So i just wanted to see if this general community feels the same way about this situation as i do.
I just recently heard about a benefit in the works for a little kid. The organizers want a band. So far so good. They were offered a chance to have a free band/bands. They instead insist on getting a band that is charging at a ($800)discount price of $1200 to play said benefit. Said band said they would bring at least 30 people. So at $15 a ticket that equals $450. So just to pay the band they need to bring 80 people before making a single dollar for said charity. Anyone else find this absolutely ridiculous?? Discuss........
I didn't do it! It was the other guy! I Swear to God!!
I THINK WE ALL AS MUSICIANS LOVE TO MAKE A LITTLE CASH ON THE SIDE. BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT THE LOVE FOR WHAT WE DO. I THINK WHO EVER IS LOOKING FOR A BAND NEEDS TO LOOK ELSE WHERE FOR THAT BENEFIT. IN MY OPINION I THINK THE BAND SHOULD FEEL ASHAMED FOR EVEN ASKING FOR ANY MONEY IF ITS FOR SUCH A GOOD CAUSE/BENEFIT.
WE HAD DID A BENEFIT SEVERAL YEARS BACK FOR A KID WITH CANCER. I BELIEVE WE HAD RAISED SOMEWHERE LIKE $2300.00 AND THE LADY THAT HAD GOTTEN AHOLD OF US TO BE APART COME UP TO US AT THE END OF THE DAY AND TRIED TO GIVE US SOME CASH FOR TAKING PART AND I TOLD HER NOT IN A MILLION YEARS, TOLD HER I WAS JUST HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO MY PART TO HELP SOMEONE. NOW WHATS FUNNY IS I HOWEVER DID HERE ABOUT ANOTHER BAND TAKING SOME MONEY THAT DAY. IT KINDA MADE ME UPSET EVEN HEARING ABOUT THAT.
it seems like there's always a benefit of some sort going on. bands are ALWAYS being asked to play because it's the easiest way to get people to a place and raise money. i'm sure the band members would love to donate their time and services for whatever the cause may be BUT...don't ya think if you're in a band that's constantly asked to play these things you're gonna end up needing to throw a benefit just for yourselves? nobody wants the be the asshole to turn down these kind of things, but at some point a line has to be drawn.
everyone wants a good band to headline a benefit to get he biggest crowd, but they forget what it takes to get there.
the only way i'd ask a band to volunteer their time for a benefit is if they were friends or personally involved with the charity.
maybe i'm alone on this one...but heck, that's why it's a forum, eh?
YA IM WITH YA THERE TO A CERTAIN DEGREE SUCH AS IF A BAND WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL. I CAN SEE GIVING EACH MEMBER SOME GAS MONEY. BUT NEVER DO I THINK IT SHOULD BE FOR THERE TIME.
it seems like there's always a benefit of some sort going on. bands are ALWAYS being asked to play because it's the easiest way to get people to a place and raise money. i'm sure the band members would love to donate their time and services for whatever the cause may be BUT...don't ya think if you're in a band that's constantly asked to play these things you're gonna end up needing to throw a benefit just for yourselves? nobody wants the be the asshole to turn down these kind of things, but at some point a line has to be drawn.
everyone wants a good band to headline a benefit to get he biggest crowd, but they forget what it takes to get there.
the only way i'd ask a band to volunteer their time for a benefit is if they were friends or personally involved with the charity.
maybe i'm alone on this one...but heck, that's why it's a forum, eh?
Seems to me its part of the business look at all the real bands who do stuff like this for free!! some you hear about and I'm sure their are a lot you don't .
I understand that people make a living off of playing i know i do. But i think that you just need to say no to benefits instead of taking money from the cause. And i get it some bands draw better so get two medium draw bands that will play for free that will equal the big draw band that wants $1200. My band limits benefits to two or three a year give or take. It's easy to get sucked into playing too many but when we do benefits it's 100% free, hell we will even kick in out of pocket cash to help out. I personally think it's shameful one for the band and two for the organizer to go that route. I know that i am boycotting said band. And i'll make a double donation to the cause as long as i know it goes directly to the cause and not to help pay the band. I know i will not be attending the benefit because my money goes to the charity not the band! I'm sorry but who needs the money more some helpless kid born into bad luck or some band that has expensive guitars and drums. To me it's a no brainer.
I didn't do it! It was the other guy! I Swear to God!!
it seems like there's always a benefit of some sort going on. bands are ALWAYS being asked to play because it's the easiest way to get people to a place and raise money. i'm sure the band members would love to donate their time and services for whatever the cause may be BUT...don't ya think if you're in a band that's constantly asked to play these things you're gonna end up needing to throw a benefit just for yourselves? nobody wants the be the asshole to turn down these kind of things, but at some point a line has to be drawn.
everyone wants a good band to headline a benefit to get he biggest crowd, but they forget what it takes to get there.
the only way i'd ask a band to volunteer their time for a benefit is if they were friends or personally involved with the charity.
maybe i'm alone on this one...but heck, that's why it's a forum, eh?
I understand where you're coming. However, I've always seen it that if you are asked to do a benefit and don't want to give up a paying night, it's just as simple as saying, "That is an excellent cause. I'm sorry, but we're unavailable for that day." If the other party has any class at all, they will say they understand and thank you for your time without pushing the subject any further.
There's nothing inherently ethically wrong with turning down a benefit gig. In fact, I think that it's bad to get the reputation for being "that band who will always play for free." A band trying to profit off of a benefit gig is just shitty, IMO.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
Skate Toad wrote:I I personally think it's shameful one for the band and two for the organizer to go that route.
In my experience, most benefit organizers aren't professional promoters. Oftentimes, they're just everyday folk with altruistic intentions and will bend over backwards to help those in need. Sometimes, they make decisions that seem out of this world just due to lack of knowledge about how things work...or should work.
I'm not saying that's the case with this organizer, Todd, but it's possible that organizer is just thinking too much about helping people that he or she doesn't realize what the band is really trying to do.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
That's why I like rockpage. I've never asked a specific band to play a benefit, except once and that's cuz I was told they wanted to play it. I just put up a post and people volunteer. Charging to do a benefit is fucking retarded.
I play about 2-3 benefits a year. It never put me in a financial bind.
"You are now either a clueless inbred brownshirt Teabagger, or a babykilling hippie Marxist on welfare."-Songsmith
Down here, it seems like every weekend there is a benefit going on somewhere. I try to limit how many my band does, as you can't say "yes'" to everyone. The most recent one I turned down was for a guy who was show-boating on his motorcycle and flipped. I might have considered doing the benefit if the person that the benefit was for hadn't been the person that called me.
Pour me another one, cause I'll never find the silver lining in this cloud.
Skate Toad wrote:So i just wanted to see if this general community feels the same way about this situation as i do.
I just recently heard about a benefit in the works for a little kid. The organizers want a band. So far so good. They were offered a chance to have a free band/bands. They instead insist on getting a band that is charging at a ($800)discount price of $1200 to play said benefit. Said band said they would bring at least 30 people. So at $15 a ticket that equals $450. So just to pay the band they need to bring 80 people before making a single dollar for said charity. Anyone else find this absolutely ridiculous?? Discuss........
Heck, I just can't believe a band gets 1200$ for playing!! lol thats awesome, i wish my band made that money. I mean don't get me wrong I play music cuz I love it but man, that would me me love it just that much more.. hhahah
30 people? That's all they can bring, and they want $800? Fuck that. I don't think playing a benefit for free has ever hurt me in any way. If you play for the sole purpose of earning, then don't play benefits. Simple as that.
RobTheDrummer wrote:30 people? That's all they can bring, and they want $800? Fuck that. I don't think playing a benefit for free has ever hurt me in any way. If you play for the sole purpose of earning, then don't play benefits. Simple as that.
I think ya misunderstood there Rob, The band is charging 1200 which they're claiming is an 800 dollar discount from their normal booking rate. Either way that's total BS.
Benefits are put together for somebody less fortunate to "benefit" from whatever is raised, not for the bands. If somebody has that big of a rockstar mentality that they cannot understand that it shows what kind of a person that they are. Kudos for all of the bands that came together for the Rock on for the Reed boys benefit without even insinuating that they wanted paid. Bands lined up for Brian, and that earns a person more than dollars....it earns them respect from the community.
RobTheDrummer wrote:30 people? That's all they can bring, and they want $800? Fuck that. I don't think playing a benefit for free has ever hurt me in any way. If you play for the sole purpose of earning, then don't play benefits. Simple as that.
I think ya misunderstood there Rob, The band is charging 1200 which they're claiming is an 800 dollar discount from their normal booking rate. Either way that's total BS.
Yea, that's even worse. 30 people still? I wish we could get paid that much to bring 30 people. Shit, we'd all be rich!
As a creature of habit, I'm often quoted as saying I'd rather play a free show than a $200 one. When you play for free, you're helping someone. At $200 for a five-piece band, you're getting boofed by someone.
A benefit is a benefit. Bands can and SHOULD give back. Why? Because there are so many people in crappy dead-end jobs who will never make a dime doing what they love, and we do that all the time. Music is a very enjoyable way to make a little money. You don't see benefit toilet-cleaning-a-thons, the whole idea is to create something that will make people WANT to give, and musicians are good at making people WANT to participate.
It's win-win. We make the charity some much-needed cash, and advance our own careers. Plus, most of the time, the good vibes are easily worth it. Obviously, there comes a point where too many benefits is a bad thing, but nobody says you have to play them all.--->JMS
Sounds pretty weak to me to ask for money for a benefit.
There's a pretty good thing going on here in Bedford for the Moose Riders.
The benefit shows run without a hitch, we all donate equipment, we help each other out, we all pitch in during setup and sound check, and we all do it with no intensions of pay. All the coin goes to the family in need, or child in need, etc.
It's a nice ticket to be on, and i'm glad i have had the opportunity to be involved and look forward to the next one.
of $1200 to play said benefit. Said band said they would bring at least 30 people. So at $15 a ticket that equals $450. So just to pay the band they need to bring 80 people before making a single dollar for said charity. Anyone else find this absolutely ridiculous?? Discuss........
