15 replies to this topic

[israbatista]

So i was on Cl searching for a singer , so i saw
Various post of restaurants and bars offering food and drinks instead of money .

Some musicians complained some some supported it .


What do u think?

[Painkiller]

Depends on the quality of food and quantity of drinks

[Topcat]

I would say that most people would prefer cold hard cash, unless it was free Rib Eye steaks for 1 year or something

[metalmarvin]

Some places will give you free drinks and pay you for playing, others are a bit more tight about it. It depends on the venue from my experience.

[Gary]

The thing I got for free was a crate of Fosters dumped in the corner of the greenroom. I've heard stories of local bands getting a whole banquet and drinks on demand, guess you have to score the big time though

[KBaker]

Always play for money!! ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS!!!

I play maybe 2-3 shows a year that aren't paid. Those are fundraisers and charities.

If bands play bars and restaurants for food and drinks. (free drinks are a serious no-no btw) They will stop paying bands. They will begin to take advantage of bands. The scene will dry up. I play lots of places that pay AND give food. The bars want bands because a good band will keep people in the bar and keep them DRINKING! You play a bar, you get people to buy drinks and the bar doesn't pay you. Congratulations you just got taken advantage of. The bar is profiting off of you and not giving you correct compensation. Say 5 people in the band, they each get a $10 meal. (for maths sake) That's $50 the bar has to "pay for". The food cost is closer to $20 on all those meals combined. So the bar basically just spent $20 for a band that could easily make them $2k+ in profit just on the bar that night. And that $2k is without trying. One bar we play at the bartender told us that when we play there, he makes $200+ in tips. On nights other bands play he makes $100. Nights there isn't a band he makes $35.

This is also from a cover bands perspective. If your playing mostly originals, your not gonna make any money until you have a name and a following and you can prove the bar will make a ton of money. My originals bands I still make money, but not nearly as much as a I do in a cover band.

Legally speaking free drinks are a big no no. If a bar gives anyone free alcohol and that person goes and drives drunk and kills someone, the bar can legally be held responsible. There are creative ways to get around it though.

[israbatista]

^^^^^ GOOD POINT

[patch]

agree with KBaker, but besides his great comments.. I don't want the free drinks and food for a few reasons. when playing I drinking mainly water. I may have a beer before we start and I don't usually drink another till the third set or not at all. It's not like I can just stop at any point to go to the bathroom. I also don't like to eat a very big meal if any before a gig as sometimes it just makes me way to full or makes me tired or depending on what I eat maybe necessary bathroom trips that I won't be able to take. I don't want to play uncomfortable and if I am being paid by food/drink then I'm going to have to force myself to eat and drink or else they are getting my services for nothing, not even the little amount that KBaker pointed out... please pay me cash.

[YELLOW_TOAD]

This has been floating around the web for quite some time. It's perfect.

Advertisement : We are a small & casual restaurant downtown and we are looking for solo musicians to play in our restaurant to promote their work and sell their CD. This is not a daily paying job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get positive response. More Jazz, Rock, & smooth type music, around ...the world and mixed cultural music. Are you interested to promote your work? Please reply back ASAP.

Musician's Reply: I am a musician with a big house looking for a restauranteur to come to my house to promote his/her restaurant by making dinner for me and my friends. This is not a daily paying job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get a positive response. More fine dining & exotic meals and mixed Ethnic Fusion cuisine. Are you interested to promote your restaurant? Please reply back ASAP!

I don't play for free anymore, RARELY ever do. (I've probably played more free benefits than most over the years.) I stopped doing it unless it's a cause that's important to me, like at a school for kids, or to help a friend in need. (someone that I personally know and consider a friend).

[metalmarvin]

Feel I should qualify my reply a bit more. I don't drink alcohol when Playing as I'm nearly always driving, and I worry about the effect it has on my playing....I'm bad enough as it is! lol, But the Bars I play and have played in over the years nearly all offer a free drink or two, and I will quite often take a pint glass of Coke or Orange Juice and Lemonade on stage with me. If I'm lucky enough to not drive, then I'll have a beer or two after the gig, but this is rare.

We always play for CASH tho. Our going rate is £200 for 2 Hours of music, and all the pubs we play are happy to pay this.
If we ever get stiffed, then we won't play that venue again, and I think there is a degree of solidarity amongst the other bands on the scene too.

We do play some free gigs, like you guys for charities, or for promotional reasons.

But our underlying principles are the same as you guys.