Members LiveMusic Posted March 20, 2006 Members Posted March 20, 2006 Just wondering if you know of situations such as this. Where a certain sideman gets paid more than others for the same gig. I was thinking of a guitar player I know who is about as get as they get for a certain sound. He has his own band, so, it's not really relevant but I was musing about if he hired out, how much he would get. Not saying it's bad, just curious. With anything else in the world, it's just business. If you're better, you get paid more. Another case could be made for a guy who is a multi-instrumentalist in a group where that would be an asset.
Members BlueStrat Posted March 20, 2006 Members Posted March 20, 2006 Originally posted by LiveMusic Just wondering if you know of situations such as this. Where a certain sideman gets paid more than others for the same gig.I was thinking of a guitar player I know who is about as get as they get for a certain sound. He has his own band, so, it's not really relevant but I was musing about if he hired out, how much he would get. Not saying it's bad, just curious. With anything else in the world, it's just business. If you're better, you get paid more.Another case could be made for a guy who is a multi-instrumentalist in a group where that would be an asset. This is not all that unusual, at least in experience. There are a few guys around where I live who, if you want to hire them, they will cost you x number of dollars a night, and may even want to be compensated for their rehearsal time. They are not interested in being a member of the band, don't care if you are sucessful or not or even what your definition of success is. These guys are full time musicians, and depend on their income to live. They are good players and will give you what you are paying them for. They don't see much difference in charging a fee for live performance or for recording. Usually they get hired for fill in type gigs or for short-term bands that play for a summer or for a winter resort season, something like that. I don't have a problem with it. If they can get it, and someone wants to pay it, more power to them.
Members Blackwatch Posted March 20, 2006 Members Posted March 20, 2006 Yes...what BS said... I've always found it amazing what top flight musicians can be had for. I know a couple of guys that have had songs on the radio and were parts of national acts that can be had for $150 a day, recording or live. I thought about doing it for a CD just to have their names on it. (Well not to mention the music).
Members Beachbum Posted March 20, 2006 Members Posted March 20, 2006 Originally posted by LiveMusic Just wondering if you know of situations such as this. Where a certain sideman gets paid more than others for the same gig. I was thinking of a guitar player I know who is about as get as they get for a certain sound. He has his own band, so, it's not really relevant but I was musing about if he hired out, how much he would get. Not saying it's bad, just curious. With anything else in the world, it's just business. If you're better, you get paid more. Another case could be made for a guy who is a multi-instrumentalist in a group where that would be an asset. In my opinion it's all in how you set up the deal/situation beforehand. I've seen fabulous guitarists who really need the work sign up for some very low pay, and conversely I've seen some mediocre guitarists who don't need (or particularly want) the work become encouraged to play becuase the money is right. Long ago I used to be guy with the nicest PA system in town. Everybody kept asking me to do sound for them. I eventually set an established rate ($150.00 at the time) for me & my PA to do sound. Well, sometimes me & my PA made more than the rest of the band. Everything up front, nothing evil, just the way it was agreed. (And here's an interesting scenario - one night a band contracted me to do sound, I always got the deal down on paper, and then the band got stiffed by those who hired them - some kind of 'misunderstanding' regarding pay. The band said that since they didn't get paid I wasn't going to be paid either. What do you think of that?)
Members LiveMusic Posted March 20, 2006 Author Members Posted March 20, 2006 Originally posted by Beachbum (And here's an interesting scenario - one night a band contracted me to do sound, I always got the deal down on paper, and then the band got stiffed by those who hired them - some kind of 'misunderstanding' regarding pay. The band said that since they didn't get paid I wasn't going to be paid either. What do you think of that?) I think you had a verbal contract and in small claims court, you'd win. Of course, who wants to sue but if you did. It's not your fault, you were hired to do a job. Period. Those guys are low-class. Why are so many musicians idiots when it comes to business?
Members vanlatte Posted March 20, 2006 Members Posted March 20, 2006 Originally posted by BlueStrat This is not all that unusual, at least in experience. There are a few guys around where I live who, if you want to hire them, they will cost you x number of dollars a night, and may even want to be compensated for their rehearsal time. They are not interested in being a member of the band, don't care if you are sucessful or not or even what your definition of success is. These guys are full time musicians, and depend on their income to live. They are good players and will give you what you are paying them for. They don't see much difference in charging a fee for liver performance or for recording. Usually they get hired for fill in type gigs or for short-term bands that play for a summer or for a winter resort season, something like that. I don't have a problem with it. If they can get it, and someone wants to pay it, more power to them. We call them "Jobbers".
Moderators daddymack Posted March 20, 2006 Moderators Posted March 20, 2006 Originally posted by Beachbum (And here's an interesting scenario - one night a band contracted me to do sound, I always got the deal down on paper, and then the band got stiffed by those who hired them - some kind of 'misunderstanding' regarding pay. The band said that since they didn't get paid I wasn't going to be paid either. What do you think of that?) When I used to do sound reinforcement (late 70s, early 80's), our deal was "the equipment don't show until cash flows...", meaning they rented the gear and paid up front, then the mixing that we did was paid after as 'services rendered', usually an equal share with the band members. When I did side work as a guitarist, it would depend on how I liked the band...sometimes I worked for free or a free bar tab (and I don't drink much when I play) if I liked the band, and, if I didn't, sometimes it was more than a regular member (or two in some cases) would earn on a gig, but if they wanted me, they paid. When I did studio work in the 90's (for a few small studios in the SFV), I had a flat rate, with a 2 hour minimum, so if I nailed the part in a few takes, I walked out with two hours pay either way.
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