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Money & Negotiations


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Posted

I'm working on booking my new project and ran across an issue. One of the booking agents I'm looking to deal with has an online form for all your info, websites, etc. One field was for how much money you'd work for. Now, my group is brand spanking new so we have no frame of reference from other gigs or anything. We were in an band together previously, but that was a full original band (therefore, not making much $) and this new thing is a duo that's about 60-40 covers to originals.

 

It's one of those trap questions like asking for salary requirements on a resume. I feel like just putting "negotiable" in the field and negotiating it in person. Is this acceptable, or is there some magic amount I should be plugging in?

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Posted

Yeah I would just put "negotiable." In fact I can't imagine a legit booking agent asking that question to begin with.

 

Any agent worth his keep will be willing to work for a percentage and therefore it'll be in his interest to get you gigs that pay as much as possible. He won't want you to take $100 gigs any more than you do, so why would he even ask how little you're willing to take?

 

If you agree to pay an agent a flat fee per gig, then there's really no point even having an agent because he won't care whether he gets you a decent gig or not. And if he takes a percentage but he knows you're willing to play for, say, $200, there's nothing to really stop him from booking you a $1000 gig and paying you 200. Don't put anything past someone purporting to be an agent. :D

 

Bottom line: don't answer the question.

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Posted

Originally posted by LateGreats

I'm working on booking my new project and ran across an issue. One of the booking agents I'm looking to deal with has an online form for all your info, websites, etc. One field was for how much money you'd work for. Now, my group is brand spanking new so we have no frame of reference from other gigs or anything. We were in an band together previously, but that was a full original band (therefore, not making much $) and this new thing is a duo that's about 60-40 covers to originals.


It's one of those trap questions like asking for salary requirements on a resume. I feel like just putting "negotiable" in the field and negotiating it in person. Is this acceptable, or is there some magic amount I should be plugging in?

 

Oh man, I know who you're talking about. :D

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Posted

Originally posted by fastplant



Oh man, I know who you're talking about.
:D

 

Yes indeed, you are probably correct!

 

Back in my old band, we used to have good luck with him. Of course in that band, we had a female member that the agent wanted to hook up with. I may just go with booking myself without an agent, but I've never had to deal with any of this stuff before.

 

I'm shocked that no one has piped up with a "offer to pay for free, bus the tables, dust the fixtures, wash the dishes and carnally satisfy the 60 year-old barfly" suggestion.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by LateGreats




I'm shocked that no one has piped up with a "offer to pay for free, bus the tables, dust the fixtures, wash the dishes and carnally satisfy the 60 year-old barfly" suggestion.

 

 

nah, Ovation doesn't post anymore.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by salislore

LateGreats and fastplant:


Are the initials for the agent you are talking about M.T. ?

 

 

Yes. Like I said, I've never had a problem with him personally, but the bad stories are out there.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by LateGreats



Yes. Like I said, I've never had a problem with him personally, but the bad stories are out there.

 

 

I will throw in my two cents and say I also was very scared prior to working with him. But if you are totally honest with him and have your {censored} together.. i.e. have your band members' unavailable dates ready.. keep your calendar handy at all or most times... he's fine. He's very curt and to the point, that is all. I have managed to create a good relationship with him over the last year and have no complaints whatsoever. I have not found him to be anything other than reasonable and fair.

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Posted

I haven't had any problems with him either. I was just curious if that's who you guys were talking about.

 

There's another agency in the same area that also asks you to tell them your minimum pay requirement for a gig.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by salislore

I haven't had any problems with him either. I was just curious if that's who you guys were talking about.


There's another agency in the same area that also asks you to tell them your minimum pay requirement for a gig.

 

 

I think I know which one you're talking about. At least the one guy puts you in places that fit your style. The other one used to just book you in places and not pay any attention to that, like getting your hard rock band booked in a blues club.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by worthyjoe



I will throw in my two cents and say I also was very scared prior to working with him. But if you are totally honest with him and have your {censored} together.. i.e. have your band members' unavailable dates ready.. keep your calendar handy at all or most times... he's fine. He's very curt and to the point, that is all. I have managed to create a good relationship with him over the last year and have no complaints whatsoever. I have not found him to be anything other than reasonable and fair.

 

 

 

I agree, I've worked with him for a while too. He'll do a really good job as long as he knows he's not the only one doing any work. You have to show that you're doing your part too.

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