stepay Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I just watched the Inauguration, and saw Aretha sing and then Itzhak Perlman and Yo Yo Ma and others play, and I just wondered what kind of coin they get for such a gig. I'm just curious. Anyone know? Steve (Stevie Ray) "Do the chickens have large talons?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dv8.Maker Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I'd guess some are willing to do it for free. Do you really think Aretha asked for money to sing in a historic president? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepay Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 I'd guess some are willing to do it for free. Do you really think Aretha asked for money to sing in a historic president? Sounds altruistic, but, unless she really wanted to do it and approached them about it, I'm betting she got paid. They spent $125 million on the Inauguration; seems that some of that likely went to the musicians. Steve (Stevie Ray) "Do the chickens have large talons?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bourniplus Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Do you really think Aretha asked for money to sing in a historic president? Yes. Anyone noticed the "reference" to Ducks Unlimited in the John Williams piece? (A C B G D...) "Show me all the blueprints. I'm serious now, show me all the blueprints." My homemade instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legatoboy Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Funny, I was thinking about this yesterday. I thinking if Bruce got paid and Stevie Wonder. I think they paid them! I think the way it might have gone is out of respect to the artist, they paid them! Of course and artist could take that and give thier pay to charity for an event like that! CP-50, YC 73, FP-80, PX5-S, NE-5d61, Kurzweil SP6, XK-3, CX-3, Hammond XK-3, Yamaha YUX Upright, '66 B3/Leslie 145/122 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonksDream Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I think it's extremely unlikely that the artists got paid, not in cash anyway. I'm also pretty sure that all of their expenses (travel, accommodation, rehearsal, cartage, etc.) were covered. Instrumentation is meaningless - a song either stands on its own merit, or it requires bells and whistles to cover its lack of adequacy, much less quality. - kanker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Yeah they would do it out of support. I know enough about Bruce that he would do it for free. "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Tatum Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I just watched the Inauguration, and saw Aretha sing and then Itzhak Perlman and Yo Yo Ma and others play, and I just wondered what kind of coin they get for such a gig. I'm just curious. Anyone know? No idea. But I'll bet there must be a lot of sweet society gigs in and around Washington. Come to think of it, that's how Ellington started out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnegrad Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 In my personal experience, the politicians try to cut the best deal that they can, just like any other client. In the case of a heavy supporter (like Springsteen), the artist may be willing to just make cost, rather than milk the administration or the campaign committee for every penny. But the spokesperson for the politician will often try to 'guilt you' into playing for free. "Well wouldn't you want to show your support for 'candidate x' by playing for free?" (That of course presumes that every musician and person on the crew supports that candidate.) But they don't want to hear that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthmatic Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 You would think that the publicity alone would be compensation enough. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 You would think that the publicity alone would be compensation enough. Aretha needs more publicity? A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnegrad Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 You would think that the publicity alone would be compensation enough. That kind of publicity is a double edged sword. In this hostile political climate, it could also alienate those potential clientele that believe fervently in the opposing party. Ironically, all the politicians that I've played for over the years were ones that I opposed in the elections. Go figure. But I don't mind; the color of their money is the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 You would think that the publicity alone would be compensation enough. That kind of publicity is a double edged sword. In this hostile political climate, it could also alienate those potential clientele that believe fervently in the opposing party. Ironically, all the politicians that I've played for over the years were ones that I opposed in the elections. Go figure. But I don't mind; the color of their money is the same. I'd rather play for the politicians I don't support. The more money of theirs I take, the less they have.... A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus64 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I would say 150-60 grand: 50K for Williams to write it 60K for travel, hotels, private jets 200 bucks for piano tuner. 20K each for Ma and Perlman 10K for Montero 4K for the clarinetist Ma usually gets 75 grand for a gig, Perlman 60. This was a bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I'm betting the band members made at least $75 a man, and Bruce and Stevie probably walked away with a bill or two as leader pay.... Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I'm betting the band members made at least $75 a man, and Bruce and Stevie probably walked away with a bill or two as leader pay.... But the load in was a b^&% A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Loving Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Union scale, I bet. "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raddtunes Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I performed with the Four Tops at President Clinton's first inaugaration, and it was a great honor. The night before, I went to a club and jammed with members of the Allman Brothers band. One of them said to me "You play with The Four Tops? That Levi Stubbs is just about the singin'est bastard I ever heard"! We got regular band/show pay. Tops did not get paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I am guessing it was an honorarium for some of them. The musicians might choose to frame the check rather than cash it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I'm betting the band members made at least $75 a man, and Bruce and Stevie probably walked away with a bill or two as leader pay.... But the load in was a b^&% Yep. And the soundcheck was two weeks beforehand, so the call time was really early and they had a lot of time to kill in the greenroom. Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfonso Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I don't know what happened exactly, but the inauguration has been tv broadcast all over the world for hours and I can ensure you that at least half of my friends in Italy have been watching it. Nothing like that has happened in the past. The benefits for the performers involved. go way beyond any gig pay. Guess the Amp .... now it's finished... Here it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogmonkey Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 $75 and pizza. Beers are half price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Yo Yo Ma's performance at the inauguration was prerecorded. Right? "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus64 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Yo Yo Ma's performance at the inauguration was prerecorded. Right? No, I dont think so. They are wearing earbuds, I think so they can hear each other and themselves. At one point, Perlmans bow gets blown by the wind, and you can hear it or at least I can since I'm a fiddle player. If it were to be prerecorded, it would have sounded better (not that it didnt sound good). With those playing conditions, a perfect performance aint gonna happen. Perlman was struggling with the wind big time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Yo Yo Ma's performance at the inauguration was prerecorded. Right? No, I dont think so. Perlman was struggling with the wind big time. It sounded too good; more like a studio recording. I didn't see a microphone to pick up the violin. But I don't doubt that you are correct, Mr. Cygnus. And that's exactly why I asked. I figure that they were wearing IEMs to match their performance with the studio recording - and make it look as though they were playing live. I'm sure there's a recording on YouTube or somewhere. I think I'll go back and check it out. EDIT: Here it is... KLONK FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO Thank you for your reply. Tom "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus64 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 KLONK FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO[/url] At 1:09, Perlman is out of tune. At 1:47, Perlman plays a high A. You can hear the bow shaking from the wind. At 2:33 Yo Yo flubs the grace note. At 2:50, the balance is WAY off. At 2:58 Perlman flubs the lick. At 4:03, there is wind coming through one of the mics. :laugh: :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 KLONK FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO[/url] At 1:09, Perlman is out of tune. At 1:47, Perlman plays a high A. You can hear the bow shaking from the wind. At 2:33 Yo Yo flubs the grace note. At 2:50, the balance is WAY off. At 2:58 Perlman flubs the lick. At 4:03, there is wind coming through one of the mics. :laugh: :laugh: WOW!! Mr. Cygnus, you DA MAN!! I'm glad I asked. That seals it. But... How 'bout Aretha's backing tracks? Were they prerecorded? "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I'm betting the band members made at least $75 a man, and Bruce and Stevie probably walked away with a bill or two as leader pay.... But the load in was a b^&% Yep. And the soundcheck was two weeks beforehand, so the call time was really early and they had a lot of time to kill in the greenroom. Time was not the only thing they killed in the greenroom A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus64 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 [but... How 'bout Aretha's backing tracks? Were they prerecorded? Definitely. Many orchestra musicians wouldnt pass the Secret Service screening. Orchestra musicians will NOT play for free, or reduced pay. They are the worst when it comes to stuff like that. They won't do sound checks or sit around etc. They are royal pains and cry like babies. They also have weather clauses and wont play in the cold. I was on tour one time with an orchestra and we had a chance to play on the Tonight show with Johnny Carson, for no pay (we had a gig the next day in LA). We voted and the musicians said NO. I voted yes, I would have LOVED to have done it. ITGITC, years ago I was at your stompin grounds, playing in Cary with the NC Symphony backin up a fella named Mike Cross. In the concert, the orchestra got up MIDSONG and left. I kid you not, midsong. It wasnt that we were such pricks, the management insisted since staying onstage would have pushed us into overtime pay. He finished the gig alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I agree, the Inauguration gig is moreso an honor to most performers especially considering most of them are already paid. Of course, it provides exposure to more higher powered gigs regardless of whether they need it or not. Imagine that, in addition to picking up production work, Will.i.Am will be performing more private affairs. I didn't listen to the Perlman/Yo Yo Ma performance close enough to pick out the mistakes but in real-time, it sounded great. Same deal with Aretha and the backing tracks. She sang the hell out of the song. I'd rather not undo the beauty of what I heard with a more thorough examination. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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