The Free Show...To Play or Not To Play, That Is The Question...
So I'm back and I figured it was about time I put something here, It's been a while.....
A bit of a departure with this post and likely most future posts. I started this by telling stories of my past and my history with various bands over the years. I'll likely continue along those lines from time to time but I figured I'd try something different every now and then as well by just writing about other topics, still mostly to do with my experience as a small time local rock star.
Most musicians like to play live for an audience and I am no different in this respect. I live to entertain and I am rarely happier than when I am on stage doing what I do. I like to do it any chance I get. I have often said I would play anywhere, anytime for free, just because I like to play. I still believe this to be true. I did something this past week though that I have never done before and never thought I would ever do. I pulled out of a show with my band because we were not going to be paid for our performance. This goes against pretty much everything I have ever believed or said about being a musician and entertainer. I thought long and hard about it before pulling the plug and it hurt in no small way to do it. I felt however that it was my time to make a stand and stay true to myself. Luckily the rest of band are very understanding and supportive and while disappointed about not doing the show, they were on board with my decision.
I have played many free shows in the 20+ years that I've been doing this. I have played for free at charity events and just because I wanted to play. I have never had a problem with not being paid to play. I have even given other musicians grief about only playing for money. I've asked why just being able to play in front of an audience wasn't enough. I've gone off on long rants and had many animated discussions about not needing to paid for something I love to do. What, then, you ask, was my problem this time? I'll tell you....
The summer fair just took place here in Brandon. As is the tradition, local bands and musicians were called upon to play on the outdoor entertainment stage during it's run. I have played this stage many time over the years and enjoyed it every time. I have also been paid to do it every time. This year the fair organizers decided there was nothing "in the budget" for the local bands. Now, none of us local bands has ever gotten rich playing at the summer fair. It's never been huge money but there has always been something for us. Not this year. I was told that the fair was scaling back on the budget this year and there was simply nothing for the local bands. This would not have been that big of a deal if not for a few other details. Every other entertainer that was booked for the fair was paid. The stage hypnotist got paid. The lizard guy got paid. The high divers got paid. Doodles the friggin clown got paid. Every single one of them got paid to do what they do all week long. Not one local band was given one red cent for their performances though.
I was at the fair as a representative for one of their sponsors for the entire week. I was there every day, hosting and judging a battle of the bands for local bands and musicians. As a rule these contests don't pay anything to anyone other than the winner. That's cool. That's how they work. The fair did not, however put up anything for this contest. They left that to another local sponsor. This sponsor was put in charge of organising the contest as well as booking the other talent to play every night outside of the contest. The sponsor was also left to come up with the prize for the contest. All of this was done at the request of the fair and at little to no cost to the fair because....there was nothing in the budget.
As a rep for a sponsor I was invited to a VIP meet and greet on the opening night of the fair. At this event I got to listen to a nice speech from one of the people in charge about how great the fair was. How successful it's been over the years and how much money it makes for the community. I was also privy to what kind of money is generated for the fair itself though vendor fees etc. I then got to witness the largest and most extravagant fireworks display the fair has ever put on. Overall it a great big self congratulatory high five for how great the fair is. But there was nothing in the budget of this hugely successful, award winning, money making extravaganza for local talent. Does anyone else see something odd here?
Basically what it all came down to was this. Local bands were not paid for their performances because the people who organize the fair did not think we were worth paying. Again, every other entertainer who was working at the fair this past week got paid for their work. Local bands have always been paid in the past but this year we were not worth it. If you don't think local talent is worth anything why bother asking them to come and play? Obviously we're worth something or we wouldn't be asked back every year. Not this year though. Nothing in the budget.
I have played many free shows over the years and I will continue to do so. I will never go back to play at the fair though. Even if they decide I'm worth paying again. I play for free because I like to play. I enjoy helping out a worthy cause with charity gigs. I like sharing the stage with other talent and just "getting the music out there". I do not enjoy playing for free just because someone has decided I'm not worth paying. I'd be willing to bet that would hold true for anyone doing something they love to do. You may love your job but if your employer decided you weren't worth paying would you still do it? Your employer certainly feels that you are good enough to keep around. They want you to do your job, they just don't think you're worth paying for it. Would you still want to do your job for them? I think not. That's why I didn't play the fair this year. Not because I wasn't being paid. Because I wasn't thought to be worth paying. In the end I did something I've never done and hopefully never will again but I felt that it was better than going along with the idea that my talent and effort were worthless. No one should ever be made to feel worthless for any reason. I took a stand and missed an opportunity to do something I dearly love to do, but I'm OK with it.
A bit of a departure with this post and likely most future posts. I started this by telling stories of my past and my history with various bands over the years. I'll likely continue along those lines from time to time but I figured I'd try something different every now and then as well by just writing about other topics, still mostly to do with my experience as a small time local rock star.
Most musicians like to play live for an audience and I am no different in this respect. I live to entertain and I am rarely happier than when I am on stage doing what I do. I like to do it any chance I get. I have often said I would play anywhere, anytime for free, just because I like to play. I still believe this to be true. I did something this past week though that I have never done before and never thought I would ever do. I pulled out of a show with my band because we were not going to be paid for our performance. This goes against pretty much everything I have ever believed or said about being a musician and entertainer. I thought long and hard about it before pulling the plug and it hurt in no small way to do it. I felt however that it was my time to make a stand and stay true to myself. Luckily the rest of band are very understanding and supportive and while disappointed about not doing the show, they were on board with my decision.
I have played many free shows in the 20+ years that I've been doing this. I have played for free at charity events and just because I wanted to play. I have never had a problem with not being paid to play. I have even given other musicians grief about only playing for money. I've asked why just being able to play in front of an audience wasn't enough. I've gone off on long rants and had many animated discussions about not needing to paid for something I love to do. What, then, you ask, was my problem this time? I'll tell you....
The summer fair just took place here in Brandon. As is the tradition, local bands and musicians were called upon to play on the outdoor entertainment stage during it's run. I have played this stage many time over the years and enjoyed it every time. I have also been paid to do it every time. This year the fair organizers decided there was nothing "in the budget" for the local bands. Now, none of us local bands has ever gotten rich playing at the summer fair. It's never been huge money but there has always been something for us. Not this year. I was told that the fair was scaling back on the budget this year and there was simply nothing for the local bands. This would not have been that big of a deal if not for a few other details. Every other entertainer that was booked for the fair was paid. The stage hypnotist got paid. The lizard guy got paid. The high divers got paid. Doodles the friggin clown got paid. Every single one of them got paid to do what they do all week long. Not one local band was given one red cent for their performances though.
I was at the fair as a representative for one of their sponsors for the entire week. I was there every day, hosting and judging a battle of the bands for local bands and musicians. As a rule these contests don't pay anything to anyone other than the winner. That's cool. That's how they work. The fair did not, however put up anything for this contest. They left that to another local sponsor. This sponsor was put in charge of organising the contest as well as booking the other talent to play every night outside of the contest. The sponsor was also left to come up with the prize for the contest. All of this was done at the request of the fair and at little to no cost to the fair because....there was nothing in the budget.
As a rep for a sponsor I was invited to a VIP meet and greet on the opening night of the fair. At this event I got to listen to a nice speech from one of the people in charge about how great the fair was. How successful it's been over the years and how much money it makes for the community. I was also privy to what kind of money is generated for the fair itself though vendor fees etc. I then got to witness the largest and most extravagant fireworks display the fair has ever put on. Overall it a great big self congratulatory high five for how great the fair is. But there was nothing in the budget of this hugely successful, award winning, money making extravaganza for local talent. Does anyone else see something odd here?
Basically what it all came down to was this. Local bands were not paid for their performances because the people who organize the fair did not think we were worth paying. Again, every other entertainer who was working at the fair this past week got paid for their work. Local bands have always been paid in the past but this year we were not worth it. If you don't think local talent is worth anything why bother asking them to come and play? Obviously we're worth something or we wouldn't be asked back every year. Not this year though. Nothing in the budget.
I have played many free shows over the years and I will continue to do so. I will never go back to play at the fair though. Even if they decide I'm worth paying again. I play for free because I like to play. I enjoy helping out a worthy cause with charity gigs. I like sharing the stage with other talent and just "getting the music out there". I do not enjoy playing for free just because someone has decided I'm not worth paying. I'd be willing to bet that would hold true for anyone doing something they love to do. You may love your job but if your employer decided you weren't worth paying would you still do it? Your employer certainly feels that you are good enough to keep around. They want you to do your job, they just don't think you're worth paying for it. Would you still want to do your job for them? I think not. That's why I didn't play the fair this year. Not because I wasn't being paid. Because I wasn't thought to be worth paying. In the end I did something I've never done and hopefully never will again but I felt that it was better than going along with the idea that my talent and effort were worthless. No one should ever be made to feel worthless for any reason. I took a stand and missed an opportunity to do something I dearly love to do, but I'm OK with it.
Labels: Free show
posted by The Big FUGR at
8:05 PM
2 Comments
