I hear this one... I am in a community band...and we do charge for the privilege of watching/dancing to the spectacle we make of ourselves. The money all goes into the pot for projects that never seem to materialize so the kitty has gotten big enough to fight over.
Gigs are accepted by vote, and only those that want to turn up. Sometimes the pay, especially for bush dances is conditional on how much the house takes on the night, so sometimes we play close to free, other times we get as much as 600.00. Thing is ..for the bush dances they don't like to take breaks cause they are afraid the dancers after a few snacks will leave, so we play from say 7 for sound check for 7.30 start, til 10, then a break for snacks and coffee, then go till 11.30. As individuals we do it for free. We do get breaks while the caller teaches the next dance, but we stand and wait during that time, and we stand and wait while they give their long promotion speeches, hold the raffle, and generally drag things along. The organizers have no idea how much energy it takes to make the music I guess. They don't have one clue about how to treat musicians decently, pro or not. After about 10 of these events I woke up...to the foolishness of this and basically quit attending such events. It is good experience, for those starting out, I suppose. If one is 25 it could be fun. We are all non-professional ametures (or less). We constantly get invitations to play for free for charity gigs, fund raisers, political party dos, school fairs, and have to pay our own way there, some times we are fed from the hot-dog stall, we deal with weather conditions, poor sound conditions, stages in bad spots, too small, wind, etc. So knowing that.from experience and then thinking on making music for a living, those folks don't understand how insulting they are ... I hate weddings too. but one thing for sure...they will get what they pay for....ha ljt On Oct 30, 12:02 am, diptanshu roy <[email protected]> wrote: > no wonder i did a 15 mins gig on my own wedding haha. > > On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 5:54 PM, Dasspunk <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Nice! I especially like the 1 drink limit. Maybe they do know > > musicians :) > > > I hate weddings. The only thing worse than going to one is playing > > one. All laws, common sense and social niceties are somehow abandoned > > on their "special day" and they always try to stretch that day into a > > week or more. What makes people think their wedding day is special to > > anyone but those immediately involved? Have they ever been to another > > wedding? What makes them think that *their* wedding will be the one > > wedding in history that doesn't suck? > > > One Bridezilla last year, after hiring us--a Bluegrass band-- to play > > her special day, proceeded to email and call me no less than 12 times > > in the first month we were hired... which was 10 months before the > > actual wedding. Each call/email required me to put together lists of > > tunes with audio samples for her approval. After MANY changes, I was > > about to pull the plug on the "planning stage" when she called and > > wanted to--due to the mother-in-law's concerns--include other genres. > > That is when I fired her. > > > I don't miss playing music for a living... > > > Brian > > > On Oct 28, 7:23 pm, mistertaterbug <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Howdy all. I *had* to post this to the group. It is a bit overboard, > > > but not that out of line with a few of the gigs that one gets called > > > on. It just goes to show the attitude that some people have regarding > > > the job of "musician". Of course, the language is lighthearted enough, > > > but the underlying message is a bit ignorant of the trade... > > > > Come play our wedding for four hours for free, play music from every > > > genre known to man (by request, probably) and if Granny wants to play > > > the drums, then let her. You get a "great" meal and drink, provided > > > you can consume it in some out-of-the-way place during the time when > > > relatives are telling embarrassing stories about the bride and groom. > > > You may give your CDs away for free to people who will lay them down > > > on a coffee table or bathroom sink and leave them there. Tips? > > > Really? > > > > There used to be a lot of conventions at the Opryland Hotel years ago, > > > probably still are, that were somewhat like this. Bluegrass as dinner > > > music. More than once we were told to turn down so that they could > > > talk over catered suppers. Of course, there are a lot of great gigs > > > that are nothing like the one described, but these really sting...Just > > > imagine being asked to do whatever your occupation is under these > > > terms. Sort of changes things, eh? > > > > Conventional Tater > > > > This ad actually appeared in a newspaper. Before you get ready to play > > > this, > > > read on...> "BAND WANTED" > > > > > Couple getting married in need of a band. Ideally, we'd like a 4-5 > > piece > > > > band that can play disco, funk, R&B, Motown, rock, top-40, as well as > > some > > > > Jewish Ethnic songs like "Hava Nagila". We'd need about four hours of > > music, > > > > from 6-10 PM with some breaks in between. We also need some light rock > > or > > > > jazz for the dinner music. Also: we need to use your microphone for > > toasts > > > > and speeches, etc. Pay: Unfortunately, we cannot afford to pay the band > > in > > > > money. But here's what we offer in return: > > > > > (1) You and the band will be fed a great meal. (However, as we do need > > some > > > > quiet dinner music provided, you'll have to eat during the toasts.) > > > > > (2) Each band member will get 1 free drink. > > > > > (3) We will mention your band in the toasts, and you'll get a chance to > > pass > > > > out your business cards, and you can give away any band CDs you have. > > There > > > > will be some very high class people there, and you'll probably get some > > > > offers from this. > > > > > (4) If you do well, we might hire you for a paid party later this fall > > > > > (5) We will have a tip jar out for the band. > > > > > (6) You'll get the great feeling of doing a good deed! > > > > > One more thing: We do have a few family members that play drums and > > guitar, > > > > so we hope it'll be okay to let them sit in for a tune or two. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. 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