Come play for exposure & MAYBE $$...

#21
RobTheRiot said:
Have you heard that anecdote/blurb about how you would never ask a chef to come over & cook you dinner & if you like it, you might use him again & pay him next time? And how you wouldn’t do that, so why do it to musicians?

We all know it happens, is BS, but still I was shocked when I saw this.
Not that it’s happening, but that it’s spelled out in the most blindly ignorant, amazingly direct way...

AND bring, set up & use your own PA!!!
Incredible!!

(Those who don’t know, this is a pretty sizable chain, at least locally with dozens of locations around town!)

View attachment 2965805

*And I get that for younger bands or those who play for fun, they may think this is great, but you have to be aware of the precedent this sets, and it’s just one more thing working against those who make their living playing music.

May seem like over reaction, it’s not the end of world, I know that; however Vegas is an amazing place in that bands can make a living by playing smaller venues around town.
DJ’s have already taken away so many live music venues (this month my band found out 2 venues we played multiple times monthly have gone to DJ only), if this gives other small venues an idea, it’s a step toward becoming a pay to play town.
I know it’s not close to that, but it starts somewhere...

(And the PA thing is a slap in any/everyone’s face!)

End rant - :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
We refuse to play freebies and pay to play unless the show has a very good chance of drawing over a thousand people or it’s opening for a band Several of our band members would have paid to go see anyways. I’ve been there and done that. Majority of the time you just end up playing to your regulars for free. Especially with 2nd tier national bands. I can’t tell you how many times over the years we’ve out drawn the National band that walked away with all the money in the name of “exposure”
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobTheRiot, Bunk McNulty and Bassbeater
#22
I think that if you are a seasoned enough band to turn your nose up at such an offer, you should.

Besides, club owner is going to get what is paid for. I mighta done it a long while back. And, the club owner woulda got what he paid for...
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobTheRiot
#23
dreamadream99 said:
It used to be so clear cut. You start off playing in B or C grade bars, till you build a strong local following, which you then parlay into playing the A list bars (based on reputation and word of mouth). Then parlay your local following into something more widespread, or a record deal.

Then somewhere along the way band leaders started trying to circumvent the local following part, and just went straight for bookings, which inevitably ended in no repeat bookings, due to the poor to nill turnout.

Then, somewhere along the way, the whole music industry changed, and radio is no longer how people hear new music, and Facebook and YouTube are the new exposure mediums.

I, like so many older cats, no longer have any idea how to succeed in music these days. Most of us are still doggedly doing it the way we did 40 years ago.
Click to expand...

I jumped the original ship years ago and started doing covers to get out of this stuff. I think nowadays you have to pound social media, have recordings to sell, and do stuff like OP is showing (it find venues and sell tickets) to make it happen. A whole lot of work!
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobTheRiot and Bunk McNulty
#25
If even one person the the band brings in buys food and/or drinks, the bar has already made money off the band that they are not paying. Said band is already down gas money, P.A., backline and lights usage and labor. The band is benefitting the bar, not the other way around. Not much of a chance for the band to "make money".
Steer clear of these gigs...
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobTheRiot and Bassbeater
#28
RobTheRiot said:
Have you heard that anecdote/blurb about how you would never ask a chef to come over & cook you dinner & if you like it, you might use him again & pay him next time? And how you wouldn’t do that, so why do it to musicians?
Click to expand...

I hate to get in the way of a good rant - especially one I fundamentally agree with - but as a chef who had his own local kitchen for years I can tell you this absolutely does happen in the food world. From community events that seem able to pay for everything else at the event right up to wealthy clients hosting a wedding or party and want to offer you the “opportunity” to impress their friends for “exposure.” I really rolled my eyes at the ones who wanted free (or seriously discounted) catering and promised that one of their friends has a food blog and will write you up. You know, because then you’d be set for life. It’s all the same arguments we hear as musicians.

There is a special hell for cheap event planners and sleazy booking agents.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheBear, RobTheRiot, wintremute and 1 other person
#32
we used to do something kinda like that back in the 70's = playing for the Door ...

you learned quickly to have your own ' head counter ' at the door ..!! since the bars would wanna let their friends in , and only charge a Cover to strangers ...!! = BS

if i wanna play for exposure ... i'd do some kind of benefit / charity thing ... then i could at least ' right it off ' ..!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobTheRiot
#34
Bassbeater said:
Why not just rent a showcase rehearsal room for two or three bands, use the already set up stage, lights, PA and backline, and have all your friends and family bring potluck dishes. Seriously....
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't like freebies that involve us hauling and setting P.A. and lights. We have a lot of stuff. And if it's a multi-band bill full of freebies, you know there is going to be some gear begging and borrowing going on, another can of worms.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobTheRiot
#36
electracoyote said:
gear begging and borrowing going on
Click to expand...
This is one of the first things that popped into my head when I read the OP. Really when you break it all down the only things the promoter actually did was convince the boss to allow a live band and then make up some posters. You can bet the promoter will start connecting bands that are interested and suggesting they share gear to save work. At the VERY least the club could offer to comp meals or share a small % of the bar sales as a good faith offer. This isn't even remotely generous to the people they want to work for free. I suppose the club offers free electricity for the amps, maybe you have to bring a generator.
The lame.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobTheRiot
#38
This is fracking nonsense. Why would I play any venue for free? Are they at least giving musicians a couple beers or some grub? While exposure is nice it doesn't pay for my gear, time or bills so there had better be a built in crowd.. Oh wait I need to bring the PA and the crowd? LOL.. I'm glad I'm not 16 anymore and I get paid actual money to play every week. Oh and I just noticed they want two 45 min sets hahaha for free? y'all are smoking too much of that good up there in Vegas at PTs
 
  • Like
Reactions: RobTheRiot
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back