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Why are local musicians turning down this gig?

$$$$, if I were in LA (not a chance in $$$$ that would happen) I would get a band together JUST for this gig. My guess is too many people there think they are 'going to make it big' and they see a party like this as below them...... if this were in Portland there would be FIERCE competition to get a spot on this gig. You'd have everything from death metal bands to hipster rock to psychedelic experimental bands vying for a spot.

And that is a problem; too many folks willing to play for peanuts. Sad.
 
Halloween Outdoor Block Party (city-sanctioned; police dept will block off the street)
Saturday, October 31
Three to four 50-minute sets (mix of originals and covers) beginning at ~7:30
PA provided
Free food and drinks
Band will receive $500, plus tips

It seems astonishing to me, but I can't find local musicians to play this gig.

I'm just curious; What does the TB community think?

Where is local?
 
Halloween Outdoor Block Party (city-sanctioned; police dept will block off the street)
Saturday, October 31
Three to four 50-minute sets (mix of originals and covers) beginning at ~7:30
PA provided
Free food and drinks
Band will receive $500, plus tips

It seems astonishing to me, but I can't find local musicians to play this gig.

I'm just curious; What does the TB community think?


100 bucks an hour (roughly, per individual) would be a phenomenal rate here...

The entire band is making $125 an hour...divide that by four or five and you have the answer ;)

Back when I started playing professionally I'd do three 60 minute cover sets for $100 per man if that's all they were offering, but that was a decade ago...
 
$$$$, if I were in LA (not a chance in $$$$ that would happen) I would get a band together JUST for this gig. My guess is too many people there think they are 'going to make it big' and they see a party like this as below them...... if this were in Portland there would be FIERCE competition to get a spot on this gig. You'd have everything from death metal bands to hipster rock to psychedelic experimental bands vying for a spot.
Don't think you're reading closely enough.

$500 is insane money any day of the week for originals.

For 5 hours of covers on one of the High Holy Days of music (i.e. one of the only days of the year you can actually EXPECT to get paid and play to hundreds of people no matter who you are) it's pretty lowball.
 
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And that is a problem; too many folks willing to play for peanuts. Sad.

Guess depends whether you treat as private event or regular gig. Love to know where to find regular gigs in San Diego you find that pay more. Casinos, corporate sure, this seems to fall towards the regular.

Unfortunately the pay here (same as most bands got in the 70s) is criminal. Assume not so different anywhere else. This outside of corporate seems to be on higher end....
 
I figure, the bands that are capable of charging more, are already booked. This is an opportunity for some players who happen to have a hole in their schedule, for whatever reason. And an easy gig that fills a hole in the schedule is better than nothing.

I take gigs like this all the time, albeit with jazz groups rather than rock. I call them "easy in, easy out" gigs. You show up a few minutes before the down beat, with a bare minimum of gear, play fun music that's easy, and go home. Zero rehearsal. Now, here in Madison, those gigs typically involves 10 minutes of driving, so maybe I'd want to get paid more in LA for the hassle of getting to the gig.

On the other hand... whether you take the gig, or leave it and hope to get offered a better gig, is a business risk that every musician has to weigh. The players I know who make a pretty good living, don't have a set minimum. Rather, they try to fill as many dates as possible with high paying gigs, and then they fill the remaining holes in their schedules with whatever comes along.
 
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Halloween Outdoor Block Party (city-sanctioned; police dept will block off the street)
Saturday, October 31
Three to four 50-minute sets (mix of originals and covers) beginning at ~7:30
PA provided
Free food and drinks
Band will receive $500, plus tips

It seems astonishing to me, but I can't find local musicians to play this gig.

I'm just curious; What does the TB community think?

Who's actually covering the tab on this? I'm not sure what "city-sanctioned" means...could be the city is on the line for $500 but I doubt it. Probably means they provided the necessary permits and a handful of orange & white barricades. Doesn't say the police will be in attendance or patrolling in any heavier rotation than normal.

I'd do it but I'll be trick 'r treating. I love a good gig but I also dig fun-size Snickers. Anybody know where I can borrow a kid? My youngest is 30 and not too keen on dressing up as the Ice Princess.

Riis
 
Check your math.

$500 *for the band* for *four sets*.

That's $25 / hr.

I would pass on that gig unless there was great fun to be had - band were buddies or something.
Well really, no one get paid per hour on a gig. I think it was mis-stated more wrong math like you say.
I'd be happy with $125.00 per person for the gig.
But....I don't live in higher cost of living CA.
 
Halloween is my favorite night of the year- I wouldn't personally play this gig for less than $250 a person. ( double what is being offered.)
Also, They are not looking for original bands, they want stuff people will actually know and dance to. I could see it now "And here is another original, I wrote this one about the girl who got away from me in 5th grade."
 
The pay. It's far too low. $500 for a gig like that? Nope.

I agree, three to four 50 minutes sets and $500 for the band. No thanks. The other reasons are that most people either take their children out trick or treating, stay home for trick or treaters or they are already going to Halloween Parties.
 
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