"We can't afford to pay you much (or at all), but it will be good exposure for you and your band!"
Consider a few things before you ask me to play for free:
- I'm not only volunteering my time, but the time of my band mates and our families as well.
- I'm also volunteering our equipment and our vehicles (not to mention the gas that goes into them).
Starting to add up, right? I'm not done.
- time it takes us to load up our equipment (which isn't cheap to maintain, by the way)
- time it takes us to get to the venue
- time it takes us to set up
- time it takes to tear down and pack up
- time to get home
- time to unload the equipment
All of that is on top of the time we spend playing and spending our money in your venue.
So, the next time you ask me to play for free, or next to free for anything other than a charity fund raiser (which is an entirely different thing), don't be surprised when I roll my eyes and tell you no thanks. We just can't afford that kind of exposure.
Your points are valid , Musicians should expect to be paid for their services.
ReplyDeleteHowever, If you are a band or Musician with no track record or previous experiance playing for free is in most cases the only way you are going to be able to secure your next gig.
The reality is that people just are not going out to see live local bands the same way they (or we) did in the 80's and 90's . You can blame different reasons for this...
** Laws pertaining to drinking and driving
** The closing of Hotels / Bars that are big enough to hire a 4-5 piece band
** Smaller Pubs /Bars don't have the capacities that generate enough income to make paying an act worth while ( remember the band counts against the capacity total )
** It is still the 19-29 age crowd that has the $$ to spend at the bars and most prefer the canned music of the dance clubs
Playing music will never be financially rewarding for the majority of local musicians.
Unless you play for the love of it and find reward enough in that....
A.J. Rowley
So, by that reasoning, should a carpenter, plumber, electrician, mechanic or pipe fitter just starting out work for free in order to secure their next job?
ReplyDeleteMaybe bar owners should give every new patron their first drink for free to secure the next sale?
Sure, musicians play for the love of music (that's what jamming is all about), but it's just not right that some places expect to profit from it with no compensation for the service provided.
I think you're correct in that a lot of small clubs can't afford to pay for live acts, but if I can't afford to pay to see a movie, I just don't go.
What I was saying was that a Band or musician with limited experience playing venues cant expect to to be paid top dollar for their services, People who work in the trades you have listed have all paid their dues by working in apprenticeships, or for a company for low wages. It is not till these trades people have proven themselves (through experience and certifcation) that they can expect to be paid at the rates of the qualified and reputable tradesmen.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you base your expected pay for preforming on ?
Is there a musicians pay schedule that states what a solo artist - orchestra should be compensated for their services.
Bottom line if you wanna be paid what you feel your worth, get out there put in the gigs (for smaller $ or free if need be )
and develop some fans other than family to come see you, If a Bar knows you are bringing in a following to see you they will be alot more willing to pay more for your services.
Also A.J. Consider the fact that they then either open a business doing that trade or work for company. If they cannot produce good work for their employer they will be back to sq#1. If they open their business, just like a musicians repuation, if he doesn't produce his business fails. Music is really no different. It's Just a business.
DeleteI don't think anyone's expecting top dollar, just fair compensation. Free ain't fair.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying you're wrong here.. I think people should be paid what their worth. Rather than play free tell the bar you will work for the door. Win-Win if you can produce the ticket sales. But I am a pretty fair musician and well respected. However I am not by my name going to sell out a place.. So why should the venue take all the risk. A musician like anyone else in business needs to prove their worth.
DeleteYour doing a job,should get at least minimum wage for time and cost to do the job.
ReplyDeleteIf you work for someone,do you complete the job then let them pay you if they feel you were worth it.Of course not!
If they didnt like your work they have the right to never hire you again.
To ask a band to play for free is ridiculous unless it is a charity event.Even then some musicians get a share.
We all love to play,thats a no brainer.We wouldn't put the time and effort in if we didn't.But dont ask me to help entertain your patrons so you can make a profit.
Musicians need exposure but need to get payed as well.
Musician also need to be reasonable in how much they ask for ,just like any other competitive job market.