booking gigs money for transport

[bluemustard]

Hi all,

You helped me with feedback for a presskit for a band.
Now I got another problem.
Just booked the band for the Royal albert hall's small cafe venue in London.
I thought I got them a good gig but the band said..fuck it..if they don't pay the transport I ain't playin.
So..what's the deal with some paying transport and other clubs don't do it.
Are you fucked without a sponsor or are there jazzclubs in the world who pay transport and hotel?(please send me some that do)
I sent 300 emails and only 3 are paying.
I feel like shit.

[ThrillsNSpills]

You tell them if they don't pay you are going on in place of them(using their name) and don't tune, vomit on stage, and be a drunken nuisance.
They'll never play there again.

[rocknrolldork]

Hi all,

You helped me with feedback for a presskit for a band.
Now I got another problem.
Just booked the band for the Royal albert hall's small cafe venue in London.
I thought I got them a good gig but the band said..fuck it..if they don't pay the transport I ain't playin.
So..what's the deal with some paying transport and other clubs don't do it.
Are you fucked without a sponsor or are there jazzclubs in the world who pay transport and hotel?(please send me some that do)
I sent 300 emails and only 3 are paying.
I feel like shit.

Most bands I know or have played in pay their own transport and write it off of their taxes.

[jhale667]

Dunno how it works in Jazz land...

Usually only more established bands can regularly pull off that kinda paid deal. From what I've seen, the best-case scenario is a 3-city/night gig, all within reasonable driving distance of a central hub airport. Sometimes deals are worked with the parties splitting the hotels, rentals, meals, etc. Pretty sure the bands eat the majority of the travel expenses though. You get paid to show up, y'know? Plus, if you have (or are) a savvy manager, can't you try to negotiate at least a portion of the travel expenses into the band's fee?

But I'm talking about bands doing fly-outs playing their personal instruments (and effects, whatevs) through a rented backline (2 Marshall stacks, 2 SVTs and a brand 'X' drum set in those cases - but same specs each show) not sure if the promotor/club owners picked up on that tab too...probably not what your friends are trying to do, being Jazz and all...but there are bands out there pulling that off consistently.

But basically if you're going to pay to get there, may as well play a few shows to increase the income and justify the expense, right?

[Nitro Express]

A band is a small business and the first thing you need to know off the top of your head is what your expenses are that way when you negotiate a deal you know if it's worth the trouble. One thing to consider is if the gig is good for promotional purposes. If you are a little known band you might have to play for little money or even for free and support yourselves with a day job. The main thing is to have the public know who you are.

I was in a band that just played for fun but we did old surf and rockabilly stuff. We stood out for that and we got invited to play a car show and got paid $2000 for the gig. We did it for fun. LOL! It was a nice suprise and that led to other gigs. So word of mouth is a powerful thing.

[Nitro Express]

A band is a small business and the first thing you need to know off the top of your head is what your expenses are that way when you negotiate a deal you know if it's worth the trouble. One thing to consider is if the gig is good for promotional purposes. If you are a little known band you might have to play for little money or even for free and support yourselves with a day job. The main thing is to have the public know who you are.

I was in a band that just played for fun but we did old surf and rockabilly stuff. We stood out for that and we got invited to play a car show and got paid $2000 for the gig. We did it for fun. LOL! It was a nice suprise and that led to other gigs. So word of mouth is a powerful thing.

[GAR]

First of all, I think the word we're looking for is "cartage."

Secondly, I do not think cartage is a problem the venue or promoter needs to deal with if he can find a band that just bundles that in the contract price.

Thirdly, what you require is a contract which insures potential loss of time taken for preparation, taken off early from work possibly to get to soundcheck, and the fuel and food consumed to enable arrrival at a venue that occasionally may refuse to honor a verbal agreement or shut down or closed the day of booking FOR WHATEVER reason.

They have to pay even if they aren't allowed or not permitted to play, if the contract is written that way.

However, all that is not completely necessary. The only shows that bands have to sweat such an inconvenience as a performance contract are ones that are earning more than five bucks per member.

[jackassrock]

Get in touch with a booking agent. Book a small tour.

Recoup the cost of travel by making more money.

[GAR]

Booking agents earned their keep by knowing who to call on the fly.

With the internet as a worldwide directory, that's kinda done-with then, isn't it? I mean, ultimately it is the band who decide where and at what timeslot a booking is acceptable or not.

Who needs a booking agent. Get the clubs' cunt to sign the contract or forget it. Even if it's for drinks, make 'em agree to a cancellation penalty of $500.00

[rocknrolldork]

Booking agents earned their keep by knowing who to call on the fly.

With the internet as a worldwide directory, that's kinda done-with then, isn't it? I mean, ultimately it is the band who decide where and at what timeslot a booking is acceptable or not.

Who needs a booking agent. Get the clubs' cunt to sign the contract or forget it. Even if it's for drinks, make 'em agree to a cancellation penalty of $500.00

There are clubs that only use one booking agent to book all shows. Only a very small part of it is actually up to the bands. It's nice to book a tour that rolls straight through, but the reality is that most of the time you have to backtrack to hit certain venues or just not do them at all and go to the next city. As far as the contracts with club owners goes, most of the time they will not give you a $500 cancellation fee unless you are on a national tour. The money is usually more than $500 for the cancellation fee at that point. A lot of shows I book get an advance percentage of the agreed price before we even roll into that town. If they cancel or mess up the schedule, we keep that money.

Booking agents keep you busy, but it's at a price (15% or so)

[bluemustard]

Hey guys..thanks for the feedback.
The point is I booked 3 clubs in the UK.
They give us all venue ticket money BUT can't promise a full house.
We are able to sell cd's there etc.Free diner.
No hotel or flight.

My guess for the band is:Go with a tro (it's a worldclass django reinhard kinda band..they even played with Stepan Grapelli).
Amsterdam -london can be 50 bucks for a roundtrip.
They are famous clubs so I would just go even if they didn't pay the trip..but then again you got hotels and shit.

Some other club had some of the best guitarists in the world booked for next year.
They invited us too..but same shit..no hotel or trip paid..but those other bands that were booked were all funded by Goete institue etc,dutch embasy etc.
Even emailed agents of Woody Allen and later saw that his people were even involved.


One festival in Africa paid hotel and travel.That was real cool.
I wish to find more places like that.
The thing is..I play music and make art but selling and promoting it is not something I enjoyor am good at..lol
And I think the bandmembers feel the same way.
I'm going to their gig tonite and talk with them about it.
I feel like a idiot trying to talk about this stuff with them cause they're so damn great.Just wanna get them paid gigs and i guess thats what they want most.
I think if they got a gig at carnegie hall they wouldn't go if they didn't pay travel expenses..lol

[standin]

If they have issues discussing business why conduct business for or with them?
It sounds like a formula ripe for mistrust and misdeeds.
BTW,
Profit equals revenue minus costs
Top 5 Business Tips | SCORE

[bluemustard]

well..everything in a nuttshell:

I saw the coolest gig ever for free tonite..
The solo guitarist sweet as georgia brown.
I am very honored to hear these guys.
I kinda think they are right.

I said my dad played carnegie hall but also played weddings for bubblegum money.
Dog said nuff said.
The force is strong with them.

:D

[bluemustard]

real pittbulls..the best

:D

[bluemustard]

check it out.
my heroes:They should play at eddies birthday or dro's..
Check out the pics i made:
Photos -  
See also pics with jeff beck and Ronnie wood.