flyfisher Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 This all sounds like politics of envy to me. [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1410883611' post='2554296'] There seems to be quite a mix of events here, all being lumped together. This ^^ is what I call a charity gig, and we do exactly this ^^ a couple of times a year. It's like a very small local festival, 'organised' by neighbours and friends mostly looking for an excuse to have a good day mixing and socialising, grilling bangers, operating the bars and raising funds for a cause they've chosen (often a local kid in a wheelchair, for instance...). [/quote] Yep, that's pretty much the sort of thing I've been involved in, not a charity night at the local pub which is business as usual but with a raffle for the charity thrown in - so perhaps we're all talking a bit at crossed-purposes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 [quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1410892682' post='2554452']...so perhaps we're all talking a bit at crossed-purposes? [/quote] 'Twould appear so. I'll not comment on other 'fund-raising' nonsense, of which I know nothing. At the events I attend, no-one is being 'ripped off'. There are no 'expenses'. All takings, without exception, go to the cause adopted. That's 'takings', not 'profit'. Maybe unusual, but not in the same league as the other events described. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 [quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1410853255' post='2553766'] That just the way it is. If you're a pro musician who won't open your bass case without being paid then that's fine as well. [/quote] That would be me, I love performing and it's always fun. However I charge a fee for having that fun. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1410921168' post='2554712'] That would be me, I love performing and it's always fun. However I charge a fee for having that fun. Blue [/quote] I could never charge a fee for having fun, but I do expect to be paid if people are going to watch me have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacey Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 The top and bottom is if someone goes out to a gig with £20, the vast majority of that £20 is going over the bar. They might give the charity a handful of change. If spending your own time and money on instruments and fuel and transport so a brewery can make money and some charity bosses can drive around in E class Mercs earning £250k a year + benefits , then that is great for you. They dont Chug mechanics, window cleaners, joiners, brick layers, electricians, lawyers, nurses, teachers and the reason is they do not work where there is a bar taking money. If they did, I am quite sure they would be chugged to death as well. Those that want to play these chugger gigs, fine, crack on with it. Personally, I live rather a frugal livelihood and I have bills to pay and kids to feed and clothe. So in a way I am doing charity gigs, I am just cutting the middleman on his £250k a year out of the equation and feeding hungry kids that would otherwise go without . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 (edited) [quote name='spacey' timestamp='1410946126' post='2554860'] If spending your own time and money on instruments and fuel and transport so a brewery can make money and some charity bosses can drive around in E class Mercs earning £250k a year + benefits , then that is great for you. [/quote] I already spend my own time and money on instruments so why shouldn't I maximise my enjoyment by gigging wherever I can? I'm not going to change the world with my music and I'm not trying to - it's just something I enjoy. If I didn't enjoy it then I wouldn't do it. Money doesn't come into it and never has done. I didn't decide to play music so I could make some pocket money - that seems like a very marginal justification to me. As for E class Mercs, the estate versions are great for carting around band gear and I always try to make a point of parking next to the charity bosses Merc [size=3](Lest you erroneously conclude I'm in the £250k + benefits bracket, I should perhaps confirm that I was recently offered £800 in part-exchange for my E-class, so appearances can be deceiving [size=3] [/size])[/size] Edited September 17, 2014 by flyfisher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluRay Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Speaking from the perspective of a smallish originals band, we almost never get paid anyway. In fact it’s rare to get basic expenses and a pint each for our trouble. A cover band in the venue next door may have charged £200+ for trotting out assorted hits of yester-year, and good luck to them. If that’s the going rate for playing covers, that’s what they should get. We’ve made the choice to stick to originals, despite knowing its something we usually have to subsidise ourselves – often because the venues that support original bands are not exactly little goldmines. Many need support themselves! We usually shift some merch which helps with the costs, get the odd dole-out from PRS, and enjoy doing our own thing. So when the fundraisers come calling, we make the decision based on whether it’s a “proper” event, and one where we’ll go down well (usually linked to venue and which other bands are on the bill). Every so often we regret it – but wouldn’t never say never Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 Once your in an originals band situation its totally different unless you are Fleetwood Mac or something as what you are offering isn't likely to entice the punters to come regardless of how good you are, if the band gets some exposure and more fans then they are offering you an incentive which is usually the line used to get covers bands in, "you might get loads of gigs off it" like jtuk says though if people know you are playing for free the punters think that is what you are worth and probably want to offer you and other bands the exact same fee (nothing) at their gig, "you might get loads of gigs off it" and so it continues...... Good luck to you though and if you ever get beyond playing for free for the possibility of a pint and a few CDs sold and any of your songs become popular I'll be sure to suggest to the band that we trot them out for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 [quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1410890452' post='2554417'] Here's a thought...How does the charity benefit from the band playing for free? Is the promoter going to give your usual fee to the intended charity instead? Doubtful isn't it. Most pub gigs pay out of the bar takings (or occasionally from a brewery subsidy), so they could still do this without taking money from the charity collection.If the band members then choose to give their money, or just a portion of it, to the charity that is there choice. The band get paid, the charity receive extra donations and the landlord has only payed out his regular budget and has probably taken more than usual over the bar because of the charity draw. Everyone wins. [/quote] This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1410957382' post='2555019'] Good luck to you though and if you ever get beyond playing for free for the possibility of a pint and a few CDs sold and any of your songs become popular I'll be sure to suggest to the band that we trot them out for you [/quote] And I'll book you...you'll not mind playing for free then as well, will you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1410976840' post='2555279'] And I'll book you...you'll not mind playing for free then as well, will you? [/quote] You only have until this saturday for me to play for free before my own rule comes into force Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 19, 2014 Author Share Posted September 19, 2014 Van loaded up ready, this time tomorrow I will be kicking off the first set then no more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluRay Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1410957382' post='2555019'] Good luck to you though and if you ever get beyond playing for free for the possibility of a pint and a few CDs sold and any of your songs become popular I'll be sure to suggest to the band that we trot them out for you [/quote] Ha! Be my guest. On balance, between the merch and the rare good-payer, it probably balances out. We tend to put our proceeds back into the band (for studio, stock etc), rather than pocket any profits individually. To be fair, most - if not all - original bands that I know (excluding any that are genuinely well known), have to suck up a lot of poorly compensated gigs to pave the way to the better ones. Its a very common situation. [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1410976840' post='2555279'] And I'll book you...you'll not mind playing for free then as well, will you? [/quote] Be delighted to, see above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 To be honest when you take into account that tonight I will be taking my upright, Fishman plat pro, Genz Benz 2x12 cab, Genz Benz shuttle max head, stingray classic five string bass plus the pa which is half mine and the lighting rig which is all mine then I'll probably never earn enough back just to cover that little lot even with my covers band that pays a bit better than the trio, I suppose for me it's the principal even if it's just £30-50 a head. Not long to go now and that will be the case from now on anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgie Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 One thing thayt sticks in my memory is when I was working at a charity gig. Just helping set things up and help on the door etc. I was standing at the door helping take the entry money (a fiver I think) when one young guy walks in with a guitar case. when he got to the lady taking the money and 'stamping the wrists' etc she asked if he was in one of the bands. He replied that he was. she told him that he didn't have to pay to get in if he played in one of the bands. He said he didn't care and that he wanted to give some money as well as his time to help the charity. I thought he guy had great integrity for doing that.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 Well my wife and her sister are coming so I will probably pay for theirs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1411229441' post='2557734'] Well my wife and her sister are coming so I will probably pay for theirs [/quote] Are you still here..? You'll miss the start of the gig if you don't get a shift on..! [size=4] [/size] [size=4] [/size][size=4] [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 Just collecting my mate (roadie!) 6pm set up not far away, first set about 8.30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 There will be pix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Ah. All over. Was Neil roadie-ing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 Yep, he loves it! The gig went well, we played well in fact I think I played better on upright than regular bass for the first time ever! As we thought the members did not turn up en mass even after they agreed a deal where they could pay nothing or a suggested donation of £2, so £2 for a buffet and a live band and they still stayed at home, dont agree to letting the venue do these events if you dont want them to. There was about 40-50 people though and about five Labradors [URL=http://s997.photobucket.com/user/stingraypete/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-09/20140920_193755_zps6u6nzq5u.jpg.html][IMG]http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af100/stingraypete/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-09/20140920_193755_zps6u6nzq5u.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s997.photobucket.com/user/stingraypete/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-09/20140920_224619_zpshver0de0.jpg.html][IMG]http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af100/stingraypete/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-09/20140920_224619_zpshver0de0.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s997.photobucket.com/user/stingraypete/media/judas4_zps1b7d70c2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af100/stingraypete/judas4_zps1b7d70c2.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s997.photobucket.com/user/stingraypete/media/Judas2_zps054c887d.jpg.html][IMG]http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af100/stingraypete/Judas2_zps054c887d.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s997.photobucket.com/user/stingraypete/media/Judas1_zpsb4ab6aad.jpg.html][IMG]http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af100/stingraypete/Judas1_zpsb4ab6aad.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s997.photobucket.com/user/stingraypete/media/Judasdogs_zps2c52db4a.jpg.html][IMG]http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af100/stingraypete/Judasdogs_zps2c52db4a.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The dog trainers were quite grumpy, non of them thanked us directly, only the old guy who was sort of in charge and taking the ticket money, raffle etc thanked us on the mic at the end of the evening, luckily the general audience were great and we did 3 lots of encores and over ran by about 25 mins So there you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Well done for honouring your engagements; glad you enjoyed the evening, despite everything. Good stuff; nice pics.[sharedmedia=core:attachments:167485] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 I am a man of my word and it was one of the better charity gigs due to the audience enjoying it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I'm not sure of the protocol now; does this thread get locked or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgie Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 why does it need locked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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