• 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.

Would You Drive 6+ hours for $300?!

#63
Jake of Bass said:
I always find it interesting when people consider a "real" band one that plays only "originals" or one that makes a "lot" of money.

A real band is one that doesn't pay attention to either BS and just gets out there and plays their best.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Just found out I have a test on the day of the show, during a class i'd have to skip to have any hope of getting there for load in. no go.
 
#70
I've totally driven twice that through the night while on tour. I play original music, so we don't get the $1200 that cover bands get, we make most of our money off of merch. Not bad money either quite frankly. To put it as others have, I've driven further for less (gaurantee wise... some promoters are really tough on gaurantees) and just make sure to put on a good show and be good salesmen, there are times we'll sell $400+ in merch a night. It works out. My band also plays more often than most cover bands and our set is only 30 minutes long (as opposed to three 45 minute sets a night), that can be taken into account and make the difference not look nearly as large. We'll also play 3+ nights a week during good weather months, and we also tour for a month at a time. It more than offsets the difference. I'd totally drive 6 hours for $300 if my van was reliable and it was properly registered. This passed weekend my band did two days in Iowa which was a 3 and a half hour drive there, 4 hour drive the next day, and then 4 and a half hours back. We put on about 600 miles and our take from gaurantees alone was more than twice what we spent in gas/beer/cigs and food for the 5 band members plus one road guy. We only sold about $200 in merch, but we came out ahead no matter what... that's all that matters to me... go have a good time... stop letting figures get in the way.

-Benny
 
#71
Well and that's the other thing with the OP's gig... was that $300 even guaranteed? How do they know they weren't gonna get there and it would be, "oh, we didn't have the gate we thought we'd get, so we can give you gas money and that's it. So sorry."
 
#72
jaywa said:
Well and that's the other thing with the OP's gig... was that $300 even guaranteed? How do they know they weren't gonna get there and it would be, "oh, we didn't have the gate we thought we'd get, so we can give you gas money and that's it. So sorry."
Click to expand...

That's why you get a copy of the gig on paper. This includes promoter/ agency name, who's incharge of putting it on, their number, venue name/address/number, max capacity and all gaurantee and rider arrangements with both parties signatures. This way you're covered in case something like that happens. I've had it happen to me in the passed and it sucks... being out on the east coast and getting $20 when we drove 6 plus hours to get there when gas was over $4 a gallon. Not cool, but that's why we sell merch... we always end up covering anything we need with that. We're self funded as well, we take all money from the band and place it back into the band we all work jobs for our normal income, and we only take money from the band for personal gain quarterly (that is outside of food and living expenses while on the road). That allows us to have a backlog of cash to use incase of emergencies or a gig goes arye and we're unable to get what was promised. Now we set up gaurantees in that manner when working with promoters that we've never worked with before. My guitarist and I also book tons of shows for bands across a broad range of styles who are on many different lables... it's something we picked up from them quite awhile ago. Also, for any originals band, if you can, try to do as much work for your band in house as possible, it saves you money and keeps more of your money yours.

-Benny
 
#73
Gear-
I guess thats a good way of thinking of it. however, its total, not per person cut.

Good financial reasons to not do the gig. Way too much overhead. What's the best that can happen....you get invited back to a different place for another $300 gig? Better to book it when you're already on the road and going to be in the area. Hope you've got a lot of merchandise to sell...$300 probably won't cover your road expenses for one day.
Unless the band just wants the adventure of it. Then it's not a financial question.
 
#75
southshoreconor nailed it. I'd do it in a heartbeat if the vehicle(s) were working well. It doens't make any sense to try limping a van to a 6 hour show. $300 for a college show that has a built in audience? No brainer. I've never played to less than 120 at a college.

If you can get some exposure out of it that is what matters. I can only speak for myself. But at the level my band is at we ask for a decent guarantee, and use that to cover expenses. We take what is left of that and bank it. We also have merch to make some extra scratch. No band money goes for food or beer unless totally necessary. We all have jobs we can spare $10. We're always in the black because of this method.

I think the original bands need to get out there and play. Some of us need to stop acting like the cover bands who are making $1500 a night. We're not in the same boat as them. If you want it and your heart is in it you should go for it. What the worst that's going to happen?
 
#76
we've done that. and for NO MONEY. We once rented a van, drove to L.A. from SF on a monday morning, played the gig, then drove back that night. Got back in the morning. Now, that's stupid.

I suppose if you had nothing else going on... and you were bored.

GearHeadBassMan said:
and then 6 hours back to make your gig the next night?

I say no, especially when not on tour. I have a problem with bandmates who don't think things realistically.

extra problems include an overheating van with a gas leak with an expired registration.

and three of us have jobs to go back to after the weekend.
Click to expand...
 
#77
If 300 bucks were your take of the pie for one gig it's not bad at all. There are lots of folks in other jobs where they have to travel similar distances and they end up making less as they are on salary. Of course I look at travel time, fuel, and accomodations when negotiating for an out of town gig, but given the current economy, if you can come away with a couple of hundred bucks from this gig when all is done and said, it ain't bad beans in most places. I've done such gigs, and sometimes if you go over with the locals, it can lead to another gig with them where you can sweeten the pot in your favor the next time around.

We are talking about the band members making about 300 bucks each?
Right? If it's 300 bucks for the whole band then I'd have to have to say no way.
 
#79
OK, I just ran some numbers based on a six hour trip one way using an average of what gas is in our area. I used the distance from where I live to Nashville, TN which is about six hours times two. If you can get around 18-19 miles to a gallon.

It would cost you around $90.00 for gas.

You are looking at 12 hours on the road. If you just eat fast food, depending on how many are in your group, this could add up quick!

It's possible, if you have no problems, to clear only $150-$160 to split between bandmates.

If you had a reliable ride, no bad weather to deal with, and it was a killer gig, maybe. If you are cash strapped, no way!

This thing could wind up costing you money.
I don't think so.
 
#80
dmrogers said:
OK, I just ran some numbers based on a six hour trip one way using an average of what gas is in our area. I used the distance from where I live to Nashville, TN which is about six hours times two. If you can get around 18-19 miles to a gallon.

It would cost you around $90.00 for gas.

You are looking at 12 hours on the road. If you just eat fast food, depending on how many are in your group, this could add up quick!

It's possible, if you have no problems, to clear only $150-$160 to split between bandmates.

If you had a reliable ride, no bad weather to deal with, and it was a killer gig, maybe. If you are cash strapped, no way!

This thing could wind up costing you money.
I don't think so.
Click to expand...
I doubt that the Van in question gets 18-19 mpg. He said it was LEAKING gas probably closer to 12 mpg. Unless they can find a floor to sleep on or enough Meth to keep the band awake they would need motel rooms. I figure after it was all said and done they might each make $10. :hyper:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back