Celebrating Good People, Good Music and Good Times
Your Hometown Fair-Do you play it for Free or Charge?
This has been a sore subject for me because in the past our County fair Board has always paid the entertainment to play. After all you usually get paid whenever you perform right?
This last year we got this new board president and he wants everyone to play for free. So guess what? The entertainment quality went to the dogs. None of the headliners passing through would play. Only a few small bands starting out played and they didn't draw any crowds. I talked to him earlier in the year and asked him if he was planning on having me perform and he said sure if you play for free. I about dropped to the floor. The Fair gigs always were some of the best paying. So to hear him say that threw me for a loop. I kinda chuckled it off, But I was right, Crappy entertainment this year. There were some good fiddlers there and what not. But as far as a class act, there weren't any. I am hoping people in the community complain and let him know that we want quality entertainment at our County Fair. Mind you, the sound company got paid and they won't do it for free. Let me know what you think, I am baffled by this. I am not against doing charity events. But when they charge 10,00 for an adult to get into the fair and then they gouge you every other step of the way. It Irks me.
This last year we got this new board president and he wants everyone to play for free. So guess what? The entertainment quality went to the dogs. None of the headliners passing through would play. Only a few small bands starting out played and they didn't draw any crowds. I talked to him earlier in the year and asked him if he was planning on having me perform and he said sure if you play for free. I about dropped to the floor. The Fair gigs always were some of the best paying. So to hear him say that threw me for a loop. I kinda chuckled it off, But I was right, Crappy entertainment this year. There were some good fiddlers there and what not. But as far as a class act, there weren't any. I am hoping people in the community complain and let him know that we want quality entertainment at our County Fair. Mind you, the sound company got paid and they won't do it for free. Let me know what you think, I am baffled by this. I am not against doing charity events. But when they charge 10,00 for an adult to get into the fair and then they gouge you every other step of the way. It Irks me.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Doc Killian on -
Gate sales are ALWAYS high so I really don't understand his position. I donate my performances at Veterans and Troop support Venues but these are events where the gate sales go to orgs such as Veterans Shelters or to support with necessary supplies. This guy needs to understand the REALITY of the costs to us just to get to the venues. AND am I going to perform for Free or FEE.. I think the latter would be the deciding factor, EXCEPT charity shows. I travelled 150 miles to my last show with my gas money and no charge to show support ofMichigans Fallen Soldiers Families, but that was put on by the Chamber of Commerce, FREE, for those families. There were vendors there, but no admission charge. Vendors at the events that you are speaking of,even get charged to set up at most places because they know the sales will be there. Bottom line is people that attend the festival of which you are talking, are being ripped off. A case of NOT getting what you pay for! Thats MY Opinion...Doc Killian
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Permalink Reply by Lou Derr & Bootleg on -
I agree with you 100%. I figure if they want me to do a 4 hour set up and sound check and oput on a decent show for free, well we have costs, I feel if they can provide the money to cover out of pocket expenses then it is a true free gig. But not a "In The Hole" gig. That's as bad as "Pay to Play" crap you hear about. It is a way for the owners of clubs to get you to play for free to pack their club so they can sell their beer and other drinks and basically get rich off the bands that play there. Whoopie!! Forget that!! I have paid my dues for 30+ years, I am finally getting the money I want by the per gig basis and I pay my band a certain price per gig and I take what's left over. Sometimes it's real good and sometimes it ain't that good but I do keep my band paid well. That way I got them when I need them. I am not going to call them and say "Hey need you all to spend a bunch of money playing at a county fair for free" for what? Not exposure..We don't need the exposure. We do need a road crew and sound and lights and all the band members to make a decent wage when they are doing their job..Performing. I used to call it "playing" but that's when it was just playing. It is now "Performing" and there is a certain respect for the musicians and the promoters and the crew and everyone invoved in doing a show that isn't there when you are "playing for free". I will perform for any good cause and if I were insainly loaded with cash, I would donate what I could to who "I" wanted to. Not who someone else's pockets. I hope I don't sound cold. I have fun performing with the whole bunch of people. Most Owners of clubs and other places don't really realize what goes into that show they want for free. They don't realize it takes all day preparing or driving and a lifetime of rehearsing and "playing" to get it where it is now, A Show. A Performance. What ever you want to call headlining. If Hank Jr. called me and asked me to open for him for free, I'd tell him to cover my expenses, and then I'd ask him WHY? He's got enough money to pay an opening band. Get Real! And I am not picking on Hank Jr. He wouldn't do that but I was just using him as an example. There are many people in an organization when you are doing a show that the audience doesn't even see. It cracks me up when one of my friends Mom or Dad says hey lets get the band together and pick a bit here in the backyard. I wish it were that simple again.....Lou
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Permalink Reply by Doc Killian on
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And another point, YOU are supposed to bring YOUR Fans for them to profit from and it took YEARS to get your fans. You labor long and hard doing some shows here and there, tried to sell your music to people that never heard of you, and PAID for the music you have. Paid meaning, Copyrights, registrations, Recording Costs, Distribution and Duplication Fess...etc. NOBODY said, "hey I'll do this for ya FREE. So why would YOU be expected to give out what I have paid for with Money, Sweat, Time, and Talent...It all boils down to they want YOU....So they should PAY YOU(Except charity causes). All the shows I do for FREE, I know ahead of time exactly where the money is going to. Other than that...Fuget about it...Thats MY opinion....Doc
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Permalink Reply by Lou Derr & Bootleg on
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Amen Brother, I don't mind doing a good cause thing for some cancer victom or a war hero comming home or a fund raiser for my son's football team to get uniforms , But not to line someone else's pocket!! I am very giving, but there comes a point. When we all have to make a point!
Lou
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Permalink Reply by lil' Johnny on -
No.
Lots of folks want it for free, but musicians basically work for free after the expenses. If you've got an opener in front of no less than 5,000 people, I wouldn't do it for free, and even then, I'd expect the headliner to at least chunk me a bone. They know how tough it is.
It saddens me to see that most folks playing on the bar circuit are pretty much getting paid the same as they were 25 years ago.
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Permalink Reply by Doc Killian on
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Most of us KNOW we aint gonna get RICH, But havin a little pocket change to pay for our time, energy, and talent IS necessary. We pay enormously for our recording time, registration fees, CD mastering and duplication...etc, and to be even ASKED to perform for FREE, to me is and insult(EXCEPT for Charity) Anyone who has been around this music business(YES BUSINESS) for any length of time, has endured countless meatless weeks, just as a sacrifice for our trade. If someone thinks I will donate so THEY can get ahead it outta there mind. ANYTIME someone else is gettin paid, I will also, or it aint happenin!....Thats MY Opinion...Doc
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Permalink Reply by lil' Johnny on
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But hey - all we do is to go up and play guitar for a couple of hours!!!
(that was a joke!)
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Permalink Reply by Doc Killian on
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Key word to the joke was PLAY....Right....Do I get to PLAY TOO? I mean its fer free...LOL
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Permalink Reply by Lou Derr & Bootleg on
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When all is said and done and the equipment is all set up and your too sweaty to even change into your stage clothes, yeah that's the only part I don't like especially in the hot summer time. It's ok if you got your bus or a cool dressing room. But I am 6' 230#s. sometimes it's a bitch getting ready when it's hot out. Then we get to PLAY. I am getting to the point where they better have a nice cool place to hang out before I go on stage. I like a swig of Beam to clear my throat before I go on and that burn gets me through the first song then it's FUN. I Love to Perform like I am sure you all do too. But they just don't realize what we go through to put on a good show for them.
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