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Topic: Cancelled Christmas & New Year gigs. |
Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 6 Dec 2008 8:42 pm |
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Our band has had two Christmas party gigs and two New Year gigs hauled out from under us already. Truthfully, Canada is not suffering as greatly with this financial crises as our neighbours to the south, however, people and corporations are already cutting back on all fringe spending.
How are you guys in the States making out with the holiday gig? |
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Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 3:51 am
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| Seems like the world is set on pause at the moment.... Somebody press play!!!!! |
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Jim Walker
From:
Headland, AL
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 4:21 am
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We lost our NYE job too and possibly as few other gigs. Clubs have been asking for us to take a cut in pay but we can't. 4 out of 5 of the guys in our band rely on music for a living including me. We have over $40,000 worth of equipment not to mention the $6,000 worth of truck and trailer we bought to haul it all in. Most of the cats in our band have been doing this 20+ years and are very talented. I think we deserve better.
If they can't afford to pay us $500 bucks a night for a band that packs the place out, then they are going to be real sorry when the $250 a night crappy ass band they hired to replace us runs the crowd off and they have to pay us $1000 a night to come back because they insulted us.
JW
_________________
Show Pro D10, Session 400 |
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Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 5:49 am
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| A weekly dance club has dropped to 1/2 of normal attendance. Maybe it is just a seasonal thing. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 6:51 am
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| We still have our NYE gig but I've heard reports jobs for the Nashville singers that come to Florida in the winter are not like they used to be. We only have one job with Johnny Carver in January and one with Tommy Cash in February this year. Last January we were on the road for two weeks with George Hamiltion IV and practically the entire month of February (we had 26 shows out of 28 days) with Tommy Cash. |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 12:39 pm
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Hey Jim,
I agree with you, when the crappy band runs the crowd off ...Make em pay, or don't go back. Some will say that it's better to get paid a little than nothing. I say it's a matter of principle. Been there, done that.
Bill
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 2:10 pm
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| if you're not making $200-300 apiece on holiday gigs, your getting taken advantage of... |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 3:07 pm
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I've worked a lot of NYE gigs that didn't pay that much, for each band member, and if one band doesn't want it there are many others that will take the job.
When I was in Kansas City, most clubs generally paid double of what they paid for regular gigs and it's not close to the $200-$300 figures for each band member. |
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James Cann
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 4:26 pm
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| Quote: |
| If they can't afford to pay us $500 bucks a night for a band that packs the place out, then they are going to be real sorry when the $250 a night crappy ass band they hired to replace us runs the crowd off and they have to pay us $1000 a night to come back because they insulted us. |
Did they insult you? How? By hiring another band? Sounds like they made the kind of business decision everyone's making these days. . . and if they do come back, what's next if they consider your "penalty fee for insulting them" an insult itself.
Why cut off your nose to spite your face? If you get the call, be professional about it: tell them you feel badly about how the other band didn't cut it and that you're happy to resume the gig at what you were getting before, or, have them open the haggle and see where it leads. |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 7:02 pm
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| Our New Years gig was supposed to pay us $850.00 for four band members. They offered three of our guys to show up for $300.00 but thankfully our guys turned it down. The company will now be using a canned music setup. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 7:55 pm
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Sorry to hear about the post gigs, guys. That always hurts. I've been very fortunate to have a standing NYE gig at a local chain hotel for the past four years, and it pays very well. I think if it was only $2-300 a man, I'd stay home with my family anyway. Not that I wouldn't appreciate the money, but many places charge upwards of $30 a head on NYE, and even if the place only sits 200, that's $6,000 on the door alone before the bar take.
For instance, the hotel I play charges $40 a head and the venue holds 1100. Do the Math there. If they came to us and offered $200 a man, it would obviously be a joke. It's plain to everyone the profit being made. They have three bands playing, but even that only amounts to about 15 musicians. Even if they gave everyone a grand, they still be making $25,000 before bar take.
I think anything under $500 a man is too little for NYE, with the money being made at most venues. You have to make sure you're a part of that profit. This is just my opinion, of course. I know many other factors are at play, including competition with other bands. But a line has to be drawn where you don't let a place get away with making a killing while you get the shaft.
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 3:25 am
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That's great for up in the "north country". Here in Florida with all the retirees you can't get away with charging that much at most places. When they have shows at the RV "Resorts" (Parks)with the Nashville singers, they can't usually get away with charging more than $7.00 each or very few will show up. There are exceptions but in general if it's not "cheap" they won't come, regardless of who is appearing - a big name or a local band.
You can "draw a line in the sand" and only work for a minimum of X dollars (or whatever currency) but in many areas of the US you'll never have a gig and it's been that way for many years.
When I was in Nashville, in the early 70's, the going rate (they called it Broadway wages) was $15 per man and it didn't matter if you were Buddy Emmons, or an unknown (and that was below union scale). I made $35 for NYE and was glad to get the work. Reports now are that it's worse on Broadway than it was then. |
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Don Sulesky
From:
Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 5:55 am
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You won't see that kind of money here in Florida for NYE very often.
Our band got $125 a man for NYE with a five year run and down here we felt that was pretty good.
Many places would have you play for nothing if they could get away with it.
Foolishly enough there are RV parks down here who will get a group of parkers to play for them.
It ends up being more of a jam session and they get just what they deserve, "Trash". |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 6:54 am
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Yes, I totally understand how it can be hard to get half-decent money in many situations. If you're not doing it for a living, I could see taking less money because of the love of playing. But if I were doing it for a living at such wages, I'd find something else to do pretty quick. 
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
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Marc Jenkins
From:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 10:02 am
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Wow, I guess I'm pretty lucky! I've had the same gig at a local pub (capacity 150) doing a Grateful Dead tribute. It's just for fun really, and the band sets the ticket price; we pay the soundguy and split the rest. The first time we charged $15, and this year it'll probably be $25 as it was last year, and we typically sell out in advance.
Best paying gig I've ever had. |
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Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 11:11 am
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for the last few NYE gigs I played with the friends of mine at the hotel in KY, for FREE, we had free drinks, food, rooms and breakfast and we can bring the whole family AND a dog..LOL...well, it was more like friends get together party and it was a lots of fun, this year we`ll stay home, hotel was sold and party`s over...
Db
ps
Chrismas gigs I don`t do, for no money, never did, I stay home with my family and there is no money that can replace that...
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www.steelguitarsonline.com |
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Paul Wade
From:
mundelein,ill
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 11:58 am
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I have 5 gigs booked in Dec. including New Years,( 1st time I took a NYears gig in a few years) and I have an open invite to play every Thursday( with pay ) should I decide to. Usually that gig is based on a few of us with odd work schedules. Sometimes 4 sometimes 5 sometimes 6 of us show up ! And yeh, the pay goes down but the fun goes up !
tp
ps; good pay all the way around. I'm in a good place right now, ask me again in 6 months !  |
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 1:47 pm
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It was stated by one of our August steelers here
on the Forum that the going pay was , two Bareto's ,
and 50 bucks .
I just found out , NOW ! its only two Bareto's --
tomorrow it maybe only one Taco .
Marry Christmas & happy new Year |
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Michael Stover
From:
Kansas City
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 1:55 pm
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Just lost my Christmas Eve gig. It's a standing Wednesday night thing--my bandmates and the owner both think the bar will lose money with or without us on 12/24.
Christmas Eve bar gigs: good or bad? I've never worked one before; I thought it'd turn out pretty good. My wife & I don't have kids, and we aren't religious--we like to tie one on and sleep in on Xmas day. I guess other folks have 'priorities.' 
Last edited by Michael Stover on 9 Dec 2008 2:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 1:59 pm
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I'm thankful our Dec gigs are still on,this week have a coop,Christmas party,next week one on Fri,then a show Sat. with Rocking Razzy Bailey[always enjoy those] and our New Years gig is locked in,Just HOPE things don't slow down after the first of the year,OH well as Scarlett said[Fiddily dee]will worry about that next year.DYKBC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 2:07 pm
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I've never played or been asked to play a Christmas Eve gig, who would go ? I've actually never even heard of anyone playing a Christmas eve gig. I guess I've lived a sheltered life.
tp |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 5:26 pm
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| We're doing Jan 2nd at the Roxy and I'll be surprised if we're getting paid. Good thing that I have over 40yrs of experience... |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 6:53 pm
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Tell you what Chris,
If I were there or you were here and you had all them $500 gigs, just throw a few of the $200 ones my way and I'd be tickled to death! Just because a club may take in $50,000 or even more in a night has nothing to do with what they can or will pay you. If you had just a hint of the competition we've got here in Nashville, I think you'd be very grateful to even have a NYE gig. So far I don't have a NYE gig and only one gig coming up on the 20th for the rest of the month and I work with three different groups here! I'd love to have just a steady weekend gig for the next few years but I haven't had that for over a year and the last one before that was four years ago. Most of the time I play about every weekend but lately it just isn't out there. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 9 Dec 2008 9:56 pm
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| ah..finally..a good reason i never listened when everyone told me i should move to nashville! |
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