It's time for musicians to take a stand. I hear so many musicians complaining about pay. About making 50 75 or 100 bucks a night. If your playing a night club and not making a minimum 175 a night.( Should be 200 at least) a night for a least three nights then don't take the gig. That's per member by the way. For two nights it should 250 per night. Pubs and other smaller venues can be a little less. Bands that are playing for 100 buck per man per night are just screwing it up for everyone else. If you are working for 50 to 100 bucks a night per man and are serious about your music and that is what you think you are worth than you must suck. Sorry to say it but it's the truth. Stand up to these clubs that are raping you. If you are a new band and just trying to break into the scene I can understand having to come in at a lower rate but don't remain there. Once you have proven yourself it's time to bump it up.
The days of the full time musician are going ways of the dinosaur. It does not mean that your pay has to as well. The quality of good bands are going to drop because the great musicians will not work for peanuts. The clubs by not paying what the bands are worth are just shooting themselves in the foot and are not worth playing. People will come for a little while but then if there is no great bands to listen to the people will stop coming.
There is the odd club that pays fair and I applaud them and they are strong clubs because they treat there bands well. It makes the bands want to play. Yes the economy and drinking laws have hurt some clubs and have had to do some cut backs but are still trying to support bands. Others clubs that are still doing well have taken advantage of the situation and are using it to push all musicians under their thumbs. This is where the musicians have to say no.
As impossible has it sounds musicians have to band together ( no pun intended) Start conducting yourselves as business people. I think one of the problems is most musicians think they are not worth the respect they should get. Respect is earned when you lower yourself you lower how everyone sees you. STAND UP START WITH SELF RESPECT FIRST.
You are what you're worth and that also goes morally too.
You have to reinvent yourself do what it takes to survive but don't give in. Stand up believe in yourself.
The days of the full time musician are going ways of the dinosaur. It does not mean that your pay has to as well. The quality of good bands are going to drop because the great musicians will not work for peanuts. The clubs by not paying what the bands are worth are just shooting themselves in the foot and are not worth playing. People will come for a little while but then if there is no great bands to listen to the people will stop coming.
There is the odd club that pays fair and I applaud them and they are strong clubs because they treat there bands well. It makes the bands want to play. Yes the economy and drinking laws have hurt some clubs and have had to do some cut backs but are still trying to support bands. Others clubs that are still doing well have taken advantage of the situation and are using it to push all musicians under their thumbs. This is where the musicians have to say no.
As impossible has it sounds musicians have to band together ( no pun intended) Start conducting yourselves as business people. I think one of the problems is most musicians think they are not worth the respect they should get. Respect is earned when you lower yourself you lower how everyone sees you. STAND UP START WITH SELF RESPECT FIRST.
You are what you're worth and that also goes morally too.
You have to reinvent yourself do what it takes to survive but don't give in. Stand up believe in yourself.
