NWB - Community Blog

No, a solo singer who pays the band to back him should price himself accordingly but if you're IN a band like myself then I am an equal partner in the band and paid the same as the rest regardless of my immense God like vocal ability...still I could charge extra for the Tamborine abuse...Mmmmmmmm...

I always think the vocalist with the band should be paid on the number of words he sings.
What, you think that's stupid??
Well you started it!!

ha haaa
LOL
(and other things that point out that this is meant to be a humourous comment)

Willow (fellow lead singer)

No a bands a band.

Yes, cause I do two jobs., Sing and play the Bass. LOL

if I charged by the word I'd owe the 'Slickers...I'm always forgetting the buggers, I've lost entire verses before now in fact...Damn! dunnit again!

NO !

Singers shouldn't be paid more, they already get to wear tight pants and girate on stage. Wat more do they want.
Ya don't see the girlies fallin all over the drummer
Equal fee for all!

Power to the people!

Mark

No everybody is equal, albeit I do know a band that split up several months ago for that very reason, the vocalist wanted to be paid more because he felt that everybody went to their gigs just to watch him.

nah, thats bollocks.
the bass player should get paid the most. as he is the one that holds the band together musically,socially, spiritually, adequately,moans at the drummer,moans at everything else,takes the piss out of the guitarist that has enough pedals to launch the shuttle, its hard work you know, being the bass player!...( where's that thingy that makes a smiley face?).

Yeah sure go ahead and pay yourself that bit more, I'm sure you deserve it! You'll find yourself with no band though and quicker than I could utter the words 'oh no not another egomaniac getting above himself.....

In our band we're all equal I sing lead, play keys, write some of the songs and arrange the gigs as my role in that band - the others also have 2/3 roles in the band as well.

As far as I'm concerned we split everything into 1/4 same goes with the copyright of the songs Paul and I write we split everything up within the band.

1 it makes life easier
2 everybody is happy as nobody is valued higher than the other
3 I prefer it as I hate arguments.

if this rule is passed, we have three singers in our band. so does that mean we pay in terms of quality? if so im onto a fucking winner, i blow them two numpties out of the water at every gig! haha

NO !

@ Brass Routes - pm'd you with that info I promised,

Rick.

@phoenix
hahaha here here.

Oh so true there Mr phoenix

They didn't come for the rhythm
They didn't come for the beat
The people of the town came just to hang around...
And see the singer looking sweet!

Of course they should...
imagine The Comets without Bill Haley
The Dakotas without Billy J
The Dreamers without Freddie
The Hermits without Herman
The Jordanaires without Elvis
The Medics without Doctor
Abba without them two fit birds!

Actually the person in the band who really should get paid more is.......whoever gets the gig!

LOL

PS And the Ice Band without Janie!!

LOL

i think all musicians should be paid according to how good they are :) so if you're a bag of crap who really shouldn't be playing, you should get 10p per gig

that way all the amazing singers get their fair cut of the dosh :D

actually I think we'd all be better off if the 'worst 50%' of bands, musicians etc all just packed it in... that way punters would see a better standard of band on average, and the ones who really deserved it would get more dosh (due to more punters coming out because they know it's less likely to be dire)

Ben Murrah: "if this rule is passed, we have three singers in our band. so does that mean we pay in terms of quality? if so im onto a fucking winner, i blow them two numpties out of the water at every gig! haha"

so that's what u mean when you keep offering to blow me at every gig

No

Drummers should for having to put up with the bass player !!!!

Here here Big Drummer Boy !

Rick.

I think drummers should be paid the whole fee!

aye - as drummers it is we mere mortals, all be it whilst sat on our arses during a gig, who hold the band together!!
as a gobbist and a drummer i think use of all four limbs and voicebox during a gig entitles me to the majority cut!
drummers back haha x
fight fight fight!!!

Noiw this is what I call working !!

lump 20t gear through a small pub door crowded with smokers who insist a 6 inch step move to the side is their way of moving out of the way for you.
Then Spend a good couple of hours setting up to ensure the best sound is heard by everyone. Plugging cables, emptying boxes, cases, taking abuse from the bass player!!

Then

Wave their arms and legs about hitting things for over 2 hours.

Then

Pack the bloody lot up again, taking more abuse from the bass player

Then

Push past the smokers at the door, who by now are even more pissed, so think its funny to try to trip you up or give you very hepful advice like " that looks heavy", on your way out :)




PS: wouldnt have it any other way though :)

BDB

(ps part ripped from a previous blog!!)

The most common reason a band don't do a particular song is because the vocalist can't reach them high notes - he soon would if you stuck his gig money to the fekkin ceiling ! - lol

haha nice one rick.
jokin aside we all do this cos we love it regrdless of how much/little effort individuals put in! Once playing we're all doing the same job...entertaining the crowd.
Stages are already full so theres no space for ego's!

I did say "he" as it wasn't directed at our current singer, Nikki,
she'd rip my head off if it was ! - lol

I think singers and guitarist should split the gig money equally between them .........er hang on, we are a duo. Fair comment methinks

my personal thoughts

you all work as a team, work hard, entertain, compromise with each other and listen to each other thoughts and views, and hopefully have fun along the way. the money is a bonus but well earned.

i dont think it often matters if a singer's a fantastic singer, provided they're a good frontman and connect with the audience... Mick Jagger wasn't an especially good singer but he wrote the book on being the frontman of a rock band

and from what i've seen, GOOD musicians aren't ten a penny

but without a great band behind them though?.............

i always say the majority of the audience are watching the singer, but theyre still taking in the band as a whole ensemble performance

everybody in the band should always be paid the same :-)

oh dear......cue the avalanche. Sounds a bit egotistical to me mate, good luck

Singers should get paid less. They turn up with a mic, expect everyone else to do all the hard work, sing a few songs and then bleat on about how "special" they are. This kind of attitude makes me sick.

As a general rule, we split the money as follows:

Drums - 40% (hardest working)
Bass - 30% (most talented)
Guitar - 20% (loudest)
Singer - 5% (and he should consider himself lucky)
Dispersements - 5%

I think that's fair. All this crap about being a frontman and connecting with the audience. The singer is nothing without the band FACT!! Would you rather see a great singer with backing tapes or an average singer with a great band? I rest my case your honour.

wheres the air raid shelter?,i can see a barrage coming!! :-)

on a plus side, I expect anyone looking for drums, guitar and bass will soon be finding one lol. I couldn't work with someone demanding a bigger cut

lol, this gentleman is clearly 'doing a Ben Murray' :D

Steve - ssssshhhh

Any band is the sum of its members, sorry hulk but if you feel you are worth more than other members of your band there is clearly an issue you have to address with them.

Maybe a solo carreer would be more suited?

Just a thought.

I think that audiences should decide how the gig fee is split, by use of Clapometer

Band members do put a lot of pressure on ya to be a front man as well as a singer loads o pressure eh Trig;-)

@Hulk who says ... "my range makes me take all of our 55 songs in the original keys so I defo am pushing for more money "

whilst the rest of the band play in different keys so don't deserve the dosh???? Is that what you're saying??

am i sensing the lack of smileys mean this guy is serious??? I'm thinking not but you have to wonder!
Willow

cheers Rick , have replied to your pm!

PMSL @ Willow - taking it serious because OBVIOUSLY it's deadly serious when there are no smilies to be seen.

Edit to say: :o) :o) :o) :o) :o)

this would be an ecumenical matter.

Mr Tornado, you didn't PMSL at the 11 or so serious responses already posted.
Plus - to be completely pedantic (cos that's what I do when I've not got my thought police uniform on) ... i merely posed the question about it being serious whilst making it quite clear I thought not.
I hope this snow clears up soon!
Willow

Fair point. I wasn't singling you out Willow for (possibly) taking it serious. The reference to smilies is what actually made me PMSL.

Still snowed in after 3 days
ST

things often get serious here Hulk :-)

i always try and make things light hearted on here wherever i can, hence the daft Father Ted quote i put above :-)

There's always room for a bit of tomfoolery on NWB. Contrary to popular belief I even like to partake myself :o)

But now we've established that it's a wind up, we should probably take it to the forum :o) :o) :o) :o) :o)

@Oggi, Pressure makes the world go round the reet way lad ,just stick wi me lad and you will soon have greay hair and high Blood pressure to boot, i have the pressure of firing up all yer arses dude ! lol

Sorry Hulk, thought it was a wind up? Keep the opinions coming folks.

@ Hulk .. "It is a serious point "
in that case sir, with all due respect (which people always say before insulting someone!!), you are quite the deluded specimen!!

@Trig ... " i have the pressure of firing up all yer arses dude " ...
Ooo er Trig, wanna rephrase that????

Willowboredandnowtonthetelly

Great blog!

Singers, the person who gets the gigs (and advertises them), those who provide and drive the van and supplies the PA should all get more money! If that was the case then I would be typing from home on a warm beach by now. lol.

Personally I think that musicians (including drummers) should be limited to how many notes can be played per song... and if they go over.... then they have their pay docked! Now, what's that sign which means tongue in cheek... is it.... :-)?

OK... serious ... and follows on from Alec's blog a while ago

The band fee should be split equally between ALL band members - but not solely just for playing. In an ideal world and with all the bands agreement then the following could apply.
If someone owns a van/bus and provides transport for any other members they should get more. If the band has its own bus (as we have) then whoever drives should get extra (£30 for our driver regardless of distance as basically we're paying for them to stay sober). If someone wants to turn up at the last minute after the PA is set up, or if someone always packs his own gear up and does one before the PA is broken down, then they should get less.

However its my experience that most bands i've been in split the money equally between they guys/gals who play (or engineer if you're so lucky as to have a sound guy)

Willow

@Hulk
"get a tab book and most guitar songs are easy "
"And as for Drummers dont get me started. 2-4-2-4 "
" musicians are ten a penny"

Nope, not insulted anyone at all!!
:0)

Willow

Apology accepted.
Sorry didn't understand the rest!

who do you sing with? What do your bands acquaintances think about this?

@ Anthem - We all love him with the kind of unconditional love you would expect between a mother and her ugly, untalented, unfunny son. I'm really not sure why.

@Keef: 'Any band is the sum of its members, sorry hulk but if you feel you are worth more than other members of your band there is clearly an issue you have to address with them.

Maybe a solo carreer would be more suited?'

Spot On!
In fact, we FIRED our lead singer, and gave ourselves all a payrise by doing so. Since doing so (a few months ago), things started to look up for us, which made us realise how much he was holding us back.

Rob

Good grief.

The job of a singer is to engage with the audience. That's part of the symbiotic relationship between the band and the audience. Nothing more. It's what you're SUPPOSED to do.

And at the end of the day you're an employee. A salesman. Nothing more. You're there to sell beer for the venue. That's it. If you're good at it, bravo. But there is nothing special in it if you are playing a PUB.

Hahahahahah

Oi Keef! Don't lock me in! ;-)

Rob

If my memory serves me right, it was Hulkamania78 who was portrayed as the big bad wolf on the "Band Etiquete" blog.

Apology accepted, Door unlocked.

Hulk, we are a fun bunch, sharing a passion and are prone react when poked with a stick.

Music , its a serious business, best served up with loads of humour

Well I still think that musicians should be limited to a set number of notes per song..........:-)

As Andy Fairweather-Low said last year in Darwen "It's about playing all the right notes, and not too many of them"

Players who over-play are bloody hard work, you have to play less to compensate for them. Then again that's a subject for another blog.

Players who over-play are bloody hard work, you have to play less to compensate for them

unless youre in dream theater.............

@ Rob Redfern

PMSL
Can't wait for the First Dream Trib to come knocking my door for a booking LOL

good ones should!!!!
I try hard for my 20p. sometimes get a bag of chips if I drive!!

@Keef Music , its a serious business, best served up with loads of humour

well you gotta laugh mate , the fee's are so funny ! lol

@Keef Music , its a serious business, best served up with loads of humour

well you gotta laugh mate , the fee's are so funny ! lol

What you saying Trig ?? Aint 10 bob and an orange enough these days?? LOL

Re: other blog

It is if you go to the Bakers Vaults. lol

depends on the size of the orange mate

wow! i didn't think you could do a U turn that quick in this snow!!
Bravo Hulk
Willow

@Keef Music , its a serious business, best served up with loads of humour

well you gotta laugh mate , the fee's are so funny ! lol

What you saying Trig ?? Aint 10 bob and an orange enough these days?? LOL Depnends on what's in the rider......

Rob ;-)

Yes
Best wishes

John

But seriously......
We in FV always spilt the cash equally
Never entered our head to do owt else

LMAO@Chris

All you need now is that Trans am you always wanted then you can be a real rock&roll star hahaha

Oh aye i can see you cruising to a gig in that...you'll be nearly as cool as me the day we had to drop the convertable roof on my mustang to get the drum kit to a gig!

anyway i think us part time roadies should get paid more all that crap we have to lug upstairs i nearly had a heart attack at Marrigolds haha

Sweet ill be there in the pussy wagon! at least thats big enough to carry all the gear!

yes they should!!!!!

I know I'm a bit eccentric, but I always go to see a band for the musicians, not for the singer. Singers who don't play an instrument are usually boring. If I wanted to see singers, I'd go to a karaoke pub or stay at home and watch the X-Factor!

Seriously though ... I think all band members should be paid an equal share unless a particular member is "employing" the other members to do the gig. I used to be in a band many years ago where the guitarist got all the gigs. He paid all the other members the going rate at the time, but no-one knew exactly how much he got for the gig. Chances are his share was at least double that of the rest of us. The system worked though as it was purely a business arrangement. Apart from an occasional rehearsal, the rest of us didn't have to lift a finger towards the running of the band.