I'm in a 7 piece band for over a year now. To get the band noticed and more gigs, I've taken the initiative to do the lighting, play music (DJ) during our breaks and as we setuo, get the band coordinated clothes, do all of the website coding, hosting, maintenance, I publish the charts and make the arrangements. I do all of this without getting any additional money. I get an equal share as all 7 members do.

I'm starting to run out of gas having been working so hard. Some of the guys only bring themselves to the gigs and collect a full paycheck. They don't help with the lights, setup or breakdown, or even help me load stuff in my car.

It's not my nature to complain, but I am thinking about "raising my rates" as of the 1st of the year.

Would it be unreasonable for me to charge $10 extra per gig for each light bank, $10 extra per gig for the music for a total of $30 extra per gig for this stuff? I plan on passing along my charges for the Web hosting and domain name.

If they don't want to pay me, I will tell them I will not bring the lights and the MP3 player thus easing my burden.

Do you guys think this is an equitable solution?

Al

Al,
Every band I was ever in had a leader, who had the extra responsibilities. I had no problem with them taking an extra fee for doing all the stuff I didn't want to mess with. That's a fair trade-off IMO. I'd go for $50.
Regards,
Zuki

Hi, I have always taken a double share for the PA system, getting the job, and the the PR work that goes with dealing with people.

John C.

Take 10% over your cut...nuff said!
Don't be a fool.

------------------
www.donnypesce.com

Sound advice so far, just so you know, I am NOT the leader.

Good point, Donny, I don't want to be greedy and offend my band mates since we all get along great and like each other alot. I really don't want to offend them, just get my fair share.

Al

A business is a business....you have to draw a line somewhere. The rest of the band should have offered you the extra cut without asking for doing all that extra work. have a serious band meeting and discuss the issue asap.

Unfortunately you are in a no-win situation. In every band there are people who do more and those who do less and the pay situation is never fairly divided by workload (ask anyone who has ever worked with a girl singer). When you try to give yourself a "raise" it won't go over well and you won't be able to enforce it. Your bandmates aren't blind or stupid and they know full well that they are taking advantage of your enthusiasm and goodwill - they probably think it's funny. Don't even mention the unfairness of your situation to them unless you have an exit strategy planned. If I were you I'd polish my solo act.

Right On Pro!
I used to split 50/50 with a girl singer. She was definately a crowd pleaser and had a following. But, I did feel a bit put out by the fact all she had to do was show up (although...she did spend money and go to extra trouble with her apparel, makeup, etc.). I did all the arrangements, bookings, owned and maintained all the gear, upgraded gear, did afternoon setups and stayed to tear down while she was long gone, etc.

Unfortunately, she became ill and could no longer sing. I thought I was sunk. But, when it all washed out, I didn't lose but a couple of jobs when I went single. In addition I hired another girl as a "standby" for those times I needed to provide a duo. The new girl only works with me on about 10% of my jobs and is happy to get the work at far less than the previous singer. I always try to be fair...but no more 50/50.

Al...in all honesty, your biggest challenge is that you have established a precedent. And precedents can be very hard to change and cause ill will. If you were building a new band from scratch, I don't think you would find any objections from your band mates.
Eddie

Take 10 percent, they won't say a word, and if they do, ask them which part of the job they wish to take over. That's only one of the many, many reasons I do the whole deal myself. Been in lots of bands, most of the members just showed up with a guitar, sax or trumpet, and now that I think of it, they didn't even own a mic.

Cheers,

Gary

Just tell them "We gotta talk" and explain the situation. Make sure you have it down on all the points you want to address. Keep it good natured and ask them what they think as you explain and see the reaction, this will tell you what you have to do. If they balk, which they shouldn't if you're being fair, then you might have to take the action you're thinking about, but it might create bad vibes. If this is bothering you this much, you probably have to clear the air and don't get the idea that they all know what you are feeling, they probably don't have a clue. Good luck.

Nothing's ever fair. I had my own band for twenty years and been an ?equal partner for the last 15. I've always owned the PA equipment, lights, done music during breaks, etc. Very rarely have I made more than the rest of the band, but the times I did it was usually a result of pre-planning and pricing. The rest of the band may think it's OK to pay you an additional fee for whatever you do/bring above and beyond the rest. An exrtra $25-50 is definitely not too much, but not if it come out of their pockets. If the job pays $100 per and you get an extra $50, somebody's gonna get upset unless everyone understands how much and how important your contributions are. I say if you are the booker also, go for it and don't worry too much about the others - as long as they make a fair wage, they have no gripe.

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 12-06-2003).]

Wow, isn't this a bit extreme? The options I'm giving them are pretty clear. If they want lights and program music, they must pay. If they don't want to pay, no lights and music. They can choose to either; do the lights (they must purchase their own) and the music themselves letting me off the hook; They can pay me to do it; or we have no lights and no music and the band takes a hit in it's appearance/professionalism.

I don't see how it's a no win situation for anybody?

Al

It can become a no-win situation very quickly if you give the band members an ultimatum. You may see if differently, but they may see you as holding lights and music as hostages. A simpler, less toxic solution might be to include your "fee" in the new price increase and explain to the band your reasoning. This way no one loses - the band keeps your needed services and you get some extra dough.

See, that kind of thinking will get you in trouble. If you KNOW that an action will hurt the band, and you do it anyway, then YOU are at fault.
What you ned to do is have a band meeting and set some rules and responsibilities. Nothing is easy when more than one person is at the wheel. Remember learning to drive with your Dad? Same deal here - giving advice needs some serious "splenda" coating (Atkins, you know) and you should expect some dissention within the ranks.

You need to determine if this band is a co-op or something else. If it's co-op, then you need to assign responsibilities to each member. Booking, advertising, ehancements etc.... everyone has to do their part or it will self destruct from within.

This is why so many of us work solo routines now. It's not all about the bread. It's the ego trips that break up bands.

I have been playing solo for so long, I am not up to date on "Cartage Fees". But when I was union and playing drums, a fee was always built in for the extra grunt work. Most guys (and girls) should be able to see the worth of the extra effort you put into the job. Just appeal to their sense of fairness.
Eddie

My thoughts on Jim's comment "working with girl singers", he has a valid point, but I don't mind carring the sound equipment as long as they carry their own equipment well..BTW each member of a band has it's value..but if the keyboard player is missing , there is no band...as compared to a sololist, trumpet player or what ever...Harmony[getting along] is most important, talk to each other as a group, not behind anyone's back...Well I got to get ready to drive to Wildwood [6-10 inches of snow on the way]..I have to pick up my "girl singer", she hates to drive in the snow...

First of all, let me just say HEEEEEELLLLP!!!

We received a whopping 18" of snow yesterday and last night and I'm snowed in -- All Saturday night gigs cancelled.

Friday night we played a Christmas party at a Local Country club and during our dinner break I raised this topic to the band. I was about as empathetic as Dr. Kissinger. I told them how much I love the band and playing with them, but that I'm starting to feel run down and the extra expenses are getting to me. I said; doing the lights is getting harder and harder and it takes me an extra 30 minutes before and after each gig to setup and breakdown. And when we do a wedding or a party, most people comment the music on the breaks really keeps the excitement level up. And because we don't play the Macerana and songs like the Electric Slide, my DJing during the breaks really adds to experience. Some wedding bands charge extra for that music and so should we. I suggested a modest amount of money be put aside for each gig for the gigs where we use the lights and music and pass along the increase to the customer.

6 of the 7 guys in the band were shocked that I wasn't getting additional funds, the leader was sort of sullen and had mixed emotions about it and said we'd talk later. The meeting was honest, light hearted, and productive. As other members raised a few other things that were on their mind at the time. Good thing we had some Prime Rib and Beer to soften the Blow!!!

Now there are not many keyboard players who sing lead and acapella harmony with my repetoire in this area and I am always getting approached to join other projects. Guys like me are in pretty big demand so my band knows they've got a pretty good thing going.

Let's see where this leads, I'll keep you posted.

I took a lot of advise learned from you guys and tried to incorporate it into this issue and I thank you all for your candid responses. You guys are great!!!

[This message has been edited by kbrkr (edited 12-07-2003).]

Al...
Sorry the weather resulted in a cancellation. It dropped to 46 here in Florida and we are about to call in FEMA.

Sounds like you handled it well.

Eddie

Eddie,

You really know how to hurt an old man. We were down to 26 yesterday, blasted another 11 inches of snow from the driveway and today, the wind's are howling at 35 or more and causing drifts.

Just another fun day in Paradise,

Gary