Backstage With the Band

[jeff42]

WOW.. we have been getting a lot of offers for gigs that pay next to nothing lately. I guess its a sign of the times. Some of these places are new and some are not but they all seem to be calling me in the last few days. LOL

I guess that is good that we are on their radar but the reaction to our price is usually: OMG what?!!?!?! and it isn't very high.

It makes me think of the tiny amount of money some bands are actually playing for in my area. I must make sure my band doesn't have to play for pennies. Got to keep on top of our game I guess. 

One lady told me she had no idea we were in such "high demand" LOL. I'll take that as a complement. 

[tlbonehead]

"low paying" could mean many different areas. Some bands might consider $400 to be lowball, to others $600 could be insulting, and for others it could be $1000.

[jeff42]

true it is subjective but the price for my band should on average go up not down. I am just happy that our schedule is almost totally full between now and June. I don't see us needing low paying gigs (low for us) for awhile and that's a damn good thing! We are investing in this trio (time/money) to make it the best we possibly can. 

[RoadRanger]

^ Congrats! It sounds like your little trio is setting the bar in your area  .

[tlbonehead]

yep, gotcha. it shouldn't go down unless the quality goes down. But that still doesn't tell us what you mean by lowball.

[RupertB]

For every five "interested" calls I get, I expect that 3-4 will not meet our price. 

To varying degrees, this is a function of:

- Being established in the market, already playing a half-dozen different venues.

- Reliable turnout:  Marketing & (hopefully) a good product.

- We're a duo, so we're seen as a low-cost alternative to full bands.  As such, we're a magnet for places that want entertainment on the cheap.  That isn't bad per-se but we assiduously avoid places that want us to "rock out" or play dance music all night (eg "We want a band but don't want to pay for one").

If you're not leaving some business on the table, you're not going to be making any more next year.  If you take every gig you're offered regardless of pay, don't be surprised if you're making LESS next year.  Think bar owners/managers don't talk to each other about what live acts cost? 

[jeff42]

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tlbonehead wrote:

yep, gotcha. it shouldn't go down unless the quality goes down. But that still doesn't tell us what you mean by lowball.

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$200

and today's caller said MAYBE $250 but she would have to talk to the owner. LOL

[StratGuy22]

Pass. $100/man minimum. Try to keep the bar at least that high.

Fuck am.

Or the next place will hear that you played for $200

[jeff42]

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StratGuy22 wrote:
Pass. $100/man minimum. Try to keep the bar at least that high.

Fuck am.

Or the next place will hear that you played for $200

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I am as nice as I can be about turning them down. I am getting more and more calls from places (which is great) but it worries me that they think they can get ANY decent band for $200...

And who knows? Maybe they can. A few months ago I had an end of the night conversation with a young area guitar player who said he "just wants to play, man." He doesn't care how much his band makes.

I told him wouldn't it be great to "just play, man" AND get paid decently for all the work you guys put into it?

[jimiv]

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jeff42 wrote:

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StratGuy22 wrote:
Pass. $100/man minimum. Try to keep the bar at least that high.

Fuck am.

Or the next place will hear that you played for $200

---

I am as nice as I can be about turning them down. I am getting more and more calls from places (which is great) but it worries me that they think they can get ANY decent band for $200...

And who knows? Maybe they can. A few months ago I had an end of the night conversation with a young area guitar player who said he "just wants to play, man." He doesn't care how much his band makes.

I told him wouldn't it be great to "just play, man" AND get paid decently for all the work you guys put into it?

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The amount of bands or DJs who will play out here for 200.00 or less a night is infinity.

[StratGuy22]

Yeah I'm going through the same thing, I put us in a small 2 day event for 2/3 of our 1 set rate, but it will be good publicity to get out name out there.

I'll be doing sound for the event so it will be fun to do a set. The idea of playing a local bar as well, but it's half price from out usual on day rate. It will be way too much hassle logistic wise. For full pay I could make it work, but for half pay the bar gig is a no go.


They are booking us for Halloween at our "special occasion" rate (NYE & Halloween) so that's cool.

[tlbonehead]

I won't book a gig for less than $150/person, plus 10% for the band kitty.

[WynnD]

I'd like to do that, but the local market doesn't support that with 6 musicians.

Anyone besides me think that there ought to be a band pay registry where you can report your last gig's pay per man and market area and gig type? If the average pay was well known, I think the average pay would go up because the low price bands would demand more. It would only work if everyone was honest and this forum would be the place to do it.

[RoadRanger]

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WynnD wrote:

Anyone besides me think that there ought to be a band pay registry where you can report your last gig's pay per man and market area and gig type? If the average pay was well known, I think the average pay would go up because the low price bands would demand more. It would only work if everyone was honest and this forum would be the place to do it.

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I think most bands (and sound providers) would be too embarrassed to do that  . And for every band demanding more there'd be two willing to play for less.

[StratGuy22]

Plus it's so widespread. What happens to me in canada means little to someone in Chicago.

[guido61]

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RoadRanger wrote:

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 And for every band demanding more there'd be two willing to play for less.

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THIS^^

It could end up having the reverse effect by letting everyone know what the going rate is and giving them the opportunity to low-ball their way into the gigs. 

I don't know what the answer is to all this except to just try to do it the old fashioned way and be SO good that the clubs can't afford to NOT pay you what you want.  But that means being able to draw a crowd or, at the very least, hold the crowd that's there in a manner that no other bands can do it.

By definition there's always going to be a few bands in every market that rise to this level.  There's always going to be a couple of bands at the top of the heap and the rest are left playing catch up.  I don't know that THAT'S ever been in different.  Seems the only real difference is that the floor is so much lower than it used to be.

[tlbonehead]

another good reason to streamline a bit.

[guido61]

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tlbonehead wrote:
another good reason to streamline a bit.

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What?  By having fewer members?   That's just a downward spiral to everyone being a solo act playing to tracks.

The goal should be to up the game and increase the pay, not simply just cut expenses.

[Potts]

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tlbonehead wrote:

yep, gotcha. it shouldn't go down unless the quality goes down. But that still doesn't tell us what you mean by lowball.

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Dude...It's not that difficult. They're getting asked to play gigs for less money than they're accustomed to.

[dan88z]

I simply don't entertain offers that don't meet certain criteria. Money is not always the end game, but it's a factor. I turn down a lot of bar gigs where I know the bar is booking lower end bands, that expects me to bring 100 of my best Jagerbomb drinking buddies with me so they can have a "good" night. They are not worth my effort anymore. I'd rather book the small restaurant a mile away that has a built in crowd that doesn't pay me great but never stiffs me, comps my drinks and maybe my food, and gives me a general nicer experience.  

I look at:

1: fun factor

2: pay

3: venue/gig type

If 2 of the 3 criteria works for the band, I'll book it.