Graeme
I blogged again...this time it's about doing things for the "exposure"
http://africanabc.blogspot.com/2009/08/people-die-from-exposure.html
AlanRatcliffe
Good blog!
Yeah, heard that one all too often myself. As well as being in the band "playing for exposure" while the "poverty striken" organiser/venue owner makes money hand over fist.
[deleted]
I feel compelled to comment that my one band (years ago) was offered a slot at Splashy Fen. But, the band was composed of seven members (that's expensive transport with all the gear), and they refused to pay us a cent. There was some internal disagreement, but we turned the slot down. And I'm actually glad we did.
But, let it be said that I've not always been happy with the outcome of my principled stance. I once had a very good, well-paying sideman job, but then the guy asked me to record on his album for free. "I'll put your name in the credits," he said. "Even [insert his famous pals here] are doing it for free." After consulting with someone whose opinion I trusted and who's worked with some of the biggest names in the world, I told the guy I couldn't record anything without at least a little compensation - after all, I was asking for just a couple of hundred bucks (our relationship had always been a professional one anyway - pay to play), and he stood to make many, many thousands off its release...but he was incensed and fired me on the spot.
Graeme
How many times have restaurant/club owners said to you: "Come and do a free gig and if we like you we'll book you on a regular basis"?
Imagine going to a restaurant and saying: "I'm going to eat here for free, and if I like it I'll come back again"
Keira-WitherKay
mmmmmm this is a touchy subject......
cos unpaid gigs can do lots of good if you not getting the paid slots....... and i've found i have normally got spinoff work from "free bee's " also now selling cd's at gigs....... it's becoming lucrative to play anywhere....as every gig i'm selling ...... and making money..
also i guess if you popular and can draw a crowd then a door deal is the option and you make cash from that and selling cd's
to be honest it's no different world wide......... and in london and new york there's the dreaded "pay to play " venues...... they venues that get frequented by the record AR guys scouting for talent.... and the venue says they normally do say $xxxx at the door on a busy night and the band has to cover that ...and then they get the door......... a wicked system but it would not excist if it never had the up side of getting your band signed......IF YOU GOOD OF COURSE.........
cos how many bands are really not up to the standard and they bitch when the gigs are quiet......... yet bed on bricks, or karin zoid will pack every show....... so yeah the key is to have a following.... if you can get 60 to 100 people to every gig you play you'll do just fine....and venues will fall over themselves to book you ........ and even pay you a gaurentee to perform ontop of the door.......
so yeah a touchy subject ,,,,,,, and me doing acoustic world music to such a small target market i feel it too.... but if you can put the "bums on seats" then i guess it's all good......... i mean it's show biz............ a show and a bussiness....
peace and light
keira
