NWB - Community Blog

Good blog Aiden,I agree with your sentiment too,the money always feels like a great bonus after a great gig ,particularly if it's a good crowd and venue but a lot of hard work goes into it and it's payment for 5 or 6 hours of hard work so that's fair as well

We just want to get heard so we're grateful to play in front of a crowd and ideally through a house PA, as although we have one of sorts it's not the best in the world. It's a bit different for us as an original band though. Unlike a covers band, our set is really short and as whole, punters aren't drawn in droves to original bands they've never heard before. I think that use of a stage, the house PA and a pint of coke (the brown fizzy stuff, not the powder) is more than enough payment for where we are on our musical journey.

appreciative crowd/venue all day long.... if ya dont enjoy it.. don't do it...

For me, money doesn't even come into it. I do it because I love playing. I might have the odd moan about lugging gear around and practising after a hard days work, but nothing tops the feeling when you've got a decent crowd singing and dancing along. It makes all the effort seem worthwhile.

That said, I do get annoyed at venues that "undervalue" bands or go back on agreements. It's disrespecting, plain and simple.

Large appreciative crowd any day. We were paid very well for travelling to Sheffield at the weekend but would of done it for half the fee if it had been packed with live music lovers.
The Charity Do's are a fine example were all the bands are playing for free and they love it because there are loads of musos in attendance - thanks recently to NWB site.

Rick.

The only time I moan is when carrying heavy amps and speakers,but we do it cos we love it right?

I'm sure my amp is gettin heavier

I think if a band entertains a crowd for hours on end and keeps them there with top notch renditions of tunes, though £20k worth of gear, they've earnt their crust as far as I can see though on the other side.

If I totted up what I spent on music gear over the years I think I'd have a heart condition,but themoney earned is a lovely bonus,being paid for something you love is utopia,I love the great saying of travel/setting up/packing up/loading in and out,that's what we get paid for

Good Venue / Appreciative punters.

But then again I have played venues that pay next to nothing. I find these places are not really suited enough to book regular bands hence no crowd.

In my experience if they cannot pay the going rate it's not a good venue / no punters / bad gig...

MONEY. ALL THE WAY, THE MORE THE BETTER!!!!!

in my dreams anyway, would love to get a few thousnd a time for playing, but i suppose i will have to leave the money side of things to my day job and leave my beloved hobby to working my bollox off and getting just enuff money for a few drinks and a kebab...
OH AND LOVING EVERY GOD DAMN MINUTE OF IT!!!!

@Rob : I'm sure my amp is gettin heavier

a return to seperates on the cards?? ;-)

My gig money goes into a tin after every gig without fail. This week, I booked a holiday for two in Tenerife with it. It doesn't get much better than that does it? - free holiday for doing what you love and enjoy,

Rick.

ps, try it - it soon mounts up. I know I shell out money for gear and practice rooms but it's a good insentive.

Obviously a good response from the audience is most important...but we're not stupid enough to do it for free.

I think the keyword is self worth ... for example Riffraff did the Hindley Arms on satnite ..it was packed solid ,dancing girls infront and by the side ,everyone cheering,smiling generally enjoying the music till well gone midnite ..Dee & Dave great hosts ,great barstaff who look after you with drinks then you get fed ...plenty of handshakes and good comments ... same with Ruins @the Oddies dance floor was full all nite everyone enjoyed it ...makes you feel yr doing something worthwhile ....but you dont turn round at the end of the gig and say to the landlord ..'put yr money away we enjoyed it so much' ....or do you .. ;-)
I know wot you mean though we have not took a rebooking in places that pay good money becos of a crap or no audience situation and done a standard fee pub instead becos its a belting gig ..... now back to me beer in the sunshine ..

# Posted by G-IT-22 - 12/04/2010, 15:14 (GMT)..... now back to me beer in the sunshine ..

Ian you sod.

Agreed, it is self worth also I think that you have to be careful not to undermine others who are trying to make a living from gigs.

# Posted by Whatever - 12/04/2010, 14:58 (GMT)...dont exactly get the juices flowing.These are not exactly
live music venues if you know what i mean.

I think you will struggle to avoid these 'bread 'n' butter' gigs...

You set your stall out and you set your fee.....I know some bands who won't get out of bed for less than their minimum.....some are really good bands, some not so good.

LGIT don't play posh venues that pay that bit more for ONE reason.....the audience wouldn't appreciate what we do. We've played 'posh' venues in the past and been paid lots of money to play to 'sheeple'.....we turned down return gigs because we didn't enjoy the gig no matter how much they paid us.....
To us the whole idea of LGIT is to play 70's Punk music to Punks, or anyone who remembers and appreciates 70's Punk and/or enjoys watching a good, live band.....these venues are usually not the best payers.....such is life...

I saw Aidens band WHATEVER a few weeks ago in a 'nice' venue which suited their style. Aiden saw LGIT at a 'Rock' venue.....
I think if we'd have traded gigs/venues for the night neither of us would have got out alive.....horses for courses.
If you need to gig for the money, fair enough, times are hard.....personally I play for the love of it and see payment as a bonus which covers my expenses.....petrol, a few beers and a kebab etc.....
But my driving force is my passion for playing live music, money is not an issue with LGIT although we do have a lot of expenses to cover so the fee helps keep us going.....

Money is simply a bonus to us. It's a hobby. There are few hobbies where you actually get paid, so it's great. lol

If a gig is a great gig in that lots of people turn up and stick around, there's no reason why it can't be well paid too.

I love jumping in the minibus and being driven to a posh wedding - drinking free beer (as quoted in the contract) - and getting paid a shedful of money. I object, on these occasions, to buying my own kebab on the way home!! Why do I love doing this?? Because we have a fooooookin brilliant time playin and singin an messin with bridesmaids!!

I also love jumping in the car and driving to a pub somewhere, playing me socks off and getting whatever mein hosts can afford to pay a band. Why? because I have a foooooookin brilliant time playin an singin an messin with anyone who's there to be messed with!!

BUT ... one of my bands won't do Charity Dos unless there's expenses, but one will!

I agree with Rick's comments about stashing the money if you can and wholeheartedly agree with Mick(BH) re hobby.

Did I get the right answer?
Is there a cash prize?

:0)

Willow

@Willow - as always, the voice of reason. Damn you're good!

Money second for us, however I wouldn't wanna do it for nothin unless it was a charity do.Sometimes a gig is an 8 hr. shift.We have agreed to play a couple of the newer places for less than usual to help em get established

Mark

I think we all know that we say we don't care about the money, and I think that almost all of us know we are lying!

However, as I mentioned in a blog last year, when you lay the cash you get on the night against the gear you buy (far too much), the fuel you use, the time you invest in learning your instrument of choice (or not!), the time and money you invest in rehearsing with your band, the hours you spend getting to and from gigs AND setting up AND stripping down, the time you waste broken down waiting for the AA (or your mate)...........

You're all perfectly correct - we DON'T do it for the money.

Alyergottoloveitoryouwouldn'tbotherpal

It's a FOUR STAR next to the beach as well ! - lol

(see my previous comment)

# Posted by Socialtornado - 12/04/2010, 19:03 (GMT)

@Willow - as always, the voice of reason. Damn you're good!


Alas, not good young un, just old!! you tend to kinda "get" reason with age!!
LOL

Willowthuselah

The flight times are bril as well ! lol

We've booked the car in at the airport. lol

I'm not ashamed to say that I cannot afford to gig at a loss. Playing for fun IS the main reason (otherwise I'd be on the function/holiday/corporate circuit) but costs must be covered as well. Except for the occasional charity gig of course, which may then pay for itself in coverage and enhanced reputation.

Jon

Jon Delirium
Well said Sir.....

When covering costs it doesn't always have to be about cold hard cash. I've accepted low fees before and taken accomodation and/or food as part of the deal. Likewise if a venue does the sound and lights for us we can share cars etc.
I accepted a booking last Friday when neither of my bands were available so I put a trio together for the gig. We got paid £150 but, lights were provided, it was a tiny pub so we only needed PA tops, so we got £50 each with hardly any travelling. Plus I got to sing lead on a few songs, something that I needed more experience of.

Jon

Jon
Didn't we meet at the Travellers Rest in Shiply a while back.....
I think you caught our first set and put a blog on RocktheNorth.....
Was that you...???

Yeah that was me. I know Tony to say hello to, been in the same band at different times!