JAZZ MUSICIANS: GUARANTEE VS. THE DOOR

[farnellnewton]

How do you get payed for your club/restaurant engagements? Check out what I wrote and please leave a comment. Would love to hear your opinion on this topic. JAZZ MUSICIANS: GUARANTEE VS. THE DOOR

[bluenoter]

Please see JC's ASK THE MUSICIANS forum. You may want to post your question there.

[claude]

I am no musician, but I do operate a business and I deal with a lot of small businesses. In my mind the problem with the idea that you are putting forward is that you are in essence assuming that all of the variation in the volume of customers is directly attributable to the band. That seems completely unreasonable as there could be any number of variables not least of which are those related to poor management.

[clinthopson]

The columnist takes a very simplistic approach. There of thousands of stories where the players were stiffed by the club owner/manager. When a club operator hires musicians, it's is his/her responsibility to promote the band as an attraction. In the past a poster or little announcement in a throwaway paper would suffice. Now, with wide spread use of the internet, numerous opportunities are there to promote the band. Of course, the band leader has the same responsibility.

If they public isn't aware of the event, they can just be expected to show up.

Of course as the father of a band leader, I hope that the band is paid an advance which seldom happens.

[Mike Schwartz]

Please see JC's ASK THE MUSICIANS forum. You may want to post your question there.

bluenoter.....please give it a rest.

Why ask someone to post in a place that rarely get's any visitors whatsoever?

[bluenoter]

bluenoter.....please give it a rest.

Why ask someone to post in a place that rarely get's any visitors whatsoever?

I don't know what you're basing that on, but it doesn't appear to be number of views. Sorry that my suggestion annoyed you.

[Mike Schwartz]

How do you get payed for your club/restaurant engagements? Check out what I wrote and please leave a comment. Would love to hear your opinion on this topic. JAZZ MUSICIANS: GUARANTEE VS. THE DOOR

I would opt for some kind of fair guaranteed pay. By 'fair' meaning musician workers have costs involved like transportation, and the final reality of bills to pay and food to put on the table like everyone else.

What if the clubs & restaurants paid kitchen help ( as an example) $15 an hour and have a low turn out and go to them at the end of the night and tell them they'll get $10.

There are enough stories about bands who get asked to play for NOTHING, told that the chance to get in front of an audience is somehow worth it or for insultingly low amounts

Farnell,
When there's a very small gate and it's all said & done on a date where you've agreed to play vs. the take, is it worth it, in your mind, when you take home very little?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

When square dance callers call hoedowns for clubs (experienced dancers), the typical arrangement is a guarantee or a percentage of the gate, whichever is greater-- say $250 or 50% of the gate, whichever is greater. (Party dances for rookies are at a set fee, usually 50-100% higher than an typical guaranteed minimum. And that's true even if they charge at the door.)

There are dozens of factors that impact attendance other than the drawing power of the act -- weather, competition, time of the month, accessibility/ familiarity/ comfortableness of the venue, etc.