Question for the working steel players.

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

What are the working steel players and their bands doing about the rising price of fuel and getting to the gig?
We told our agents to cancel the weekend gigs where we stay over night for the rest of the year unless they come up with way more bread. These are at least 2-3 hours away and while I really like the gigs, they are now costing us way more to get there and the restaurant food prices are climbing just as fast.
If these clubs want us, they are going to have pay us way more money.

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

Gas is the major topic with most bands and how it will affect future gigs.

We've asked for more money only to be told business is way off which is very evident. Many clubs are cutting down the number of nights they use bands and in some cases they have let some of their top bands go for cheaper ones.

We all know the ultimate outcome when that happens.They hire DJ's next and when business drops more they close.

I've seen this same scenario in Dallas and Fort Worth many times and it's only going to get worse.

Justin Douglas · From: Austin, TX

I try to play locally as much as possible, and of late that's worked out really well for my Americana stuff. But in August my indy rock band is going on a (at least for us) pretty important little tour from Austin up the East coast (winding up in my beloved Montreal) and back, and we have no idea what to do about gas.

Does anyone have any tips on an economical way of transporting 5 musicians and gear? Is a trailer hooked onto a 20 - 25 mpg suv better than renting a big van?

So far thoughts are to try and cut down on gear as much as possible and try to fit into the most economical vehicle we can. Smaller drum kit, smaller amps, just one single neck steel, etc.

Cheers!

mtulbert · From: Plano, Texas 75023

One of the last gigs we did was at Possum Kingdom lake. Normally everyone shows up in their own vehicles but this is quite a drive from the DFW area. Our band leader has an SUV and purchased a trailer a couple of years ago to haul the PA.

We just loaded up the trailer and 4 of the 7 people went together..We supplemented our guitar player with a gas stipend for driving out there.

No real way to get around it. Sad to say
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Mark T

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Hal Higgins · From: Denham Springs, LA

I play a good bit locally (within a 50 mile radius) but it's still pretty hard to keep gas in my suburban to carry the gear I need. I use both necks and don't know what I'd do cause I can't get the same sound from my e9th that some guys can and make it imitate the 6th. I cut back to one 15 and my smaller rack......it helps but 12-16 mpg still hurts. Can't afford to get another smaller vehicle either.....talk about being between a rock and a hard place.......OH WELL.......HAL[/quote]
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Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I have this attitude about gas: I just pump it in there, and try to ignore the cost. You need it anyway, so why obsess about the rising prices? What you're losing on the gigging end of things is not that much. We haven't reached Mad Max proportions.

Unless you're prepared to stay home and play with your BIAB, you have to pay up for gas. There's no way the clubs will cough up more money. Get your band packing them in and watch your pay cheque go up. If everyone stays home because of the rising cost of gas, then you're contributing to the demise of the live scene. I can understand if it's costing you money to play, but if you are still making a few bucks and your home life isn't suffering, why not keep doing the out of town shows?

Gas is part of life unless you're a hermit living in the woods. Like Bobbe said on his last newsletter, don't let the cost of gas get in the way of enjoying gigs and life in general. Speaking for myself, there's no way big business will drive me back in the basement - I don't care how high they put it. I don't even know the price of gas here. I don't look at it. I just pump, fill and pay. I have a 4-cylinder Jeep and it takes $60 to fill it up. That's all I know. But I do know that our gas prices are way higher the the USA, and here in Newfoundland they're always higher then the rest of Canada. Smile

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Justin Douglas · From: Austin, TX

I take the same approach, Chris, in my regular day to day driving. I remember when gas hit $1/L in Montreal about 5 years ago or so and the stations didn't know what to do because their signs only had 2 decimal places and 99 cents was as high as they were designed to go.

However if like in my case you're planning a 4,500 mile tour it's not something you can ignore. 5 mpg could save or cost us a couple hundred bucks.

Bob Grado · From: Holmdel, New Jersey

Here's something to Think about.. I drive 100 miles
from my house to Atlantic City each way.

I filled the tank before leaving, drove in the left lane (avg speed 75/78mph)and filled the tank when I arrived... cost $21.00

On the way back I set the cruise control at62 mph,
took it easy in the right lane and filled up when I returned.. cost $16.25 ( the price per gallon was 1 cent cheaper)

The bottom line .. leave earlier.. drive slower.. save $$$$$

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

The band I play with most often has two members living about 150 miles apart from the other three. So, no matter where we play, somebody's driving at least a couple of hours. When the three of us play out of town for us, we normally drive together in a mini-van and each kick in some gas dough. Same with the other guys when we're out of town for them. Of course, sometimes that's not possible, but we do it as often as we can.

But having 5 guys each driving long distances in separate vehicles makes no sense to me at all. These days, I don't play for a living. But if I did, I can't imagine trying to make a living at this taking that approach - they'd have to pay me some serious dough to get me to work on that business model. If it came down to that, I'd find a way to just work locally.

Unless something happens to the world economy that lowers worldwide demand for oil - not to mention the refinery capacity problem - I don't think this is gonna get better anytime soon. I think this is a problem working musicians are gonna have to face squarely. The cost of driving 5 cars at 30 mpg vs 1 van at, let's say, 20 mpg on Justin's 4500 mile road trip is $3000 vs. $900 at $4/gallon gas. I know bands that still work regional playing and tours on the separate transportation model, and some of them do lots more than 4500 miles a year. I would be very unhappy throwing that kind of money down the chute. This doesn't even consider the dollar value of the wear and tear on the vehicles.

I agree with Bob on the "drive slower" approach, especially in a vehicle loaded down with equipment. Save money, probably lower the chances of getting in a wreck to boot.

Les Green · From: Jefferson City, MO, R.I.P.

I agree with Mr. LeDrew. Most of my jobs are within an 80 mile radius and as long as I can make a couple of bucks I'm on my way!
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Les Green
73 MSA D10 8&4, 74 MSA S10 3&5, Legrande II 8&9, Fender Squier 6 string, Genesis III, Peavey 1000

Miguel e Smith · From: Phoenix, AZ

For my band, I put a clause into the contract that stipulates the client will be responsible for the difference between what we budgeted for (fuel cost) at the time of the contract and the actual average fuel cost at the time of the performance.

When I work with other bands locally or out-of-town there is no contract between us so I'll ask about the pay rate and then usually try to get a few of us to share the ride and split expenses if the band doesn't provide the ride itself. If you are self-employed contract labor and don't get reimbursed specifically for travel and food costs, the IRS allows deductions for mileage (you'll need documentation to prove those business miles if audited) and a standard allowance for meals which are many times greater the actual meal expenses (there are charts at irs.gov that'll provide you with the deduction based on what city you traveled to). As the price of gas goes up and eventually exceeds the standard mileage deduction, you can take actual expenses (including repairs). Just a note...my understanding is that you have to use either the actual expenses for the entire year or the standard allowance...not a combination of both.

Ultimately, we're all faced with having to raise our rates to compensate. As simply as that sounds, I know the idea won't always fly and it may come down to a "take it or leave it" situation. Folks everywhere are faced with the possibility of work dropping off especially because of the cost of fuel.
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Mike S.
"Mike & T's House Of Steel" (band)
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Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Ditto Mr LeDrew.

Gas is still less than it was in the 70s in porportion to the average working wage. No lines or rationing either. I remember both.

It's the "Musicians' Wage" that's at rock bottom.

Myself, I've found that even at 20mpg, I don't drive unless I HAVE to, and car pool, ride mass tansit or walk whenever I can.

Also noteworthy is that like copper wire, gas is a stealable commodity.

Lock it up.

JMHO

EJL

Ken Byng · From: Southampton, England

In the UK, we are currently paying the equivalent of around 11 US dollars a gallon. I can tell you, it is hurting us all round. Not just getting to gigs, but the price of everything that requires transportation is rising really rapidly.

I agree with Chris and Eric that we have to grin and bear it, but it is still having a big impact. Hope it doesn't result in a full blown recession for the western countries.

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

I work with one guy here in Austin a good bit who has a bus, and he takes it to EVERY gig, 5 miles or 500 miles. I go with the bus on 90% of his gigs, but I can tell he's reached (or passed) the point of pain with diesel. What kind of mileage does an Eagle get? 4 or 5 miles a gallon? You don't want to know what it costs to fill that bus up. So far, the fuel costs haven't affected what he pays the band, but I expect him to bring it up at some point.

I know of at least one case where he's asked for more money on one of his regular gigs to offset fuel costs, and the club agreed with a pay increase, but I suspect they're maxed out. I really don't see how any but relatively big acts can afford to do extended travel with a band and a bus these days.

On gigs where I have to do my own travel, I've just started asking for a bit more when the calls come in. I'm sure I'll stay home more..
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Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

The pay, in this area of Florida, is the same as it was when gas was less than $1.00 per gallon and it's $4.01 per gallon. I've turned down jobs as it's really not worth it for the $50 they pay for a gig.

I'm not sure if I'm going to do any touring next year with the Nashville "talent" that comes to Florida in the winter unless there is a substantial increase on those jobs, that have paid the same for the last 8 years (that I know of).

Justin Douglas · From: Austin, TX

I was pointing out the net gains to a band I'm in last month. Because of scheduling we wound up taking 3 cars just to Waco and back from Austin and it cost us $150 off the top of our pay.

Bill Terry - I thought your name looked familiar; I took over playing with Leo from you a few years back. Hope you're doing well, sir!

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Hi Justin... so you're the guy that took my gig???? Thank you!!! Smile

Just kiddin'.. How's old Leo doing these days? I haven't seen his name around town much. Tell him hello next time ya see him.

I'm doing a three piece at B.D. Riley's tomorrow nite (down on 6th street) with Suzanne Smith, 7-10P. This is acous guitar/elec guitar/steel should be interesting?... come on out and say hi if you're out and about. We'll swap Leo stories..
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Justin Douglas · From: Austin, TX

Ha! I got more Leo Stories than you can shake a stick at. Not to hijack the thread... I actually took over from ol' Darrell on the guitar; didn't start playing steel with him until a year or so later. Leo bailed on his band and moved to Nashville without telling us all of a sudden last year. I assume he's still up there.
I'll try and stop by tomorrow - I'll be down at my studio on E 4th anyway.

Living in San Marcos and working in Austin - it's running me about $8/day to get to and from the studio. And I get 30 to the gallon. Its got me trying to limit the number of trips I make a week.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

The price of small things, like gas, food, and other commodities, only seriously affects people who don't make a lot of money. Unfortunately, that's 99.5% of musicians and singers. Crying or Very sad

I got out of regular (weekly) gigging about 10 years ago, when I saw that driving from 75-150 miles to the gigs was fast becoming the "norm" for most musicians. Little did any of us realize 30-50 years ago that we were actually living in the "good ol' days" of live music. Dozens of gigs were within a short drive (less than 10 mi.), and on many gigs it was actually possible to walk to the next club on the break, and listen to another band for 10 minutes! I guess there's a couple areas you can still do that, but they're few and far between nowadays. Oh Well

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

....what Chris LeDrew said... Smile

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Twang to the bone!

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

Bill Terrys post brought back a horrible memory from 2005 where our band drove a motor home from Dallas to Cheyenne Wyoming.

We pulled a trailer and got an average of 4 MPG. It wound up costing us $1,000 round trip.

Oh the pain.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I load my car and push it to the gig. Very Happy

Carpooling is becoming the thing to do. Problem is, everyone has gone to smaller cars, so room is limited.
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Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Yes, of course the gig has to be worth it. I won't take the band out of town unless there's good bucks in it. I am lucky that most of my gigs are in a 100-mile radius, and the ones 5-6 hours away pay really well. The gas situation sucks, no doubt. Carpooling and such seems like the best idea.

Along with Bgrado's suggestion above, Bob Hoffnar recently had a thread about doing the speed limit to save on gas. That really works. Justin, that might be the key to cutting costs on your tour.
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Marc Friedland · From: Fort Collins, CO

Bo,
Here’s a story I believe applies to this conversation.
A few weeks ago I played a gig in Reno, about 200 miles away from me, and logistics demanded that I drive myself. The pay was $200 a man plus separate rooms and 3 free meals each. It's one of the few places that treats us this well.
We were fortunate, and someone threw 200 $1 dollar bills onto the stage, and then the next set he did it again! So we each received about $80 additionally from this generous tip.
The next day I was talking to a friend who said he also played a gig the night before and only received a $5 tip in addition to his $100 pay. His gig was only a few miles from his home.
I told him our tips were basically equal to the same amount of money – paying for gas!
-- Marc

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