Shouldn't you know in advance how much you'll get paid for a gig?

[Big John Studd]

I joined an established band recently, ie. replaced a former member. It's your typical cover band...bar gigs, small festivals, civic events, etc. The first gig I got $50...not bad...I strive for the $100 mark, but I've certainly played for less and undoubtedly will again. The next gig I found out (at the gig) that we were getting a cut of the door. Hmmmm. Of course that worked out to slightly more than doodly-squat. We have about ten or so shows lined up over the next few months. I sent an email asking if anyone knew details of the pay for each of the upcoming gigs, and I was told that last year each member of the band cleared $2000 over the course of the year and I should expect the same. Whaaa??? I am not a professional musician, but even in fifteen years of playing in amateur cover bands I almost always know going into the gig how much the pay is going to be. Does this seem weird to anyone, or is it just me?

[TJNY]

We always know what the pay is. Your band members obviously don't do it for the money.....

[sacizob]

I once played a gig at a bar and thought the drinks were free. I owed the bar money at the end of the night.

[LightninMike]

It really comes down to where you are playing.... there are no standards anymore.... each place will have it's own preferred way of setting things up.... some realize what they are getting in having live music, some just do not care

[DonB52]

Yes and no. Many bands work for a set fee, but others negotiate for a percentage of the nights take in cover charges. I have also played for dinner and drinks. So, you can't always know what you will make and if you aren't careful you'll spend it before you make it.

[SamClemons]

I assume if I don't know up front what I am getting, I am probably playing for little or free. Then you have to decide if that is what you want to do. There are plenty of bands that will play for free just to get out and play. It's your choice.

[Open G Tele]

You are obviously not in a band that is focused on making money.
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this as long as all the band members are in agreement.

If you're having fun, stick with it.

[MrTwang]

How on earth can they know how much they (and you) are going to make if the band is on a percentage of the door?

Why didn't you ask what the deal was before the first gig and before commiting to any more?

[Tim Bowen]

Yeah, there are plenty of situations where it's not known in advance what the monetary take will be. However, I can't afford to accept gigs like this anymore. Stuff I accept involves a guaranteed $ figure, known parameters regarding comped food and/or drinks, etc. No more "door" gigs for me, thanks, life is short.

Aside from playing (an entire set) for free in establishments that sell food and spirits, nothing at all wrong with playing for funsies and not a whole lotta money if that's the deal and everyone knows it. For me personally, it's more fun to sit at home in my pajamas with a bowl of Cap'n Crunch and play than it is to lug a bunch of gear out of the house and not know how much I'm gonna earn. But everybody's different.

[Big John Studd]

Yeah, I have no problem playing guitar (or coaching little league, directing the choir at church, etc.) for no money from time to time. But in this case my concern is more that I feel I'm being kept out of the loop...perhaps inadvertently, perhaps not. Maybe I'm on some sort of probationary period as the new lead guitar player...LOL. The band does seem to have a well organized and heavy marketing push, eg. nice website, booking agency (gigmasters), lots of past/future dates, etc. I mean, somebody in the band obviously must know how much we are getting paid for these various gigs, and I am just wondering why they didn't tell me when I flat out asked them.

[Brian blaut]

Originally Posted by sacizob

I once played a gig at a bar and thought the drinks were free. I owed the bar money at the end of the night.

Please wait right here, my brother Jake is in the car writing the check right now....

[Big John Studd]

Originally Posted by Tim Bowen

Yeah, there are plenty of situations where it's not known in advance what the monetary take will be. However, I can't afford to accept gigs like this anymore. Stuff I accept involves a guaranteed $ figure, known parameters regarding comped food and/or drinks, etc. No more "door" gigs for me, thanks, life is short.

Yeah, Tim, this is kind of where I am coming from on this. If I'm asked, hey we've got an opportunity to play this bar, they won't pay us, but we can collect the door, etc., then I can say, hmm...sounds like fun, I'm in! Or I can decide I'd rather go out with the wife and kids for a pizza. I just don't like being led to believe it's a paying gig, and then I get there and it's really not. Now the first time...ok that one was kinda on me since I didn't explicitly ask for the details. But now that I am asking specifically how much we will be paid on the upcoming gigs, I'm getting nebulous responses citing some annual income I can expect for my participation.

[TJNY]

Yes, I will not do a place that uses percentages of the door or bar. There is no way I am relying on a club owner to be honest with me about what he took in!! It's either a set price or we go somewhere else.
While I truly enjoy playing out, I can't do it for free. My wife would kill me!! My time is valuable to me. If I'm in with the boys playing for the bar, I expect to get compensated. I don't have establishments cater my event then pay them based on if the people ate the food or not!

[Big John Studd]

Originally Posted by MrTwang

How on earth can they know how much they (and you) are going to make if the band is on a percentage of the door?

They can't, but they could have at least told me that, eg. "we don't know how much we're getting paid, but we're getting a cut of the door."

Originally Posted by MrTwang

Why didn't you ask what the deal was before the first gig and before commiting to any more?

I agree I took a gamble on the first two gigs, but now I am asking exactly what the deal is before committing further, and I am finding it strange that they won't just tell me.

[63dot]

I have played out too many times to count mostly during the whole decade of the 1990s and we only got paid once. Obviously, not doing top 40 and only doing originals, it was about getting the music out and having fun, too.

In my rural parts, the only musicians who make any money are cover bands like the OP's band, and do best at weddings and such. Bars don't pay too much where I live and there are no live nightclubs.

[Big John Studd]

Originally Posted by 63dot

I have played out too many times to count mostly during the whole decade of the 1990s and we only got paid once.

LOL...me too! The 1990s were my younger and single-er days, and my criteria for taking a gig back then was:

1. Will there be prospects for female companionship?
2. Will there be beer?
3. Will it be fun?

I don't think money was ever even a consideration!!!

[63dot]

Originally Posted by Big John Studd

LOL...me too! The 1990s were my younger and single-er days, and my criteria for taking a gig back then was:

1. Will there be prospects for female companionship?
2. Will there be beer?
3. Will it be fun?

I don't think money was ever even a consideration!!!

The first consideration was really only something considered in the very earliest gigs. After I saw the problems that could arise from that, it was about the second and third points. But the first reason could have been why I picked up the guitar in the first place as a teen.

[twangplank]

The rhythm player in my band plays for another band that doesn't split the money after gigs. It goes into a band fund and they provide picks, strings, etc...

They've been doing that for a few years and I can't help but notice the band leader and his wife now have some seriously high end instruments! Like a $6500 mandolin a an equally expensive dobro.

If the band gets paid I get paid and need a minimum expected net idea before hand.

[63dot]

Originally Posted by twangplank

The rhythm player in my band plays for another band that doesn't split the money after gigs. It goes into a band fund and they provide picks, strings, etc...

They've been doing that for a few years and I can't help but notice the band leader and his wife now have some seriously high end instruments! Like a $6500 mandolin a an equally expensive dobro.

If the band gets paid I get paid and need a minimum expected net idea before hand.

Unless that band makes a ton of money or those people have great jobs, it sounds like a Sudafed conversion operation. What is weird, or maybe not, is that when a neighborhood near me has a rash of murders, robberies, and shootings, a cash friendly Guitar Center opens up. ("numbered" downtown streets - San Jose, Mission District - San Francisco, and a new "challenged" neighborhood which is OK just as long as you don't wear red or blue - just south of San Jose.)

[PeterVV]

Whenever Ive had a booking, I always know what the fee is. Sometimes its a cut of the door, which can mean didly squat, sometimes just enough to cover the costs, sort of like a free rehersal...as long as its fun its ok...