My experience with the Junior League Band was that we would take the cheap gigs at first and rely on CD and t shirt sales to pay for gas while we got our foot in the door. And nobody got paid. Once we established that we brought a crowd in and business to the club, we had more negotiating power. From there we'd either choose gigs based on a guarantee of what we were willing to play for all our time and our crowd, or take a gamble and decide on a door deal where we took a pre-decided percentage of the door. Or sometimes both- for example a $500 guarantee or 80% of the door if we got over 300 people at a $12 ticket price- or something like that. You negotiate it out with the booker so the club makes their bottoms line and you take the profit if you can really bring a large crowd. Once you've got enough clout, then you can take a stand and say you won't play without set $$. Not that that is fair. That's just been my experience as a band leader.
This is one of the worst parts about being a musician- in my opinion. Trying to do business when you want to just play the banjo (not to mention the transaction are usually at midnight when the show is over and people have been drinking). But that's what you are signing up for I guess if you are trying to play outside of your living room - learning how to negotiate and run your business. But I am with you in that it hasn't been easy to navigate.
I hope this helps,
Lissy
On Apr 1, 2013, at 9:05 PM, Bill Foster <swfoster@shentel.net> wrote:
> Good question Matt. Been doing this for 35 years.
> Part of the conundrum is that many, many bands have for years played on the cheap just to get a place to play. The low pay has been accepted so venue owners see bluegrass music as a cheap way to get people in the door.
> You have to charge a fair price to make it worth your while to make the gig.
> If you get a 3-hour job and you have to bring your own PA ---
> you have to be there at least an hour before to set up, and an hour after to tear down and pack up. 3 hours is now 5 hours (plus travel time to and from).
> What's it worth to you? If you charge the venue $500 bucks and you have a 5-piece band - how's that work out.... about $33 bucks an hour each.
> Less than $100 for 5 hours of work and travel. And you know the venue will NOT pay $500. So how low do you go for 5 hours of your work, your talent, etc.
>
> Thoughts?? Bill Foster
> On 4/1/2013 8:33 PM, Matt wrote:
>>
>> I dont want to book places that don't pay, and make bands rely on the tip jar.
>>
>> Tip jar gigs? Dont want to do them.
>>
>> But there are some venues that are popular with the bands that work on this basis.
>>
>> Perhaps someone with some experience can elaborate on the benefits. I can imagine what they might be, but its hard to see a case where supporting a venue that doesn't support the band is worth it in the long run.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for your take!
>>
>>
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