How Bands get Shafted - Lesson 1

Here's a scenario for you.....

A three-piece band, in 3 separate vehicles, make a round trip of nearly 300 miles in total to a venue that shall remain nameless (but here are some clues:  fruit, orchard, West Sussex s**thole).  They go on stage 5 minutes "late" after trying to order 3 glasses of water at the bar whilst charismatic lead guitarist dons his gladrags in the dressing room (gents toilet).

At 11.10pm they are informed their fee is being docked by 25% because of the 5 min delay in starting and for having the temerity to take a break between sets (the norm, to the uninitiated).

Conversation with guv'nor goes like this:

Guv: "I can only pay you this tonight"

Charismatic Lead Guitarist (CLG): "Why, was something wrong?"

Guv:  "Yes, you started 5 minutes late and took a break"

CLG: "But we played 2 full sets and went down great"

Guv: "Don't care, here's your dosh, go home"

CLG:  "I don't think we can play here again for you"

Guv: "That's up to you"

We've since heard that they're expecting us to turn up for a scheduled gig this Friday, 15th July, but I shall be having dinner with my wife and friends.

Shame, but at least Guv saved himself a few quid that night (and he'll be able to save a bit more with no band playing this week).

So let this be a lesson to you young whippersnappers out there.  Remember, even venues you've played for ages, even when you've bent over backwards to entertain the punters and even when you've travelled hundreds of miles to play, they'll still bite your ass for a few pieces of silver.

Damn right I've got the blues!

Comments

[Martin]

Hi there, fraternal greetings from the Elevators -
thought i would have a look at you site after talking to our mutual mate Jools who comes to see both you and us -along with several hundred other gigs a year.
Never seen you but your name is often on the walls of the gigs we play.
its good for bands to keep each other posted of Crap gigs and by way of a warning avoid the Crown in Heathfield. landlord is OK but the Punters are a waste of space.
Maybe we will run into each other at Colne or elswhere.
all the best and enjoy Gary Moore tommorow
Mart