Being in a band in a country as as Singapore, it gives me a lot more reason to about what I hate about SOME Singaporean bands and their egocore-ness. By , I would refer to the mass media support with regards to the local scene.
Recently an indie organizer approached me and asked if my band was interested to play. A new indie organizer have limited contacts and probably no capital to start with thus I offered my assistance to call up other bands.
What infuriates me is that, some of these bands, were asking if they will be paid for the gig and when I told them they will not be paid, they back out or immediately seek some terms.
Look. It's a independent organizer. An individual whose aims is to support the local scene and give exposure to bands who have not yet gotten any.
How do you expect support from the local scene if you yourself, as the band doesn't give any support?
By being independent, that would mean you have to cover the expenses of venue and equipment rent. Putting a price on the ticket charge would help but having bands who asked for a monetary contribution just up the whole process.
Yes I agree that bands should be given some contribution but please have some empathy. If the Esplanade called you guys up then yes you can ask for payment because being a corporate company, I'm sure they could throw in some couple of hundreds buckaroonies.
Besides, the sentence here isn't "we want you guys to play" but rather "we are giving a chance for you guys to play".
You bands complain about not having enough gigs for exposure or not having enough support from the local scene and that each gig usually features the same old bands or bands that you've never heard of.
You wanna know why ? Cos these same old bands and also new bands play not for money, but for exposure and basically having a good time.
Your band, yes your up band play for monetary contribution.
Yeah yeah, your band whine about not getting enough gigs. When the opportunity to perform is presented right in front of your face, you ask for terms. Is that how the way it should go?
Let this be a message to all the Singaporean bands.
When given a chance to play, play it. Don't be an egoistical asswipe with rock star attitude, especially if you are being called by an independent organizer. If some corporate company called you guys up, then its up to you if you wanna ask for cash to cover up your pathetic $16 an hour jamming expenses.
When you play music, play it sincerely. Play because you want to expose your music and give a new reason for the crowd to support you. Nothing beats the feeling of playing in front of an appreciative crowd.
Please note that the bands i'm referring to would be bands that haven't really stand on their feet in terms of gigs and audience support. Unless your band has been around some time providing good music and has a strong fanbase, then its ethically correct to ask for payment.
But if you disagree with me, well to with your scene, to with your band and above all, to with you.
Recently an indie organizer approached me and asked if my band was interested to play. A new indie organizer have limited contacts and probably no capital to start with thus I offered my assistance to call up other bands.
What infuriates me is that, some of these bands, were asking if they will be paid for the gig and when I told them they will not be paid, they back out or immediately seek some terms.
Look. It's a independent organizer. An individual whose aims is to support the local scene and give exposure to bands who have not yet gotten any.
How do you expect support from the local scene if you yourself, as the band doesn't give any support?
By being independent, that would mean you have to cover the expenses of venue and equipment rent. Putting a price on the ticket charge would help but having bands who asked for a monetary contribution just up the whole process.
Yes I agree that bands should be given some contribution but please have some empathy. If the Esplanade called you guys up then yes you can ask for payment because being a corporate company, I'm sure they could throw in some couple of hundreds buckaroonies.
Besides, the sentence here isn't "we want you guys to play" but rather "we are giving a chance for you guys to play".
You bands complain about not having enough gigs for exposure or not having enough support from the local scene and that each gig usually features the same old bands or bands that you've never heard of.
You wanna know why ? Cos these same old bands and also new bands play not for money, but for exposure and basically having a good time.
Your band, yes your up band play for monetary contribution.
Yeah yeah, your band whine about not getting enough gigs. When the opportunity to perform is presented right in front of your face, you ask for terms. Is that how the way it should go?
Let this be a message to all the Singaporean bands.
When given a chance to play, play it. Don't be an egoistical asswipe with rock star attitude, especially if you are being called by an independent organizer. If some corporate company called you guys up, then its up to you if you wanna ask for cash to cover up your pathetic $16 an hour jamming expenses.
When you play music, play it sincerely. Play because you want to expose your music and give a new reason for the crowd to support you. Nothing beats the feeling of playing in front of an appreciative crowd.
Please note that the bands i'm referring to would be bands that haven't really stand on their feet in terms of gigs and audience support. Unless your band has been around some time providing good music and has a strong fanbase, then its ethically correct to ask for payment.
But if you disagree with me, well to with your scene, to with your band and above all, to with you.
