Need opinions...start-up cover band fees

[klrbee03]

I'd like to hear some opinions on a topic we've been debating among my band members.

 

We're a startup cover band, just a few guys that have kicked around in a basement for a couple of years, with no real gigging experience. I recently joined after a long hiatus from the band scene.

 

We're just starting to gig. We've played ONE gig at the local "anyone can play there" club and rocked. So now we're trying to get more people to hear us, and the gigs that are coming along are from friends and the like who want us to play at house parties, block parties, etc. Most of these people don't have huge budgets, but they want entertainment, so they can't really pay.

 

My opinion is a) we're a startup, and not professional quality yet, b) exposure is what we need now to get better (read paying) gigs and c) this is FUN. So for now, I'm happy to play for free, or just to cover expenses.

 

One of my band mates is insisting that we need to get paid or its not worth it to make the effort.

 

We're not taking money away from any pros, as these events would have no band if we didn't do it for free.

 

I'd appreciate any thoughts...

[miles to go]

Remember, it costs you money to play a gig. There's consumables (gas, strings, batteries, etc.), wear and tear on the equipment, replacing stuff that gets lost or broken, time and effort, etc. I'm not saying that the parties have to cover these expenses, just be aware of them.

 

I would say if you have the intent of becoming a "pro" or "semi-pro" band (i.e. - get out of the garage/basement) you should probably be charging something. It can be a special "buddy" rate, but you don't want to set the precedent of playing for free.

[emdub123]

KlrBee,

 

How long has your band been playing together? How many songs do you have? How did you get the PA taken care of? I'm asking because your situation sounds similar to mine...

[GCDEF]

Depends on a lot of things. How long you play, how many people in attendance, how good your equipment is, how good you are really, etc.

 

A full night in a club minimum should be $250, unless you suck or don't have good quality sound, then you shouldn't be out at all.

[klrbee03]

Thanks for the input.

 

We've been playing together since April, and although we definitely don't suck, there are quite a few cover bands in our area that are pretty good, although some of them charge a mint. We're not there yet. We've got about 40 songs that we play pretty well, with a handful that are tired old ones that we'll retire as soon as we learn a few replacements.

 

And although I say "free", we're still asking the party holders to cover expenses like PA rental (the one we use for practice won't cover an outdoor gig). One of them is right in our neighborhood, so its not like gas money would be a problem. Food and beer are expected, of course!

 

As for strings and accessories, I've been pouring money into my rig for the last year with no revenue to offset costs in sight! Charging a friend $200 to split 4 ways won't even put a dent in that, although a "buddy rate" does sound like a good idea.

 

Appreciate the help.

[GZsound]

The main thing to keep in mind is that playing for free really means you are paying to play.

 

When a friend asks you to play for free, they are really saying you should be a pal and pay to play.

 

Equipment costs, maintenance costs, strings, and even gas to get to the gig all cost money.

 

Ask your friends if they would expect their friends that are plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, etc. to come to their homes and work for three or four hours for nothing..

 

The only other thing I suggest you try is asking. Ask if any money for gas etc. is available, ask if you can set out a donation jar, etc.

 

We, as musicians, have been screwed since the first musician in the world told his friend he "played" in a band. Everyone knows "playing" is different than "working"...right?

[Singin' Dave]

Not only that, time = money. I know you guys get something out of it too ("exposure", good times, chicks digging you -hopefully, etc), but load in, set up, humping gear to a from, etc. are all factors to be considered.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Two suggestions:

 

(1) Be honest and tell them that you can't do it for free, but that you're willing to work w/ them on the price.

 

(2) At the party, enlist the hottest, slinkiest babe(s) to walk around with a plastic bucket and say "Hey, let's kick in for this bad-ass band!"

 

Best of luck!

[orfalot]

Good advice Terry. I'm not saying that just because a band plays for free that they aren't any good but there is some truth to the fact that you get what you pay for. Don't play for free and always try to get the most for your services.

[babyfrank]

We started gigging regularly again about 18 months ago, after a break of about 3 years. About 50% of our first few gigs were freebies, more about getting back into playing for a real crowd than anything else, but since then we've agreed between us on a "one freebie per member per year" rule, which we use for pet projects - for example, we did one for my son's school PTA earlier this year.

 

Outside of that we've done a few where we've done it for expenses only, which sounds like the buddy rate mentioned earlier in this thread. (If I was trying to make a living out of this, I'd likely make sure that we were only doing properly paid gigs)

 

We've only come a cropper with this once where a local bar owner knew we'd done a couple of freebie gigs, and assumed that we'd do the same for him at his place, with the reasoning that his son's band had played there for free, so why should we expect to be paid. The difference was his son's band first set lasted 20 minutes, after which they took a break, and their second set lasted 15 minutes Needless to say I didn't take him up on his "offer"

 

It's worth mentioning that the freebies can definitely lead to other gigs - we've picked up quite a few paid gigs on the strength of performances we've done for free, and even in a couple of cases from word-of mouth from the free gigs.

 

BabyFrank

[Outrider]

Our band planned to have a "ramp-up" period where we played a few free or near-zero events. We even paid to be in a local band battle, where the money went to support the event and the local Blues Society.

 

HOWEVER...we planned an end to that period as well. Those shows were for helping us put together our show and field-test our project.

 

The concept of "playing for exposure" was dreamed up by cheap promoters/owners. It's just a smokescreen. Those gigs are fine under certain conditions...playing for fun, playing for charity, playing for friends, etc. All very cool if you know the score and are happy doing it. A friend's party is one thing, but dealing with venues is another...

 

I don't want to undersell my band because if I do, we will simply come off looking like tourists. Like amateurs. If they perceive that you are their bitch, you'll get treated like their bitch. I get enough of that from club owners already. We sell ourselves big and then do our best to live up to it. Perception is reality...so don't set a bad precedent.

[klrbee03]

In our situation, this would certainly be a temporary arrangement until we get a bit more experience, develop a name for ourselves, and only for people we know personally. I like the "one freebie per member" rule, and that would certainly apply in our situation. We always we ask for a reasonable rate first i.e. "we normally charge X for that type of event". If there is a lack of budget, then we decide, because we are getting something out of it too.

 

One party we're considering playing will have hundreds of people in attendance, which means the party planners must have alot of money to buy food and drinks to accomodate all those people. That's certainly a situation where we would charge or not play. A different gig is at a local block party where the neighborhood is doing a potluck, and buying some beer. They thought it would be cool to have a band, so we said sure, if you pay for the PA and feed us. All those people are potential bar goers who might pay a cover to see us another time. Seems fair to me.

 

Also, I would never, ever agree to play for free if the person running the party/club/etc. were making a profit out of it.

[RupertB]

I suggest a starting point of $50 a man. If you start getting busy, you can always work up from there. If you find your schedule getting thin and you want to play more, there are plenty of events that you can play for free. Contact local chapters of charitable organizations and offer your services for any upcoming events. Look for events like Relay for Life (Cancer Walk), Hurricane Benefits, etc.

 

Don't let ANYONE who isn't a bona-fide charity (NFP) make money off of you for nothing.

[moogerfooger]

I'm with rupertB - if the venue is making money -- you should be too. Don't sell yourselves short. there are plenty of sucky bands out there getting 50 to 100 per man everynight. If you have put that much time into putting your band together you should be compensated the same as other bands on your level. Being professional is a state of mind. If you think of yourselves as non-professional, you will find it hard to make the transition to pro or semi pro. ---- set a price--- ask for it--- and you'll get it.