I think musicians fall into 2 camps. Most are 'Entertainers'. Among the rest are a few 'Artists'. Entertainers use their skills to earn money like any other professional. Artists do it because they have no choice. This can make you a millionaire or a pauper but that is secondary.
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Why do you play for free?
- Thread starter glocke1
- Start date
That is an excellent point! It therefore puzzles me why those who insist on getting paid to play seem to get so bent just because some players choose to play for free.
My philosophy in life is, do whatever ya want, and to heck with what anyone else thinks. I adopted that philosophy when I was in my 40's, and it has been incredibly liberating! Prior to that, I was completely unaware of the burden I was placing on myself by worrying about what others think. Thankfully, I am free of that burden, and have been for many years.
That is an excellent point! It therefore puzzles me why those who insist on getting paid to play seem to get so bent just because some players choose to play for free.
My philosophy in life is, do whatever ya want, and to heck with what anyone else thinks. I adopted that philosophy when I was in my 40's, and it has been incredibly liberating! Prior to that, I was completely unaware of the burden I was placing on myself by worrying about what others think. Thankfully, I am free of that burden, and have been for many years.
Oh, I have nothing against those who work for free - its those taking advantage (profiting $) off of them that I dislike and boycott.
That is an excellent point! It therefore puzzles me why those who insist on getting paid to play seem to get so bent just because some players choose to play for free.
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I thought the OP was about his band mates desire to play for nothing. Maybe I misread?
By the way, just to be clear, I haven't played gigs for free under circumstances where it might seem that I was undercutting working musicians. I haven't had to, because the civic band plus paid work keep me busy enough.
I would play for free because every time I have ever played out, free or not, has been a wonderful experience, and I don't get to do it near as much as I would like. I have ran into those who get mad about it and claim it ruins it for the "serious musicians" but if they were as good as they think they are they would probably be getting paid to play somewhere and not have time to be mad about others playing for free.
That being said, I don't play in bars anymore so no one needs to flame me. I do a couple of outdoor gigs for a club but they are more special events/parties than a regular bar gig. And I get paid well for those.
That being said, I don't play in bars anymore so no one needs to flame me. I do a couple of outdoor gigs for a club but they are more special events/parties than a regular bar gig. And I get paid well for those.
I will (and have many times) played for free for a registered charity. I've also done it as a personal favour (eg the wedding of a family member, in which case I make sure the rest of the band gets paid). Lastly, and very rarely, I've done it as a promotional tool where I am utterly convinced there will be a measurable benefit to the band by doing it.
Those are the only exceptions, otherwise pay up.
Nothing says you are worth nothing like playing for nothing IMO.
Mike
Those are the only exceptions, otherwise pay up.
Nothing says you are worth nothing like playing for nothing IMO.
Mike
I have few exceptions- I would play for free if the stars mystically aligned and:
1. All backline gear was provided and it was awesome- so I am bringing only my bass(es), a tuner, and a strap.
2. It is a very nice place to play- IE well covered and ventilated if outdoors, or smoke-free and clean insided.
3. There is at least a crowd of 150, and 30% of them are nice to look at.
4. ALL Food and drinks are provided for the band and 1 guest each.
5. The venue runs promotions in the local paper (ie CL here)
6. NO special requests are made for any songs we don't normally do.
7. The people dance and generally pay attention to the band ie we are the focus of the festivities.
Are any of these happening at a dive-bar/ club? YOu already know the answer)
1. All backline gear was provided and it was awesome- so I am bringing only my bass(es), a tuner, and a strap.
2. It is a very nice place to play- IE well covered and ventilated if outdoors, or smoke-free and clean insided.
3. There is at least a crowd of 150, and 30% of them are nice to look at.
4. ALL Food and drinks are provided for the band and 1 guest each.
5. The venue runs promotions in the local paper (ie CL here)
6. NO special requests are made for any songs we don't normally do.
7. The people dance and generally pay attention to the band ie we are the focus of the festivities.
Are any of these happening at a dive-bar/ club? YOu already know the answer)
- Apr 1, 2000
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I've recently added a circumstance for which I'll play for free, and it falls in the "spend money to make money" category.
My cover band recently not only played for free, but paid to do so at a bridal fair. We were charged the standard vendor rate of $850 for the day. I wasn't happy about it at first, but we've pulled at least 10 $4500-5000 contracts from it. In retrospect, it was a brilliant idea.
My cover band recently not only played for free, but paid to do so at a bridal fair. We were charged the standard vendor rate of $850 for the day. I wasn't happy about it at first, but we've pulled at least 10 $4500-5000 contracts from it. In retrospect, it was a brilliant idea.
I have on occasion played for free, and will be doing so soon, just to get into a certain club. It's a high profile place and their policy is they do a 5 band night and you play that first to see how you play, what your draw is, how sober you are when you play or whatever. You can get paid if the patrons mention your name at the door but that would be icing on the cake. I am not sure how many people will see us if they have to hear 4 other bands they don't know to get to us. He did put us last (all bands have to stay to the end to get any pay that might be coming) so we'll have some new ears hearing us and maybe book a full night at this great club.
We'll see. Playing for free (or very little) is OK as long as it can be justified as advertising or promotion in my book.
We'll see. Playing for free (or very little) is OK as long as it can be justified as advertising or promotion in my book.
I've seen tons of interviews with successful bass players that say playing for free to establish yourself is almost necessary. That doesn't mean you 'always' play for free, just that exposure from a free gig can be profitable in the long run.
There isn't one correct answer to this.
There isn't one correct answer to this.
Hmm. High Profile? If after you get IN, what is the pay per band mate and for how many hours?
Probably low at first. We are expanding our area. We are a Rush tribute band so we can't play too often in the same area or we'll burn it out.
We want to get into the Philly area. Just playing "a place" in Philly gets us the exposure we want. We play this 5 band thing, get a full night for ourselves and we can get a buzz going about the band to start getting noticed in that area. That's how it's done, right? It's how we've done it before and it works.
Oh okay, thanks and good luck.
TIP: If there is a smaller club across the street - play there instead and if you can draw customers away from the high profile club so the word gets back to them (play against their best drawing band) - you'll get in faster (without jumping through free loops) and make way more money too.
As a rule, I don't anymore.
But I do repay favours at time.
Friends that have recorded or gigged for me without asking for money, can expect the same from me.
That's the extent of it.
I don't want to shaft my colleagues, which would come back at me as you point out...musicians being taken for granted.
Yes, it is a problem here too.
For me to take a gig there has to be some tangible benefit to me or a person/organization that I care about. Generally that tangible benefit is money, usually for me but sometimes for someone else such as a charity or person in need. Occasionally, as in Pacman's circumstance the immediate benefit is access to talent buyers who are there looking for acts to hire.
If there are acts willing to play for free in the same market I'm targeting, then I just have to make sure that my act is worth paying for. Given that I clearly value my time and performing ability more than someone who'll play for free, chances are my act will work harder to be better.
If there are acts willing to play for free in the same market I'm targeting, then I just have to make sure that my act is worth paying for. Given that I clearly value my time and performing ability more than someone who'll play for free, chances are my act will work harder to be better.
