General Music Chat

So I've got the gig lined up with my client to play live, rehearsals are scheduled, and everything seems to be going great! Then, I ask about how much my client planned on paying me for the gig, and I'm suddenly not needed. I encounter this now and again because I'm freelance as opposed to being part of a band, but everytime it happens it pisses me off!! If these people wanted a plumber to come out to their home, they wouldn't try to stiff the plumber after their toilet was working. Why do they want to stiff pro musicians that they chose to hire for a gig the instant that payment is mentioned? I'm not saying that I'm the cat's meow on bass, but I know that I've got talent, and I'm not going to work for free!

I take responsibility for not discussing my payment arrangements ahead of time, but since I've worked with this client before on a gig that was free, and they told me future gigs would be paid gigs, I assumed that they understood payment would be due... I guess that's what happens when you assume, huh?!?! I make it a point to ALWAYS discuss what I expect for payment, and this time assuming got me no gig and no money... I'm not going to make this mistake again.

Have you guys ever had a chump stiff you for a gig or cancel when you asked for payment? Tell us about it.

Sticking my hand straight up in the air while holding it with the other arm to attract teachers attention...

Yes I've been there and it does not taste good either.

We had a local biker bunch that wanted us to play for a benefit, but we were already booked for later on that night at a club. He said they had a bunch of free local bands but they really wanted Rat Sass to do a couple of sets and they would pay us. I told him we usually charged $300, but we'd do it for $200 as it was a benefit. The sets went well and we even had to do a couple of encore numbers (good crowd). Then we got loaded up and ready to go and the guy told us they'd have our money at the gate. We went there and told the gate keeper that the guy in charge had sent us there to get paid, and he said, "But this is a benefit." We told him about the arrangements, about having another gig and that they wanted us so bad that they'd pay us and that we gave the $100 break, and he kept on with, "But this is a benefit." Finally he said he couldn't do it without authorization so we had to wait while someone went and got the main guy. It took forever like they were waiting for us to say, "Screw it." and leave, but we stayed and they finally came up and paid us. We barely made it to the next gig on time.

Ive found that if you give something away once, you will always be expected to give it away by that person.

Besides dont we all play for the fun of it!

Ive found that if you give something away once, you will always be expected to give it away by that person.

Besides dont we all play for the fun of it!

Someone asked me once what I would do if I won a million dollar lottery. I told them I'd probably just keep gigging until it was all gone.

I'd do that too but I would also create a kick ass studio with a bar where folks could hang out and have a good time, jam and have fun doing what they do best.

Ahhhh Mondays.......

Ive found that if you give something away once, you will always be expected to give it away by that person.

Besides dont we all play for the fun of it!

Someone asked me once what I would do if I won a million dollar lottery. I told them I'd probably just keep gigging until it was all gone.

Ive found that if you give something away once, you will always be expected to give it away by that person.

Besides dont we all play for the fun of it!

That's the thing though JW -- I do play for fun, but I also play for money. Being a session bassist for live and studio gigs is a part-time career for me right now that I'm developing to turn into a full-time career within the next 5 yrs. I usually let my clients know ahead of time what I expect for payment, and this time I brought it up after the scheduling of the gig and rehearsals. I'll take the hit for that -- that's on me; but I still wouldn't call a plumber to fix my toilet then kick him out of my house without paying him! Out of principle, it pisses me off that fellow musicians want to rip us off and not give us fair payment for services that we are providing to them for their music. It would be different if it were a band situation, but it isn't.

The ONLY good thing that came about from meeting this client and doing a one-time free gig for this person was meeting the owner/CEO of Starmount Records, Marcus Milner. Marcus called me last Friday night to let me know he has been listening to the song "Dancing With Athena" on my MySpace page that I played bass on, and he may have some work for me. No promises were made, but even if I don't get any work from it, it's cool to be recognized.

First of all does anybody go to their jobs or run their businesses for free... We all have bills to pay, and if you are not in a position to do charity work ... don't. Playing music is just like any other busines,you have to keep your personal feelings out of it. You have overhead expenses, you have to cover them. I did waaaay to many nights of getting home from work, loading the van, going on site, setting up the pa, going on at ten, playing til three, packing everything up, getting pulled over by police [leaving a bar], crawling into bed at five, getting up at six to go to a real job that pays MONEY!!!!
What I really don't understand is the amounts bands accept as payment now a days. IF YOUR NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH, MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION: IS THIS PROMOTIONAL OR IS IT JUST TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD.
SORRY, 600 bucks to become the band blocking the bathroom does not make any sense at all. PUT SOME VALUE ON ALL THE TALENT I SEE GOING ON HERE!!!!!!!!

Playing in a band is a buisness and if you don't understand this YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

I'd do that too but I would also create a kick ass studio with a bar where folks could hang out and have a good time, jam and have fun doing what they do best.

If I just had a cot in the corner there I would be happy for life!


www.myspace.com/blunderingeye
www.myspace.com/445175001
http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/6039/

"my dog is a bitch"

What's the old saying about assume? Makes an ass out of u & me? Don't assume anything about being paid. Just make sure you GET PAID. I make sure I get paid. (Maybe that's one reason I don't gig very much any more.)

Yeh the money isnt that good unless you're britney or kidd or elton ..

One word: contract.