#1626686 - 06/25/03 05:15 AM
How do you divvy the loot?
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Tedster
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Registered: 09/21/00
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The money side of the band biz...
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"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine...(WAH WAH WAH WAHHH!)"
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#1626687 - 06/25/03 08:10 AM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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DC
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Registered: 01/17/01
Posts: 2706
Loc: here to eternity...
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Well, although I rarely gig anymore, I was a bandleader for years and years. I always took 15% off the top and split the rest (- commission) between us all. For my 15% I provided the PA, the light show and the box truck and kept them in good shape, paying for repairs out of my off the top cut.
I never fined people although I did have to fire a very good friend and bass player who slowly became an alcoholic; big weird personality shifts and anger issues from a once very passive agreeable personality. Also had to let a drummer go who could somehow figure out a way to offend anyone we worked for, played for... He could always manage to say or do the most inappropriate things.
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#1626688 - 06/25/03 12:44 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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CMDN
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Registered: 11/13/01
Posts: 6105
Loc: Philadelphia,PA,UNITED STATES
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Depends on a lot of factors...
If we're close to home, we pay for gas and then put the rest into band expenses like new t-shirts, new stickers, new lights and things like that. If a van payment is coming up, we'll use it for that.
If we're far from home, we'll use gig money for gas, food and lodging. We don't wanna use our own cash for that stuff when we tour.
Basically, all the money goes to the band, and sometimes we actually make a profit.
_________________________
\m/
Erik
Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket?
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#1626689 - 06/25/03 12:57 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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The Thrashole
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Registered: 05/21/02
Posts: 2221
Loc: OH, UNITED STATES
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Money? people get paid for this type of stuff? I never made any money playing shows. it always went back into the band.
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#1626690 - 06/25/03 04:26 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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Jeff Klopmeyer
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Registered: 10/13/00
Posts: 16924
Loc: Redondo Beach,CA,UNITED STATES
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We have an unfair situation in my band, but it's known and understood. Let me explain.
My singer put the band together. We rehearse in his soundproofed garage/studio. He books ALL of the gigs (sometimes with some leads for clubs coming in from the rest of us, but he does the booking).
He loads 80% of the gear in his trailer. He sets up 80% of the band (PA, all mics, all monitors and so on). Sounds like he should get a bigger cut, right?
Well, it's not that simple. He's not a bandleader. He doesn't pick and choose what we play. And, all modesty aside, this band wouldn't be able to play anywhere without the talents of me and the band's drummer. After every gig, he usually thanks me for "carrying the band" (his words, not mine).
We act very democratically as a band. We decide together on our repetoire, where we will and won't play, and everyone has an equal vote. In a nutshell, the singer is a great guy who likes to work hard for the band, which is great. But there wouldn't be a band without the guys he's surrounded himself with.
So, that's the trade-off. He's happy to be out there playing and making a little cash, and we all have a good time and don't run into in-fighting problems by divvying everything equally. Last night after practice, he put a couple hundred bucks in my hand. "What the hell is this?" I asked. It turns out I'd forgotten to pick up my share after the last couple of gigs. I probably would never have remembered that I was owed, and some other guys I know would have pocketed the loot. Nice guy, eh? 
- Jeff
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#1626691 - 06/25/03 05:14 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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Tom Capasso
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 04/30/01
Posts: 7709
Loc: east meadow,NY,UNITED STATES
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Jeff, could you play with me some time? I could use the loan. 
Tom
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www.stoneflyrocks.com Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt
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#1626693 - 06/25/03 06:28 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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Lee Flier
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Registered: 09/13/00
Posts: 15398
Loc: Atlanta,GA,UNITED STATES
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We share money equally, and in fact we've even cut our drummer in on our publishing company (assuming we ever make any songwriting royalties  ) although he doesn't write. Why? Well gee, he shows up at rehearsal and works his ass off at coming up with the arrangements for our songs. The songs wouldn't be the same at all without his drum parts. And what's the point of deliberately creating inequities and resentments? If we ever really did have a hit song and make a zillion dollars, it would create an automatic rift between the other two of us and the drummer because we'd be doing well and he'd get nothing except whatever fees we earned for gigs. This can't help but create resentments and conflicts of interest. It's amazing how many people shoot themselves in the foot by being greedy in these situations - especially when you're probably not talking about much money.
If you have a good band, relationships with bandmates are more important than quibbling over money, period. If you're a bandleader and everyone else is hired hands, and that is understood up front, that's a different story. And yeah sometimes one member can get a bigger cut because they've agreed to do more work. But it's best to be proactive - discuss the money situation before you ever do your first gig together, and err on the side of generosity. If one member does way more than the others, and it's not you, OFFER to let him have more money, don't wait for him to demand it. If you're the bandleader and you get offered more money, and you really don't think it's a big deal to do the extra work, OFFER to split the money equally. A little appreciation goes a long way too. A genuine pat on the back from your bandmates is often at LEAST as much reward as money.
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#1626694 - 06/25/03 06:34 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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JDL
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/29/02
Posts: 2187
Loc: The West
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Loot? What loot?
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#1626695 - 06/25/03 06:40 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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DC
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Registered: 01/17/01
Posts: 2706
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Originally posted by Lee Flier:
We share money equally, and in fact we've even cut our drummer in on our publishing company
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#1626696 - 06/25/03 06:52 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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ibe
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Registered: 03/14/02
Posts: 1594
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We currently split the money for the shows equally however all of the money for CD's we sell goes to the Lead Singer and song writer until he recoups his money back from the CD. He put all the money up for the project so it's only fair that he be compensated for that. He'll probably take a loss though. He's charging way too much for the CD at this point.
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#1626697 - 06/25/03 08:58 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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Tedster
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Registered: 09/21/00
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We pretty much go with the flow here...the majority of votes. Although there are times, ya know...I question whether that's the best way. If someone isn't pulling their load and still get an equal cut, that's really not placing value on those that do pull their share. And true, bands don't make enough at a gig usually to make it worth tossing a wrench in the works, but sometimes not giving little bonuses can work against you as well.
We do offer a percentage incentive to any member who can get us into a new club.
_________________________
"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine...(WAH WAH WAH WAHHH!)"
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#1626698 - 06/25/03 09:08 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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Rick K.
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Registered: 07/05/01
Posts: 1659
Loc: phoenix,AZ,UNITED STATES
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We're spit evenly, including our recent costs for fixing crap that breaks!
Rick
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#1626700 - 06/27/03 03:42 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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Rick K.
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Registered: 07/05/01
Posts: 1659
Loc: phoenix,AZ,UNITED STATES
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I probably should clarify a bit after reading Jeff's response.
If my instrument breaks, I pay for it. If something on the PA, trailers, or lighting breaks we split that.
Rick
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#1626701 - 06/27/03 06:11 PM
Re: How do you divvy the loot?
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bassplayer7770
Senior Member
Registered: 10/26/01
Posts: 282
Loc: Hilliard,OH,UNITED STATES
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In the past we've always split it up evenly.
With my new band we'll likely be putting any proceeds into a band account and saving it for necessary band expenses including strings and recording.
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Rig: Ernie Ball Musicman Sterling Fender Deluxe V (Bartolini pickups and BTB-01 preamp) Schecter Diamond Series Model T Eden WT-400 Avatar B410 NEO Boss ME-50B The Mac - My cover band
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