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Post by tahitijack on Jul 8, 2020 10:33:31 GMT -5
I was picking up a food to go order at one our local venues last night. We were booked to play there in March but the lock down killed that evening. While I was waiting for my order the owner and I talked about having live music again. Before the pandemic it was one of the best local venues with weekly open mic night and live music Thursday to Sunday. The owner really wants to get live music going again but said he can't afford it.
My band consists of comfortably retired older guys that play for the joy of playing acoustic guitars supporting solid voices. We are known for our harmonies. Gig money would not make any difference in our lives one way or another. What started out last year as a casual lets play some songs band turned into a pretty decent group.
So, my question is under the current pandemic would you play a gig for tips to just get back out there. In our case this venue owner said he plans on having and paying for live music again and this pandemic will pass and there will be a day when normal returns. We figure we would be his first choice when that day comes and there is money for bands again. So, we're playing now betting on the future paying gig.
What say you?
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cagey
Wholenote
My guitar doesn't have the same notes as yours
Posts: 110
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Post by cagey on Jul 8, 2020 12:20:44 GMT -5
We have played a couple free outdoor "gigs" in band member's driveways, just to play in front of someone other than ourselves. Next weekend we are playing our 1st real gig since Feb 15 (27 cancellations) at a local winery. They are selling tickets at $10 a piece, with all sales going to whatever band is playing that night. Their max allowed capacity is 50. If it sells out that is still less than our normal fee, but we just want to play. We've discussed playing for a reduced rate at venues that normally book us a lot, but none of us are in favour of playing for free at a club/bar/winery
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jul 8, 2020 13:27:14 GMT -5
If you like the establishment and think it would help them out, at least during this stage then how about playing for dinner and a drink or 2? Years ago I had a regular Monday night gig, 7pm to 10:30 pm. We got $70 each, free dinner and 2 drinks. Food was good, great clientele, loved that gig, especially getting home at a reasonable time.
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Post by tahitijack on Jul 8, 2020 14:52:48 GMT -5
The venue is a wine bar/restaurant. Probably running a 25% of occupancy. It can't use indoor space for seating, so all it has is take out and a very small patio/sidewalk. We would be playing outdoors in a open space normally used by vendors to bring in F&B adjacent to patio seating. I have gotten to know the owner as we usually get take out every week. He is typical of small business owners just trying to survive, but remaining positive. Someone you'd like to help. We realize playing low pay/tips gigs is looked down on by others in normal times, but as we all know now, these are Strange Days as the song goes.
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Ayns
Wholenote
Posts: 767
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Post by Ayns on Jul 8, 2020 16:04:52 GMT -5
Our band has probably lost about a dozen to twenty gigs to date, and we aren't expecting any proper gigs in the foreseeable future.
We are a 5 piece playing mainly Southern Rock, West Coast and Country Rock, but like yourselves we have strong 4 piece harmonies, so we are considering going out as an acoustic 5 piece playing outdoor gigs if any arise. I wouldn't imagine that we would be able to get the same money as before, but I would probably play for free beer ;-) , heck I'd even consider going out as a duo/ trio :-)
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Post by Duke on Jul 9, 2020 10:53:41 GMT -5
We used to get $400 before the shutdown. Now we get $200 + tip jar.
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Post by tahitijack on Jul 10, 2020 10:51:31 GMT -5
Maybe we'll call this time the pandemic discount period.
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Geno
Quarternote
Posts: 42
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Post by Geno on Jul 19, 2020 15:48:48 GMT -5
Not many band gigs happening around here, but I've played 6 acoustic duo/trio gigs (all outdoor at wineries or private parties) since May 23 and they've all paid at least $100 each as per usual and the tips have been great.
I recently started up a duo with a female vocalist and she has 4 gigs booked in Aug and Sept. Those will pay $150 each.
So gigs have been good since starting back up. Unless there is a major turnaround with the pandemic I don't think we'll have many, if any indoor gigs when the weather turns.
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Post by Duke on Aug 7, 2020 23:52:48 GMT -5
We play tomorrow at an outdoor cafe 4-7pm. $300 this time.
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