• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why are local musicians turning down this gig?

#61
They may know something that you don't..... some gigs are just to much of a pain, at any price. Maybe it's one of those that the folks putting it on are never happy, or a million other reasons that folks refuse gigs for.
 
#63
esa372 said:
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?
Click to expand...

If I'm reading this correctly this a one band gig, it will include originals and covers and the exact amount of time is not specified and there is some type of municipal participation.

I wouldn't do it, generally speaking. But I play professionally so I may have a higher bar than some, no offense. "Originals" is the first red flag. That spells either learning songs on my own or worse... rehearsals. Rehearsals take up my time and when I factor that in along with the gig and divide what it pays vs. how much time I'll spend making it, nope.

$500 with a city involved sounds suspiciously low. Not saying it's not true just saying...

Halloween is a major party holiday, that usually means better pay, not average or below.

Three to four sets? That's a lot of time.

Couldn't care less about free food or drink. Some folks don't drink. I'm one of them so it holds no appeal to me.

So for me it's not astonishing that you're having difficulty finding people... it's not a very appealing gig to musicians who really value their time. And folks who don't may not be up to the challenge. Rock... meet hard place.

For those talking about a whole band getting $200? I know that happens and it's a self-perpetuating thing. I did a midday gig Saturday for a three hour window with a keyboard player I work with at church and two guys I just met at the gig. They hired a very good soundman w/system. This was for another church's festival, we were the only band. We jammed on our impromptu versions of gospel songs, plenty of free food, very laid back vibe. I was able to leave in time for my main gig in Baltimore for a wedding at a conservatory. The early gig paid $225 per man.

If you can find folks who feel money isn't important, cool. $100-$125 isn't much money in my circle and with prep time/travel time/etc. it's likely way below $20/hour. Basic math helps in business.;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: carl h. and petrus61
#65
Halloween gigs usually pay more around here, it's a very busy night! All the non-professional drunks come out and putting masks on them doesn't help.;)
 
#66
That would be good pay for a bar band gig on a regular Friday or Saturday night. But I have to agree that it's not enough money for a city sanctioned event on a holiday. I am friends with the woman who used to book entertainment for city events and festivals here in our KC suburb. She told me they were paying between $800-$1200 per band depending on length of the show. I would think in LA the pay would be even higher.
 
#69
Need some more details. Is this paid by the city or is it some local neighborhood block party paid by the homeowners association? Is it a pro PA or two speakers and an eight channel mixer owned by someone on the block? A lot of unknowns and assumptions, IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheBear
#71
I would do $500 for 4 hours in a heartbeat if there is a provided PA. We normally get $400 for a 4 hour gig and we provide the PA. If the PA is provided that saves me almost an hour at setup and an hour at teardown.
 
#72
Thanks for the replies, everyone... all the different perspectives are giving me some insight on this. :thumbsup:

Violen said:
He should have been booking bands for this 3 months ago.
Click to expand...
I have been looking since July.

PortlandBass77 said:
I would get a band together JUST for this gig.
Click to expand...
This is exactly what I'm trying to do; what I've done for the last two years - myself, and 2 or 3 others. (The guitarist and drummer from the last two parties have moved away.)

MultiScaleMale said:
Need some more details. Is this paid by the city or is it some local neighborhood block party paid by the homeowners association? Is it a pro PA or two speakers and an eight channel mixer owned by someone on the block?
Click to expand...
What I mean by "city sanctioned" is that the city has agreed to allow the party, will block off the streets, and let the festivities (noise) to continue until 1:30am. The city is not providing the money for any aspect of this party; the neighborhood is providing all of it... cuz it's fun!

The PA is being rented by the neighborhood, and is more than enough for this gig. (I've played this gig for the last two Halloweens.)

I don't know... it just seems odd to me that you can say to a (local) musician, "Hey! There's an outdoor Halloween party on Saturday night; there will be food, drinks, costumes... we can play ALL of our original music, throw in some fun covers... there will be about 300 costumed party-goers there... and, we get paid at least $500", and they will come back with "No".

But, thanks, TB, for showing all these different perspectives. :)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Spin Doctor and lethargytartare
#75
esa372 said:
I don't know... it just seems odd to me that you can say to a (local) musician, "Hey! There's an outdoor Halloween party on Saturday night; there will be food, drinks, costumes... we can play ALL of our original music, throw in some fun covers... there will be about 300 costumed party-goers there... and, we get paid at least $500", and they will come back with "No".
Click to expand...
I share your surprise. Sure, there are bands for whom $500 is too little, but none of those bands are available anyway. Originals vs covers doesn't matter, only whether they have 4 hours of material or not. That's what "originals and covers" means to me. I do lots of gigs like this, albeit not with rock bands. Are there players who make more than me? Sure, for plenty of good reasons. Does it bother me? No.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lethargytartare
#78
two fingers said:
Agreed. Probably not a good place for this kind of debate, but bands here in the states place little or no value whatsoever on their craft. They are so desperate to play under lights in front of a crowd that they give their product away.

OP, I'm sure you'll find somebody for the gig.
Click to expand...

I would say that out of all your wildly made-up generalizations that you have made, past and present, this has to be the boldest, weirdest, and most far-reaching yet. There must be about 1,000,000 active bands in the United States, dude. None of them take any pride in their craft? I mean... Speak for yourself.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Spin Doctor, lethargytartare, BluesOnBass and 1 other person
#79
For people used to top-level corporate and wedding band gigs, this is laughably low. For people used to pounding it out in bars, it's a decent number.

Now if you're hoping for a premium because it is Halloween, like the NYE gigs, yeah I can see that being low. Compared to our town's summer showcase Fridays After Five gig it is low- more than the openers get, but less than any headliner gets.

But in my experience Halloween is not like NYE in terms of pay. Lately, even NYE isn't like NYE anymore.

I would do this gig with either of two established bands I play with, but not as a one-off hired gun that had to work on a bunch of new tunes and rehearsals.

I know neither of the cover/corporate/wedding bands I sub with would touch this for $500. It would have to be twice that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DirtDog and bolophonic

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back