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Yeah, not in Los Angeles.
Almost got paid once in Oregon... But as I was driving half the band away from the pool hall, my drunken singer jumped on the running board
and growled through drunken, Exorcist eyes: "Gimme the money." I threw the $30 at her, then pushed her off the side of the moving car, into the road.
"Well, Ron decided not to charge for the gig, it's for a bunch of seniors and we're all still getting paid $10 each..."
When I worked with a big band early in the decade, our band leader would occasionally book us for "gratis" (free) gigs. Not because he didn't value us or our contribution to the community, but because he himself was up in age (85) and knew he could bring joy to these other old-timers in the pioneer home.
One thing about Ron was, we never went unpaid. Even if it was a free gig or a practice. Because there were 17 of us and demand for a big band wasn't exactly big, we walked away with about $35 for a 2-hour night. We always did get paid $10 per rehearsal, though, and $20 each for holidays. I like to think it balanced out over the course of a year, especially because we only gigged 3-4 times a year.
hmmm, worst justification?
well let's just say that she & I bartered before the gig but the rest of the band played for nuthin...
well let's just say that she & I bartered before the gig but the rest of the band played for nuthin...
yea that's one thing I hate to hear a small new venue say that has no idea how the music world works. well we cant pay you tonight, but think of all the exposure your band can get. wow gee thanks,. and oh yeah you have to pay your bar tab. and you need to pay the sound guy.. yes ive played a place where it was promised to have a huge crowd.. we get there, play for no one..and they say we have to pay the sound guy 100 buck. the shag?? we ditched out the back while loading.. shag them..we are the entertainment.. keep in mind this place reached out to us to play for them and was told we could play for the door.. it was us and one other band... new city new venue for us.. and it was back in 2006 ish..
Yes--you get exposed to other people who expect you to play for free.
Thought of another.
Because it's the BL's sister/brother/SO's birthday. Might as well max out the humiliation of playing for nothing by wearing party hats and having your gear festooned with crepe paper and balloons.
Because it's the BL's sister/brother/SO's birthday. Might as well max out the humiliation of playing for nothing by wearing party hats and having your gear festooned with crepe paper and balloons.
We're a ska band. Who wants to pay to see that crap.
Seriously, we only play for free (not counting beer or slots on the guest list) for big national acts. We do well selling merch at those shows and typically pick up quite a few followers who had no idea there was a ska band in town. Of course we've been only playing out for a little over a year so we'll probably stop playing those for free in the not too distant future.
Seriously, we only play for free (not counting beer or slots on the guest list) for big national acts. We do well selling merch at those shows and typically pick up quite a few followers who had no idea there was a ska band in town. Of course we've been only playing out for a little over a year so we'll probably stop playing those for free in the not too distant future.
If there's a good chance of having a great time doing this gig, I'd be all over it like stink on sh*t!
if all music was to me was a way to make money, i’d quit wasting my time and sell all my gear and take a real job with actual savings account and send kids to college income.
I play for the opportunity to have those rare moments when everyone is connected by some invisible thread and everything is perfect, when you can look down and see you are a few inches off the floor, levitated by the perfection of the music being created in that moment. IME, there is plenty of really good music made in this world, but those fleeting moments of absolute musical perfection are fairly rare, even among the musical elite. It is a spiritual experience for me and i accept the periods between as the price i must pay to reach that next moment of perfection.
Much as church is for the churched, moments of musical perfection trancend all earthly needs and wants for me and to reduce it nothing more than a way to earn money would make me sad and the effort unsatisfying. I take money if it is there for the taking but i usually give it to someone, a band member in need, my nephew the college kid if he’s drumming for us, or wifey if everyone else is set. Oddly enough I have no problem charging for other things and it’s rare and has to be for a very good reason for me to give away my time and/or money, but music is the exception. On that one thing i’m too selfish to risk jinxing it by reducing my chances to levitate.
And please don’t take this as a judgement of motivations to play other than my own. We all have our own way to make in this world and we all must act in the way we see as best for our life and our plan.
I play for the opportunity to have those rare moments when everyone is connected by some invisible thread and everything is perfect, when you can look down and see you are a few inches off the floor, levitated by the perfection of the music being created in that moment. IME, there is plenty of really good music made in this world, but those fleeting moments of absolute musical perfection are fairly rare, even among the musical elite. It is a spiritual experience for me and i accept the periods between as the price i must pay to reach that next moment of perfection.
Much as church is for the churched, moments of musical perfection trancend all earthly needs and wants for me and to reduce it nothing more than a way to earn money would make me sad and the effort unsatisfying. I take money if it is there for the taking but i usually give it to someone, a band member in need, my nephew the college kid if he’s drumming for us, or wifey if everyone else is set. Oddly enough I have no problem charging for other things and it’s rare and has to be for a very good reason for me to give away my time and/or money, but music is the exception. On that one thing i’m too selfish to risk jinxing it by reducing my chances to levitate.
And please don’t take this as a judgement of motivations to play other than my own. We all have our own way to make in this world and we all must act in the way we see as best for our life and our plan.
Do it once in a while for a cause like Make A Wish or a friends wedding where I play for free but pay the band. Agree though, would never play a club or similar venue for free or less than what my normal rate is, never. Playing club or similar venues for free sets a bad precedent. Play for the door when I know I will make at least what I want or more. Some venue owners like shared risk. A lesser guarantee plus the door. That always works in our favor.
I used to play in bars, and over a few decades of occasional gigs, I'm not sure I ever made enough money to fund my gear habit. Now I play in churches prety much every weekend, and although I still have a gear habit (it's actually gotten worse), I don't have to try to rationalize that I'll pay the gear purchases back with gig money - it's a non-issue.
Not having to even think about money with regards to gigs, is, I find, liberating - nobody ever argues with me about how to split the take. I don't have to think twice if I'm offered a gig I don't want to do - I simply say "no thanks". Some athletes have a "love of the game" clause in their contracts, so they can play whenever they want, even if it's just a pickup game on a playground or something. I'm kinda like that, except, I only take the gigs I love to do - it's never about money.
Not having to even think about money with regards to gigs, is, I find, liberating - nobody ever argues with me about how to split the take. I don't have to think twice if I'm offered a gig I don't want to do - I simply say "no thanks". Some athletes have a "love of the game" clause in their contracts, so they can play whenever they want, even if it's just a pickup game on a playground or something. I'm kinda like that, except, I only take the gigs I love to do - it's never about money.
I have a career that's about 48 hours a week (which I love), and I now play because I love to play and sing, after taking 14 years off to raise kids and do family things. Now that the kids are gone, I have the time and money to be able to have decent gear, and play with musicians I respect and appreciate. Prior to that I was a full time touring musician. That being said I equate money with respect. We played 39 weekends last year, or 62 dates, 4 hours a night typically. I love to play but my time and talent is worth something and so is that of my band-mates. Many of whom have played with national acts. It's a matter of perspective, playing in church is different or for house parties and friends, which I also occasionally do, for free. There is enough demand for us around town that we typically don't have to concern ourselves with haggling over money. Something we all appreciate. Being able to play is a gift, something I don't take for granted.
a lot of times I wish, in addition to there being a dislike button, that there were like+dislike buttons for each paragraph. I really liked this one sentence alone, the rest that followed was pretty solid too, though.I have time at work today to disagree with people, so I will.
I heard from a bar owner..."because other bands do it". I replied "well we don't because our time is worth money". His place is now closed and we're still playing.
Wow. Reading this thread helps me understand why bands cannot make money. lol
But unfortunately unless your name is John Taylor, they will refuse to date you or even be seen with you as the bassist.
