more organisers organizing "pay to play" gigs
- Thread starter ffadzill
- Start date
My group of friends once had to pay $10 (as a group) to pay to perform at a show organized by some CC. I wasn't keen on paying to perform but it would have otherwise cost us $10 per person for the tickets. We even put our girlfriends on the list of performers. 
I just don't get organizers who charge us to perform, and insist we sell 20 tickets or we have to pay for the unsold tickets. Now that's just plain stupid.
I just don't get organizers who charge us to perform, and insist we sell 20 tickets or we have to pay for the unsold tickets. Now that's just plain stupid.
escape-artist
New member
I think that it's really up to the band whether they wanna perform or not.
And it's really not easy organizing a gig.
Sometimes when organizers asks a band to sell a certain amount of ticket,
they have their reasons.
They organize a gig for the bands,provide a platform,then they'll just ask
the band whether they are willing to share the cost.
In this case,by selling the tickets.It's good enough they don't
ask in cold hard cash right.
Sometimes,this organizers don't profit anything from the gig at all.
But it's really up to you la whether you wanna perform or not.
They got force you to perform for them meh?
But then again,if they make it essential to sell off the tickets,and to pay
for the unsold ones,that's already not good la.
Okay now I'm confused.But if you don't like the tradition,then don't participate.
Bottomline is,if you're not willing to invest in yourself,
then who'd be willing to invest in you ?
And it's really not easy organizing a gig.
Sometimes when organizers asks a band to sell a certain amount of ticket,
they have their reasons.
They organize a gig for the bands,provide a platform,then they'll just ask
the band whether they are willing to share the cost.
In this case,by selling the tickets.It's good enough they don't
ask in cold hard cash right.
Sometimes,this organizers don't profit anything from the gig at all.
But it's really up to you la whether you wanna perform or not.
They got force you to perform for them meh?
But then again,if they make it essential to sell off the tickets,and to pay
for the unsold ones,that's already not good la.
Okay now I'm confused.But if you don't like the tradition,then don't participate.
Bottomline is,if you're not willing to invest in yourself,
then who'd be willing to invest in you ?
paganified
New member
Now economic downturn mah.
We need to help ousrselves
We need to help ousrselves
escape-artist
New member
Ya then everyone gotta emphasize on the 'SOME' organizers
because it's unfair stereotyping all the p2p organizers.
because it's unfair stereotyping all the p2p organizers.
extremers
New member
it's easier to blast only because they haven't tried making a gig.
escape-artist
New member
+100000000000
extremers
New member
share with you guys one story i experienced recently.
a relatively new band so-called "invited" my band to play in a DIY gig scheduled 3-4 months from now. thing is, our band didn't know about the mandatory selling citeria till i got in touch with one of the organizing team member.
required citeria was to sell 20 tickets at S$6 each. the gig will be held at a known jamming studio suite room.
i told them that $120 (20 x $6) to play 30mins is a lot of money. they assured me they're not doing it for profit. $120 can get you two hours worth of multi-track recording time at some standard studios.
i did a check with the jamming studio in regards to their rental rates for gigs and it was $150 per hour. doing simple maths $120x2 (2 bands paying to play a total of 1 hour) - $150 (actual rate) = $90 profit earned per hour.
i questioned them about the $90 and they told me about insurance and licence. as far as im concerned, i know gigging rates are inclusive of insurance and licencing already (explains the hefty rate). i didn't really press him on afterwards but he told me he'll get back to me after he check the accounts with his organizing team.
anyhoots, the morale of the story is to know what you're about to be involved, do a simple calculations so that you wont be ripped off if you intend to pay to play.
making a pay to play gig: ok
participating a pay to play gig: ok
being ripped off badly after you've paid to play: priceless
a relatively new band so-called "invited" my band to play in a DIY gig scheduled 3-4 months from now. thing is, our band didn't know about the mandatory selling citeria till i got in touch with one of the organizing team member.
required citeria was to sell 20 tickets at S$6 each. the gig will be held at a known jamming studio suite room.
i told them that $120 (20 x $6) to play 30mins is a lot of money. they assured me they're not doing it for profit. $120 can get you two hours worth of multi-track recording time at some standard studios.
i did a check with the jamming studio in regards to their rental rates for gigs and it was $150 per hour. doing simple maths $120x2 (2 bands paying to play a total of 1 hour) - $150 (actual rate) = $90 profit earned per hour.
i questioned them about the $90 and they told me about insurance and licence. as far as im concerned, i know gigging rates are inclusive of insurance and licencing already (explains the hefty rate). i didn't really press him on afterwards but he told me he'll get back to me after he check the accounts with his organizing team.
anyhoots, the morale of the story is to know what you're about to be involved, do a simple calculations so that you wont be ripped off if you intend to pay to play.
making a pay to play gig: ok
participating a pay to play gig: ok
being ripped off badly after you've paid to play: priceless
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biopromax
New member
I guess earning some profits is ok. Maybe for future big events. But over here, TRUST is the most important words. Study the organizing team well. And make sure that those profits will go for the future gigs.
Don't like, OK One gig finish, call it a day, and the profits goes to his pocket(s)
So study him well. Physically and Mentally. MUAHAHA!
Don't like, OK One gig finish, call it a day, and the profits goes to his pocket(s)
So study him well. Physically and Mentally. MUAHAHA!
syed_zack
New member
well its all a matter of clarity and doing your homework.and knowing how your band wanna achivethat sucess.never let 'fame' cloud your mind and give you a rockssatr attitude.totally agree wit biopromax bro.i once got framed for ripping ppl off when i was organising a gig back then.trust me.i was very clear with them.reciepts and all.but one of the bands once makinga big hoo haa about hw little time they had(30 mins) and the amount of cash they had to fork out round 50 i think.come on.it was a school gig with no financial backing and we had to rent EVERYTHING except for drumset from our own pockets..sorry if i yap too mcuh.jus tohught i could give my 2 cents worth
bands can indeed pay to play and not get ripped off.
simple, just get few bands to gether together and hire a small space like Beat Merchants, Music Garage, Odiocrib or L-cube. Bands equally share the costs and the door takings. And even if the gig doesnt make back from the door, no band got ripped off.........and everyone did get to play...and learn a thing or 7 abt doin a gig..........
simple, just get few bands to gether together and hire a small space like Beat Merchants, Music Garage, Odiocrib or L-cube. Bands equally share the costs and the door takings. And even if the gig doesnt make back from the door, no band got ripped off.........and everyone did get to play...and learn a thing or 7 abt doin a gig..........
Chaserr
New member
you guys have to stop where this dispute is going, its definitely for the greater good, look at the BIG picture. here. but obviously this is true
making a pay to play gig: ok
participating a pay to play gig: ok
being ripped off badly after you've paid to play: priceless
point taken, its a matter of being weary, vigilant, of what ur paying for.Although it would be great if we could negotiate with such organizers
making a pay to play gig: ok
participating a pay to play gig: ok
being ripped off badly after you've paid to play: priceless
point taken, its a matter of being weary, vigilant, of what ur paying for.Although it would be great if we could negotiate with such organizers
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i think the important thing here is to always be in control of the situation. if a band decides to pay to play, then make sure you and your band gets protected. write up a black and white or something of that sort to make sure that you don't get ripped off. the safest bet however is to always follow your guts. if a deal is too good to be true, then it probably is.
and then there is always the option of organizing your own shows. it might not be as easy as it sounds and it's a whole lot of work, but it's definitely worth the try. get yourself together with your friends who are in bands, get together, have a meet up and decide what do you want for your individual groups. form a committee and then scout for places that you would like to do a show at. apply for the license, rent the equipment, design your own posters, create your own hype and split the cost of everything, equally among everyone. and at the end of the day, if it's a success, then all is good and if it turns out to be a disaster, you just live and learn. because it's always okay to make mistakes, provided that you don't make the same ones twice.
have a good week ahead everyone!
and then there is always the option of organizing your own shows. it might not be as easy as it sounds and it's a whole lot of work, but it's definitely worth the try. get yourself together with your friends who are in bands, get together, have a meet up and decide what do you want for your individual groups. form a committee and then scout for places that you would like to do a show at. apply for the license, rent the equipment, design your own posters, create your own hype and split the cost of everything, equally among everyone. and at the end of the day, if it's a success, then all is good and if it turns out to be a disaster, you just live and learn. because it's always okay to make mistakes, provided that you don't make the same ones twice.
have a good week ahead everyone!
LightsOutInc
New member
its up to you on how you look at it. but let me tell you . organizing a successful gig is never easy.
THOA
New member
Consider this. especially if you are new band:
The value of experience with crowd + coupled by the exposure of your band + opportunity of being "discovered" that the gig has to offer = amount you have to pay or fork out or tickets you have to sell for that gig.
Is the above statement true? If true then go for it. If not then forget it.
Hope that is simple enough.
The value of experience with crowd + coupled by the exposure of your band + opportunity of being "discovered" that the gig has to offer = amount you have to pay or fork out or tickets you have to sell for that gig.
Is the above statement true? If true then go for it. If not then forget it.
Hope that is simple enough.
fuzzmusick
Member
It all depends on you and the bands..
Some say that bands have to pay and sell tix and in the end cant sell all of them and so they have to pay the organisers back the leftover tix..
For me, I too will have the same problem if I were to do that.. Why? Because of the music I play.
There are a few factors to why bands disagree to pay to play. For me, the lack of exposure of the genre spread around here in Singapore. And yes, you guys will say that I can't force everybody to like what I play. It's also a form of art if you ask me.
I cant be paying all the time to perform. Even if i do, people would still say, what the heck is this guy doing up there on stage..
So its not only the organisers who get the blame, the listeners gets blame too.. More worst, the bands get flame for playing something that is not to 'mainstream' or 'familiar' to the ears..
Just my 2 quarter cents..
Some say that bands have to pay and sell tix and in the end cant sell all of them and so they have to pay the organisers back the leftover tix..
For me, I too will have the same problem if I were to do that.. Why? Because of the music I play.
There are a few factors to why bands disagree to pay to play. For me, the lack of exposure of the genre spread around here in Singapore. And yes, you guys will say that I can't force everybody to like what I play. It's also a form of art if you ask me.
I cant be paying all the time to perform. Even if i do, people would still say, what the heck is this guy doing up there on stage..
So its not only the organisers who get the blame, the listeners gets blame too.. More worst, the bands get flame for playing something that is not to 'mainstream' or 'familiar' to the ears..
Just my 2 quarter cents..