Play for free to keep a venue open....

[Wombat]

30 minutes ago, Beedster said:

 

That's a line I hear too often and it's bollocks, everyone has the right to be paid, or to choose to not be paid, for what they do

It’s unfortunately not bollocks. Venue is not making a lot of money or losing it they hire the cheapest labour - and consequently bands prepared to play for not much or nothing. Those making a living from playing miss out. You can go all the way back to the Tolpuddle Martyrs for comparison.

Do you want fries with that?

[Beedster]

1 minute ago, Wombat said:

It’s unfortunately not bollocks. Venue is not making a lot of money or losing it they hire the cheapest labour - and consequently bands prepared to play for not much or nothing. Those making a living from playing miss out. You can go all the way back to the Tolpuddle Martyrs for comparison.

Do you want fries with that?

 

It is bollocks if you're being made to feel that your being paid is unfair on someone else, but that's a different question to the OP's point

 

The vast majority of people we're talking about here are not pros, and those who are - like professionals in every field at present - need to recognise that the economy is changing. Venues that go under now will not start up again, in a year's time they'll be flats or corner shops. A little bit of give and take, in for example the scenario in the first post, far from being an existential threat to the livelihood of musicians, will help protect the future of live music as a whole

[Wombat]

Ah, ok. I see. When I was playing just covers I felt I was taking a ‘slot’ that pros could use. The current band is more originals and it’s great ( and hard!) to get our music out there.

[Marvin]

Looking at the line up for this event, most if not all the bands and artists have done and will be doing paid gigs at this very venue.

 

No one's getting ripped off, no one is being denied a booking and getting paid for it.

 

It's one if the last venues standing in the area. Local musicians are supporting a venue that has supported them.

 

It may not make a difference,  people don't seem to want to go out and see anything other than tribute acts, or cover bands performing very well known songs. It may only give it a short term boost in publicity etc but at least the musicians involved can say we support you.

 

[Beedster]

8 minutes ago, Marvin said:

Looking at the line up for this event, most if not all the bands and artists have done and will be doing paid gigs at this very venue.

 

No one's getting ripped off, no one is being denied a booking and getting paid for it.

 

It's one if the last venues standing in the area. Local musicians are supporting a venue that has supported them.

 

It may not make a difference,  people don't seem to want to go out and see anything other than tribute acts, or cover bands performing very well known songs. It may only give it a short term boost in publicity etc but at least the musicians involved can say we support you.

 

It’s a long way from Kent but I’m almost tempted to travel down following that post @Marvin 🙏

[MacDaddy]

12 minutes ago, Marvin said:

but at least the musicians involved can say we support you.

 

Can the bar staff say the same?

[Beedster]

14 minutes ago, MacDaddy said:

 

Can the bar staff say the same?

Guess if the venue stays open longer as the result of this event they keep their jobs longer?

[MacDaddy]

37 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Guess if the venue stays open longer as the result of this event they keep their jobs longer?

 

This event that they are being paid for?

We still don't know.

[chris_b]

If a venue needs musicians to play for free, "to keep it open", then it's not being run well and won't last long anyway.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Giving away your service for free sets the perceived value of that service. I bet they wouldn't ask a plumber to unclog a toilet for free giving the reason that they're short of money.

[Jack]

You'd think this was a plumbing forum.

[Wombat]

So what's best? Push fit or copper?

[Stub Mandrel]

This paid vs. free venue vs. bands stuff misses the point.

 

It's AUDIENCES wanting to experience live music in good numbers and willing to PAY through either tickets, a tip bucket, club memberships or over the bar in return.

 

If more people went to see grassroots music and were willing to accept the cost, then there wouldn't be an issue.

 

The venues that succeed are those that are customer focused and have good promotions.

[Dan Dare]

Bottom line is:

 

1) If you want to play for free, do so.

2) If you don't, don't.

3) Whichever you choose, don't attempt to shame others if they make a different choice.

[tauzero]

2 hours ago, Wombat said:

So what's best? Push fit or copper?

 

Whatever's good for metal.

[Beedster]

2 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

Bottom line is:

 

1) If you want to play for free, do so.

2) If you don't, don't.

3) Whichever you choose, don't attempt to shame others if they make a different choice.

Best post of the thread 🙏

[Rosie C]

4 hours ago, Wombat said:

So what's best? Push fit or copper?

 

copper push-fit, best of both worlds...   😉 

 

 

[TimR]

4 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

Giving away your service for free sets the perceived value of that service. I bet they wouldn't ask a plumber to unclog a toilet for free giving the reason that they're short of money.

 

4 hours ago, Jack said:

You'd think this was a plumbing forum.

 

Pimlico's law.

[Wombat]

Push Fit Copper? Is that a good name for a metal band? 😂

[tauzero]

2 hours ago, Wombat said:

Push Fit Copper? Is that a good name for a metal band? 😂

 

"You'll never push fit me alive, copper".

[TimR]

48 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

"You'll never push fit me alive, copper".

 

That's what the Brasses all say. 

[Stub Mandrel]

2 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

"You'll never push fit me alive, copper".

 

Not Olives?

 

 

[Downunderwonder]

18 hours ago, chris_b said:

If a venue needs musicians to play for free, "to keep it open", then it's not being run well and won't last long anyway.

You are probably correct but without the whole story it's impossible to know. Any number of misfortunes could have befallen a family member and not made public. It could be a bigger than usual bump in the road.

 

The 10th anniversary jam was a night not to be missed. Two whole drumsets bass rigs etc etc so no breaks and an unholy all-in jam for the last hour.

[TimR]

Looking at the OP they're struggling with increasing bills and low attendances. 

 

Unfortunately, it's a business, and you need to attract customers to a business. Do market research, find out what the local people want. Create a FOMO. Deliver a good night and get people to tell their freinds how good an evening it was.

 

My worry is everyone is getting lazy and expecting the bands to bring punters and that a few words on a facebook/instagram/tic tok etc will draw people away from Saturday night TV, takeaway pizza and beers from the fridge. 

 

Our local pub has shut down due to a number of issues. The first was a miserable landlady. The second was cleanliness.The third was some undesirable bar hugging locals who thought they owned the pub. The fourth was a lack of good quality food that was available when people want to eat (regardless of price). 

 

 

[chris_b]

30 minutes ago, TimR said:

My worry is everyone is getting lazy and expecting the bands to bring punters and that a few words on a facebook/instagram/tic tok etc will draw people away from Saturday night TV, takeaway pizza and beers from the fridge.

 

We were a popular cover band from SW London and were offered a gig in darkest Kent. When we turned up the landlord said, "I hope you're going to bring a good audience!!"

 

Who travels for an hour to see a cover band! We played to 3 disinterested people. He had no customers and thought we would fill the pub. . . . when we were 60 miles away from our base!!