Just got a message from a band i play with...apparently they were invited to play a gig at a private party where people are getting charged for admittance.  Place is easily an hour away, and the host has convinced the other guys that the gig is a good idea because "someone famous is running sound"  

I declined...mainly because I have another commitment that day, but also out of principle due to the "play for free but we will feed and booze you up" invite is lame..

I enjoy playing, but I don't like it enough to give up an entire day of my weekend for free....In my mind it really takes a certain level of ignorance and arrogance to ask a band, especially a band that is already somewhat established to come out and play for free.

The only times it is acceptable to play for free is for a charity or for a contest. Whoever is running that house party needs to be fucked in the ass. Fuck that guy. A true piece of shit.

I have a friend that plays in a pretty good local band.   They got the opportunity to open for Robin Trower at the Cain's Ballroom which is a pretty well known smaller venue in Tulsa.  

They got a whopping 150 bucks for the whole band to do that.   He said it is really hard finding good paying gigs.   He makes most of his money teaching and gets a few pennies a month from iTunes.

I have played a party for free before.  Halloween party, the the folks throwing it were huge supporters of ours, and friends of most of the band members.  Did a lot for us, and it was a blast.

Would I play a party just because someone "famous" was running sound?  No.  Those sort of hookups never pay off really.  If I was told that a record company exec would be there, and knew he was checking us out?  Sure thing.

As has been stated, I would play for free for a charity event, or if the gig was guaranteed to get us needed exposure (big national show...I've dis that once).

But playing someone's party for free because some supposedly famous guy was running sound, nah.  That is just somebody's way to get a free band for their party.

ETA: I subbed in on drums for free once, again for a very good friend's party and they needed a drummer at the last minute.  I had to learn a buttload of songs quickly (all easy rock covers) and I had fun.  Only did it because they were super good friends (the party people, not the band.)

I don't even know that I would play for free for a contest.  Those stupid battle of the bands things are a joke.  Whoever brings the most friends wins.  And your prize is a big ball of who gives a fuck.

 

The last show I played with my old band was for free, but it was at a friend's wedding reception. Everybody in the band was all for it, so it was no biggie, and it was fun. I drank before, during, and after the set.

Yeah, that situation is a little different...

Still, with the cost of getting from point A to point B these days, I would never think to ask anyone I am in a band with to play for free unless it was a charity event....

I think there has been one time where I asked a group of people to play at an event where we were not getting paid..Since some of the guys were traveling far I ended up paying them out of my own pocket for gas and vehicle expenses.

Famous sound guy...boy there's an oxymoron if I ever heard one

Parties are expensive, and one merely has to look at the host's other expenditures to determine what they can afford for entertainment.  If a private house party will involve catering, a valet, servers, and a kitchen staff, it's a safe bet that they'll also be able to shell out a few grand for a good band.


















 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





 

^ Plus, bands that play parties and events typically do that full time, hence are very professional about it and have established rates.  Like you said, they have extensive play lists encompassing many genres.  They can crank out 3 or 4 sets, take requests, etc.  They specialize in making folks dance at weddings, parties and corporate events.  If you think you're going to get AC/DC, you're wrong...that isn't to say they aren't great musicians because they usually are super talented.  But they don't deliver inspired "star" performances.  They have perfected the art of providing corporate entertainment.

I've seen lots of those at corporate events.  I can tell how good they are...consumate pros etc.  Very talented.  And I usually thank god I didn't have to buy a ticket to see em

If you are throwing a party...you have to pay for those bands.  They are great for your party but for some weird reason someone who drops $1000 on booze won't drop $1000 for a band.  So they ask a buddy, and what they get is a band better suited for a concert at a club, the gear doesn't match the venue (your basement) and they don't have more than an hour or so of music...probably not ideally suited for your party.  But hey, they were free and everyone was already plowed anyways so in hindsight they probably loved it.

 









 
 
 
 
 






 

 

 






 

I will and do play for free for close friends. That's it though. I once told someone who wanted me to play for free, but said beer and food would be included, that I couldn't pay bills with free beer and barbeque! And I'm to the point of never playing bars again. They're such a pain in the ass and pay nowhere near as good as private parties.

Playing for friends for free is really as far as I will go, and than only if it is local..and local means no further than 30-45 minutes...even bars I am fine with if they are close..its once you start passing that 45 minute point in distance that I need to look critically at everything involved (lineup, pay, sound system provided or not,  etc)...

I've also gone through the process of pretty much running one vehicle into the ground driving to these long distance gigs and rehearsals...not about to do so again except for very, very rare situations like I am encountering this weekend where I am playing a gig with in CT and than in NH with some guys who are in pretty deep in the regional and national jamband circuit.

In any case, since I made this thread the location and time slot of the non-paying gig has changed...it is now 2.5 hours away...on a Sunday from 4-6 pm.   Fuck that....