Play the first gig at a new club for less than your normal rate for the chance of future gigs?

[Fiesta Red]

i add the sarcasm font !

I might have screwed up my settings because I can’t format the text of my posts at all.

Correction: I just figured it out…

I’m real smart. (Sarcasm font)

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Now the band leader has asked us to contact people to get a crowd. WOW! Playing cheap PLUS we have to provide the crowd?!? I'm not feeling good about this at all.

Thoughts?

It's been my experience that whenever I have been asked to provide the crowd or spread the word or whatever, ironically the bar itself can't even be bothered to put anything on their website calendar or social media to indicate that the band is performing.

 

[2HBStrat]

It's been my experience that whenever I have been asked to provide the crowd or spread the word or whatever, ironically the bar itself can't even be bothered to put anything on their website calendar or social media to indicate that the band is performing.

That's true. Luckily our band leader is really into social media and posts a lot about every one of our gigs. That aside, the real test is if we're asked back.

 

[Skip Ijam]

You might take that gig, build up a following and move on, to a higher paying one, tighter as a band.

 

[T Prior]

I wonder, is the owner only charging 60% for beer ?

I personally think you should do it, play and have fun , because you will never forget it and probably never do it again. Plus you can share first hand with others when they ask about this scenario ! There is nothing wrong with putting some experience in your pocket---one time

I've told this story before, here is the shortened version. I took a gig ( me- band leader) at a new club for a reduced rate, it was a 3 or 4 week deal helping to build the crowd etc... The weekend crowds were reasonable for a new venue. On the last weekend of the "deal" the owner told us we were not cutting it. LOL- so we packed up and left. The owner made a similar deal with another band. Fast forward - our band stayed busy in the region on rotation for another 4 or 5 years, that club went out of business in about 3 or 4 months.


Moral to the story - it wasn't the band or the music that caused the demise. Apparently the club owner had the notion that he could increase weekly income on the back of the bands by not paying the appropriate rate and making deals. I'm pretty sure that practice is not in the Business 101 manual ! One can only guess how these club owners treat their employees.

 

[2HBStrat]

...I personally think you should do it, play and have fun , because you will never forget it and probably never do it again. Plus you can share first hand with others when they ask about this scenario ! There is nothing wrong with putting some experience in your pocket---one time...

We took the gig, already played it, had a good night.

I asked our band leader this past weekend at our gig...a different venues...if he had heard from the owner of the bar we played cheap at. I think it pi$$ed him off. He said "we're booked up, we don't have any openings" which isn't true BTW. We do have a lot of bookings but the calendar isn't full. But anyway, so I said " I just wondered if we would hear from them...if it was worth it to play cheap." I think that pi$$ed him off, too. He said "I'm gonna call him and see about bookings for next year." At the end of the night he left without saying anything to me or the lead guitarist. I don't know how f he said goodnight ro the drummer or not...

 

[Papanate]

Our band leader got a call from the leader of another local band. They had a couple of gigs booked in a club in a nearby town and one of their members can't play them and he wanted to know if we could and if we wanted them. We were already booked for one of the nights but could take the other one. So, since we've never played at this venue the owner only offered us ~60% of our normal rate for the first gig with the idea that if we do well he would book us for more gigs at ~80% of our normal rate. The gig is from 7-10 but if the crowd is good "they would like to keep us going a little bit longer to 11 o'clock." Everyone in the band is on board. I'm really not. I think it is, in general, bad form to play cheap. You become that band that plays cheap, and I don't think you ever get the respect you should get and never really get paid what you should get paid. I didn't say this to the band and we booked the gig. Now the band leader has asked us to contact people to get a crowd. WOW! Playing cheap PLUS we have to provide the crowd?!? I'm not feeling good about this at all.

Thoughts?

NO! We don't do deals with anyone - we good - a really great band - if people want to pretend were not that there party - but I won't submit to any ridiculous offers.

 

[keithb7]

I turn down gigs sometimes. When I feel the establishment is turning the screws tight on us. We need to be able to at least cover vehicle gas and buy new guitar strings. Bring a crowd? You know that's that they all really want. They want the band to bring-in their loyal following. Everyone buys food and drinks and the bar/lounge/restaurant has a real good income that night.

When a band works hard to be tight, harmonies etc, and put on a good show, they do indeed create a following. It can take a while for a band to build up a following. Social media helps a lot. So if the band works hard, builds up a reputation and a following, they deserve to be compensated for it. If the band fills up the joint and then the bar grinds the band down on the performance price? Nah, I'm good. I'm not into it. I think it's the bar's loss when we turn down a gig there.

I guess this is all relative to your personal situation. Are you gigging to pay the bills? To feed yourself and pay your rent? Then do whatever you need to do. Take whatever gigs you can get. Negotiate whatever you can. In my case gigging is a hobby. We gig about 1-2x per month. That's just right for all of the band members. That's all we want. We can, and sometimes do, walk away from a possible gig.

I like the earlier mention of the the tip jar. It sure helps.

 

[T Prior]

I asked our band leader this past weekend at our gig...a different venues...if he had heard from the owner of the bar we played cheap at. I think it pi$$ed him off. He said "we're booked up, we don't have any openings" which isn't true BTW. We do have a lot of bookings but the calendar isn't full. But anyway, so I said " I just wondered if we would hear from them...if it was worth it to play cheap." I think that pi$$ed him off, too. He said "I'm gonna call him and see about bookings for next year." At the end of the night he left without saying anything to me or the lead guitarist. I don't know how f he said goodnight ro the drummer or not...

Uhmmm- very odd.

If one were to guess , it would be that the venue owner told the band leader to take a hike when asking about future gigs and "regular" pay. Sounds like he didn't want to fess up to you or other band members. Thats how I read it.

I should add that the time I booked the band for the 3 or 4 week reduced rate deal which I mentioned above, my wife and I took the pay cut ( our band) I paid the band members a normal gig pay.

 

[2HBStrat]

Uhmmm- very odd.

If one were to guess , it would be that the venue owner told the band leader to take a hike when asking about future gigs and "regular" pay. Sounds like he didn't want to fess up to you or other band members....

Could be, though he's usually very upfront about everything, good OR bad.

I always feel good when the club owner, at the end of the night, gets his book out and gives us more bookings. At THIS gig it was the manager who was there. He said he would get in touch with the owner and let him know about how good a night they had and the owner would take it from there. I'm expecting that we will not hear from him. If we DO, I expect that he will still want us to play for cheap. It can't be denied that it's likely that in his mind we're the band who plays cheap. I've already decided that if he calls, offers us gigs at the same rate and the other guys want to do it that I'm out for that night. They can get a sub.

 

[Les H]

Could be, though he's usually very upfront about everything, good OR bad.

I always feel good when the club owner, at the end of the night, gets his book out and gives us more bookings. At THIS gig it was the manager who was there. He said he would get in touch with the owner and let him know about how good a night they had and the owner would take it from there. I'm expecting that we will not hear from him. If we DO, I expect that he will still want us to play for cheap. It can't be denied that it's likely that in his mind we're the band who plays cheap. I've already decided that if he calls, offers us gigs at the same rate and the other guys want to do it that I'm out for that night. They can get a sub.

Put it behind you guys and move on is about all you can do.

We've all played somewhere that we weren't invited back to (or didn't want to be invited back to). But don't worry when they are looking for a free band to play at some fundraiser held at their venue you will be at the top of their list.

I still say the manager had the authority to re-book you and chose not to by passing the buck off on the owner. The old "don't call us, we'll call you" response. And maybe you guys are getting/got the animosity they feel/felt for the other band subbing you guys in their place. Maybe they didn't approve it with the venue first before offering their gig to you guys.

 

[eddiewagner]

I don't know much about gigging or the business side of things (in your case or in general), but just in terms of looking good, perhaps you could take this gig for what's being offered, mostly as a favor to the other band (hopefully they'll think of you again next time they need coverage), though I would hope you're getting at least whatever they would have gotten.

From there, blow everyone away, make the venue beg to have you back, and tell them your regular price and not a penny less.

That’s a good plan

 

[gmann]

The problem is you’re telling us and not the band. Besides, you’ve already taken the gig. See how it goes and plan accordingly for the future. Oh, and communicate with your band.

 

[2HBStrat]

The problem is you’re telling us and not the band. Besides, you’ve already taken the gig. See how it goes and plan accordingly for the future. Oh, and communicate with your band.

Well, the other two members of the band chimed in really quickly saying yes to play, so, really I would have just been the contrarion who got out-voted. But now, if it were to happen again, I have ammo.

 

[Burlington Dave]

Our band leader got a call from the leader of another local band. They had a couple of gigs booked in a club in a nearby town and one of their members can't play them and he wanted to know if we could and if we wanted them. We were already booked for one of the nights but could take the other one. So, since we've never played at this venue the owner only offered us ~60% of our normal rate for the first gig with the idea that if we do well he would book us for more gigs at ~80% of our normal rate. The gig is from 7-10 but if the crowd is good "they would like to keep us going a little bit longer to 11 o'clock." Everyone in the band is on board. I'm really not. I think it is, in general, bad form to play cheap. You become that band that plays cheap, and I don't think you ever get the respect you should get and never really get paid what you should get paid. I didn't say this to the band and we booked the gig. Now the band leader has asked us to contact people to get a crowd. WOW! Playing cheap PLUS we have to provide the crowd?!? I'm not feeling good about this at all.

Thoughts?

No.

 

[String Tree]

Our band leader got a call from the leader of another local band. They had a couple of gigs booked in a club in a nearby town and one of their members can't play them and he wanted to know if we could and if we wanted them. We were already booked for one of the nights but could take the other one. So, since we've never played at this venue the owner only offered us ~60% of our normal rate for the first gig with the idea that if we do well he would book us for more gigs at ~80% of our normal rate. The gig is from 7-10 but if the crowd is good "they would like to keep us going a little bit longer to 11 o'clock." Everyone in the band is on board. I'm really not. I think it is, in general, bad form to play cheap. You become that band that plays cheap, and I don't think you ever get the respect you should get and never really get paid what you should get paid. I didn't say this to the band and we booked the gig. Now the band leader has asked us to contact people to get a crowd. WOW! Playing cheap PLUS we have to provide the crowd?!? I'm not feeling good about this at all.

Thoughts?

Once they get you Cheap, they can hold it over Your Head AND, every other Band that plays there.

If you do it, Word will spread among not only the other bands but, the other clubs!
You Reputation will be that taking a Hit is how you do Business.

Think about it.