How much $ to expect from gigs?

We're a new band, and our fanbase is therefore nil.

We're now booking gigs in small clubs.

How much $ can we expect? We'll probably be starting out playing weeknight gigs. We're in Seattle, if that matters.

We play all orginals.

I would suggest you try networking with other more established bands, find out how much they make, and try to piggyback with them as an opener. Generally speaking, new original bands don't get much money until they can draw.

I think the pay scale varies by region, so you might not get much useful info. Networking with other bands is the way to go. The alternative is playing on the "showcase night" at a pro-music venue, where they might take a chance on you (and promote you) if they like your sound.

I never got anything when I was in that situation

LOL, I wasn't expecting any real money anyway.

At least I won't be disappointed!

Yeah, if you can get gigs, that's great, and about as much as you can hope for. Even when you become relatively well known, you probably won't see any profit from the band for years (and even then if you're lucky). All our money goes into our new album, promotion, touring etc.

Networking with other bands is key in getting gigs...here in the Detroit area it seems that you'll do 2-4 bands in a night at a club and pool your fans. No money, but a good way to get more people to hear your music, which is how you want to get things started anyway. The only thing I don't like about that situation (aside from the no money part) is that you don't get to play enough. On the other hand, my blues band plays all night and actually gets paid some OK cash, but there I'm doing covers all night. Oh well.

I made $80 for an opening slot in a spokane club with an originals band.

40-80 seems typical in Portland for a band that draws very few.

Three words: Pay to Play.

My advice, don't play 'pay to play' gigs.

Otherwise, you'll have sold out before you even made it. Stick with the advice of everyone else and just get opening slots with more established local bands that sound similar in style to you.

Well the intention is NOT to have to PAY to play.. but when no one shows, you owe the soundguy his pay.

Normally (at least around here) the sounds guys keep around $100-150 for running sound for the bands that night. Usually if you get 10 ppl for $5 at the door, you'll cut the sound guy his $40 (assuming there are a few more bands who will help pay the sound guy) and pocket the $10.

My bands last gig was close to that, but we made a whopping $12 split 4 ways.

Woo hoo.. I spent $20 on Guinness :phil:

An orignal band with no fans? It shouldn't cost you too much to get a gig. In fact, if you get a big enough following, someday it might not cost you anything at all to go out and play! Reach for the stars!

I was responding to his question: how much should he expect to earn at gigs?

If he is in an originals band, the short answer is that if he wants to actually GET gigs, and not just dream of getting gigs, he will probably have to pay to play.

I've only done the originals thing once, and that is because they desperately needed a bass player to fill in for them for a few months. It was a real eye opener. BTW, I was 49 and they were in their late teens and very early 20's. The band that preceeded us one night had a lead singer that actually wore a hockey goalie mask with streaks of red paint coming down from the holes.

On a side note, the leader of the band I played for did actually end up getting signed, for all the good it will do him. Getting signed in the music business is the equivalent of getting a job at McDonalds in the job market. Regarding that climb of the corporate ladder it means absolutely nothing.

Sure it does! It means he has his debts a little more consolidated!

I think really to get an edge in showcasing your org band, and if you are really talented and not dreamers, no pun intended, and of course I assume you have your press kit, CD, photos, a possible live DVD/CD, see if you can get a publicist to get you some publicity and interest in the community. It might be the most valuable asset you put money into. Doesn't hurt to approach promoters, and see if you can get on some functions where you could "open" for main acts, maybe lay down 4-5 tunes and check your reaction to the crowd

I still love Van Halen's story because they were based in Pasadena where i lived. David Lee Roth's dad was an affluent MD and helped bankroll the band, plus ole Dave owned the PA or so it goes. and that's why the band kept him. I actually heard a tape of one of their first public concerts at the city college and hearing Dave tell the crowd that they needed a recording contract. At that time, who would have known they would become superstars of rock, rich and famous, but of course they had immense talent.

There is no one way or easy solution to getting an org band off the ground, but don't get into that pay to play crap, that is the worst disease to hit the music biz and it needs to be stamped out. Also, see if you can play for city events, picnics, parks and recs, benefits, etc. but at least try to get some gas/expenses funds turned your way

katt

Maybe Portland is extra friendly to original acts, but here the pay to play gigs are pretty much just for suckers and people who don't know where venues are that will pay you for playing original music.

+1 contact the local parks and rec dept. and the chamber of commerce and see where you can play. you may not make any money (maybe busking) but you will get exposure and if you are good a fan base. also work the hell out of your myspace site.

http://www.myspace.com/eileenpennymentrio

sold out before youve even made it? wtf are you 13?

if you want to make money in this game then you do it whatever way possible and for originals pay to play is one of the only avenues to do that until those major labels come running for your signature.

on the subject of selling out. im doing a gig tonight with a setlist reading where i bet every tune bar one would appear in a "what cover songs are overplayed" thread.

for my trouble ill be earning more money tonight than half a year gigging 3 times a week doing originals

if that's the price of selling out then im all for it

In london you don't even get a cut of the door before you bring 20 people. If you're a new band and you play small venues regularly, it's pretty darn challenging to convince your mates to come see you play every 2 weeks and pay £5 plus drink money for the privelage! Most gigs we play land us in the £-ve!

You'll probably make the headlining band some extra money when you bring your friends in the door... if they're feeling considerate, they might toss some your way. When I was playing originals in the last band, any money we made was split between bands evenly after the sound and other expenses were paid for. Many headlining bands won't pay out a penny, and many take a larger cut (which, if they want to, more power to them -- that's why they're the headlining band). Right now, you'd really appreciate it if the headliners split the pay with all the bands equally... and one or two of them might... but don't expect it.

But when you get to headline these places, consider the bands who are opening for you, and maybe start a precedent.

All of the shows we play, we play with 2 or 3 other bands and split the door equally. There is no "soundguy" to pay, one of the bands bring the PA and run sound for the other bands. Our last show our band made a whole 28 bucks But we got paid.

Do you find that the more people you have following you to gigs, the more you can expect to get paid ?

http://www.livelocals.net

Pay to play? You guys are crazy. You can play house parties and bars and stuff for free drinks before you should ever pay a venue for "the privilege".

My all-originals trio started out playing our stuff at open mic nights at one bar. The manager thought we were great and keeps telling us to come back. After just two or three of those, we got invited to play at another place. Customers there were telling us about half dozen places that would pay to have us play.

Hey, that just raises the question of what are you willing to do to win a crowd...i've been in venues, the one that my last band actually played, where we got booed for being the only non-theatrical band there, the crowd wanted dark stuff with masks and smoke.

We aim for ~£50/night.

That's what, 25 people, you getting cut £2/person.

You might not have any fans, but 5 people in a band must have 5 friends each...