer for us to eat in the back, then we eat in the back. If they prefer to not serve us (snicker) lobster, then we don't eat lobster. None of us have a chip on our shoulders, so we don't get indignant when we don't get treated like invited guests.
Despite your stance on the subject, bands are HIRED HELP. You are being paid to do a job. You are at work at a gig. Whether you need the money or not, you are an employee. You, however, expect to be treated as a guest, which is quite uncommon. Most bands know better, and I'm guessing that the indignance you're showing here is evident during these little episodes as well.
I'm in a band of working professionals. None of us need to play in a band to make money. None of us need to gig. Yet, when we are hired to play private parties, we follow the rules laid out by the employer. If they prefer for us to eat in the back, then we eat in the back. If they prefer to not serve us (snicker) lobster, then we don't eat lobster. None of us have a chip on our shoulders, so we don't get indignant when we don't get treated like invited guests.
Most caterers are cool, they are just there to do a job same as you. Maybe your band gives off an attitude when walking in like "we are to be treated like the guests", not as employees. Maybe they don't want to take the chance of a musician with gear knocking something over that they have been there setting up hours before the musician even shows up.
Or maybe they are just angry that you banged the bride weeks before when her Bachlorette party showed up at the bar that you were playing.
Or maybe they are just angry that you banged the bride weeks before when her Bachlorette party showed up at the bar that you were playing.
Nah. I play weddings and other catered events all around the Boston area and 9 times out of 10 the caterers area very nice to work with and very friendly.
We always have food plans in detail in our contract. What we're eating, when we're eating it, and where. We also include a fee that gets added to the bill if food is not provided. It's just like overtime fees, etc.
Here's the thing though with food: If things aren't working out with the food/caterers, you have to take care of it yourself. These things happen often at weddings. The bride and groom are busy and forgot to add you to their contract with the caterers. That's why you add the no-food-fee to your contract. The professional thing to do is feed yourself and address the situation after the gig with the people who signed the contract. You just have to take what you can get and deal with it later.
Now the thing about not being able to load in how you want; that's pretty typical. Most places have loading procedures. Very standard. I'm surprised that the caterers would give you $hit for it though? I wonder why they would care? It is usually a manager at the facility that get on your case about that stuff.
It's understandable to me. While caterers, bar tenders, and musicians are all 'hired help' at these sorts of private events, it's only the musician's who get nice long breaks (usually), who many times can eat and have cocktails at the bar while they are working, etc.
In my many years of doing privates, this has always caused some friction between the more traditional hired help, and the musicians, who really are hired help, but many times don't have to behave as such.
That being said, it's rare that this has ever caused a problem in my experience.
In my many years of doing privates, this has always caused some friction between the more traditional hired help, and the musicians, who really are hired help, but many times don't have to behave as such.
That being said, it's rare that this has ever caused a problem in my experience.
Perhaps the OP goes into these situations with bad vibes...then his bad vibes hit the caterers. So they act all bad and ****....so they get served bandwiches...I would be more upset if I didn't get beer on the job. And carrots. Yeah.
mjolnir2730 said:
zac2944 said:
I'll second zac's statement and say it must be a New England thing.
We were no GB band, but we did plenty of weddings and functions. Some pretty upscale stuff too. New Port Yachting Center, Tennis Hall of Fame, Police Award Banquets, etc.
For the most part there was a "band table" negotiated in with the deal and we usually ate with the guest. Others were buffet style and we were always told when the food was ready.
I can only remember having trouble getting food at one catered private party. It too was a surf and turf (lobster and steak) kind of thing. We didn't get a table, and were told they had run out of lobster and steak, but the caterers did what they could to feed us. Never got the impression the caterers were holding out on us and they seemed to go out of there way to get us all a plate.
All in all those type of gigs are easier and pay better so I always thought of a meal as more of a perk. Never had a problem with the other hired help.
Has anyone ever given a shout out to the caterer on the PA. They might just hurl like 80lbs of lobster at ya!
Well, I plan and manage events just like you are talking about for a hotel and have worked many catering jobs in the past here and at other places. I have to say that I have never, and I mean never, seen a band at an event sit down at a table with the guests and be served. If you can negotiate that, more power to you, but you are definitely in the minority.
Caterers and meeting planners spend many hours planning out a setup for a room and like many have already said, plan for a certain amount of guests and tables. If your client planned for you great, but that's not a normal thing and definitely not something I would demand. I had a group with a band this past weekend and they specified that the band eat in a different room and have a cheaper meal. No one seemed to have a problem with this. I have found that this is the norm and not the exception.
I really am a little incredulous that you normally eat with the guests. It just seems like it would rub the guests the wrong way unless you are friends with the wedding party, but if it works, do it.
Caterers and meeting planners spend many hours planning out a setup for a room and like many have already said, plan for a certain amount of guests and tables. If your client planned for you great, but that's not a normal thing and definitely not something I would demand. I had a group with a band this past weekend and they specified that the band eat in a different room and have a cheaper meal. No one seemed to have a problem with this. I have found that this is the norm and not the exception.
I really am a little incredulous that you normally eat with the guests. It just seems like it would rub the guests the wrong way unless you are friends with the wedding party, but if it works, do it.
Oh yeah, and unless the caterer's employees are wannabe musicians, I can assure you they are not jealous of you getting to sit with the guests. To us, you're just another mouth to feed. Nobody really gives a crap about that.
hmm.. this thread is odd...
1. I've never encountered a caterer telling me when/where I should load in/setup/soundcheck/etc...Its always been the event planner or hotel/venue management. I really dont know why the musicians would have any need talking to the food service for any reason or vice versa.
2. I have to agree, I dont like being treated like a caged monkey that is let out for 45mins at a time to put on a show. BUT, thats what we are there and get paid for.
3. More than 50% of the gigs I play per year are catered gigs where we DO get food offered to us. I'd much rather just bring a PB+J and a bottle of iced tea to tie me over until I get home and get paid more. They'll feed us if we want but they'll deduct some ridiculous amount from our pay some varies from $25-$50 per person. I'm not paying $25-$50 for the "standard" catered meal (which can usually be had at Fazoli's for $4.99) which is usually chicken, some type of stale penne pasta casserole, scalloped potatoes, green beans/veggies, and some type of salad. Not to mention $2.00+ for a coke. The food is all the same. I'd swear there is one catering company in all of Indiana.
4. I'm sorry to say it, but I've sat in on some bands where they hear "Free buffet food" or "open bar" and it becomes a disgusting free for all where by the 2nd set, their bow tie is off and shirt if unbuttoned. Or they come back with a plate of food and it makes you wonder if we are getting ready to go into another depression. Not to mention I've seen some musicians be so demanding at caterers at a wedding, you'd think they were Celine Dion.
5. The only time we ever sit in the same area as the guests are when we actually ARE guests along with entertainment or someone in the band knows someone hosting the event closely. Other than that, we usually have are own table some where which is out of the way. Actually, I prefer that more. I dont have to be bothered by whatever speech is going on at the time, you don't have some lovely 85 year old lady telling you how she remembers seeing the Glenn Miller band while you are trying to eat before your 15min break is up, and you dont have some 'tard asking you if your jazz group can play Men at Work's "Who Can It Be Now?" the next set.
I don't know. Again, I can see being P/Oed if you have to deal with caterers who are rude (which I dont know why you have to talk to them in the first place). But, demanding and expecting food, especially the same thing the guests eat, seems a bit excessive. I've never known people who go to their day job and INSIST on the company paying for their snacks and lunches. Maybe I'm just in the wrong band and/or profession.
$0.02
1. I've never encountered a caterer telling me when/where I should load in/setup/soundcheck/etc...Its always been the event planner or hotel/venue management. I really dont know why the musicians would have any need talking to the food service for any reason or vice versa.
2. I have to agree, I dont like being treated like a caged monkey that is let out for 45mins at a time to put on a show. BUT, thats what we are there and get paid for.
3. More than 50% of the gigs I play per year are catered gigs where we DO get food offered to us. I'd much rather just bring a PB+J and a bottle of iced tea to tie me over until I get home and get paid more. They'll feed us if we want but they'll deduct some ridiculous amount from our pay some varies from $25-$50 per person. I'm not paying $25-$50 for the "standard" catered meal (which can usually be had at Fazoli's for $4.99) which is usually chicken, some type of stale penne pasta casserole, scalloped potatoes, green beans/veggies, and some type of salad. Not to mention $2.00+ for a coke. The food is all the same. I'd swear there is one catering company in all of Indiana.
4. I'm sorry to say it, but I've sat in on some bands where they hear "Free buffet food" or "open bar" and it becomes a disgusting free for all where by the 2nd set, their bow tie is off and shirt if unbuttoned. Or they come back with a plate of food and it makes you wonder if we are getting ready to go into another depression. Not to mention I've seen some musicians be so demanding at caterers at a wedding, you'd think they were Celine Dion.
5. The only time we ever sit in the same area as the guests are when we actually ARE guests along with entertainment or someone in the band knows someone hosting the event closely. Other than that, we usually have are own table some where which is out of the way. Actually, I prefer that more. I dont have to be bothered by whatever speech is going on at the time, you don't have some lovely 85 year old lady telling you how she remembers seeing the Glenn Miller band while you are trying to eat before your 15min break is up, and you dont have some 'tard asking you if your jazz group can play Men at Work's "Who Can It Be Now?" the next set.
I don't know. Again, I can see being P/Oed if you have to deal with caterers who are rude (which I dont know why you have to talk to them in the first place). But, demanding and expecting food, especially the same thing the guests eat, seems a bit excessive. I've never known people who go to their day job and INSIST on the company paying for their snacks and lunches. Maybe I'm just in the wrong band and/or profession.
$0.02
I'm sorry but you are not a guest at someone's wedding. You are being paid to be there. I'm not saying you shouldn't get food, but you should definitely work that out with the folks who hired you so they can get it all set up before the gig. Don't just walk in expecting to be treated like the mother of the bride, she isn't being paid to be there.
