Chad Thorne Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 So we've been invited to play at a jazz & blues festival in New Brunswick this summer, big one. The contact guy wants to know how much money we want. Our front guy/gtr. says he's thinking of asking $2K. That sounds great, but I have no way of knowing what's typical for festivals. I'm only familiar with the short money we eke out of clubs. Anybody have experience with this sort of thing? It does involve crossing the border, not as easy as it once was. Here's the thing: http://www.jazzbluesedmundston.com/en/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottom End Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I have no idea what you should charge, but it sounds like a great trip. "Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.'-Hamlet Guitar solos last 30 seconds, the bass line lasts for the whole song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 I have no idea what you should charge, but it sounds like a great trip. I know, huh? That's why I'm scared to price us out of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Maybe it's time you found a part time manager? Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Festivals can be all over the place depending on the overall budget - there's no rule of thumb. There are some we don't do because they pay far less than our bar gigs, and others that pay quite a bit more. The best advice I could give would be to look at the caliber of bands that have played it in the past, and see if you can determine their typical price. Also, some bands will get paid more than others - the well known headliners will get paid best and they'll want to fill the rest of the slots with cheaper bands. Try to determine where you rank in the lineup. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butcherNburn Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 80s-LZ had some great advice. I'll ad that you should also factor in what it will actually cost you (gas, meals, motel). I'm not sure if there are any other considerations for "working" across the border, that is if you are going to be honest when explaining your gear to the guys at the border. If you think my playing is bad, you should hear me sing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 You're talking about playing in Canada? I was in a band once that got stuck at customs because it turns out that there is a significant fee for Americans to play a show in Canada (which our management had neglected to find out about and deal with). Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard W Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I was going to make a comment about whether that's $2000 American or Canadian dollars...but then I looked it up and they are almost equal. "Everyone wants to change the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves." Leo Tolstoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Just spoke to a rep at Canadian Immigration and was told if we're going to be playing an outdoor festival, not a bar, etc., all we need is a letter of invitation from the festival, not a work permit. They'll want an inventory of our equipment, which is easy because we're only taking guitars, backline is provided. SOUNDS easy enough... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 When we were stuck in Customs, they said to call the person who hired us. We were playing for a Jewish organization. We said we couldn't, they won't answer the phone on the Sabbath. We went back and forth for a while, and then a customs agent at the back of the room yelled out, "are you playing any religious music?" We took the hint and said yes (actually we were going to play some of that music already), and the guy at the counter said, "there's no fee if you are playing religious music" and let us through. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 It is much easier to cross the boarder when being a member of the AFM and use a union contract. Even though the AFM includes the US & Canada it is more difficult and costly for Canadian musicians to cross into the US that it is for Americans to go into Canada. Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 When we were stuck in Customs, they said to call the person who hired us. We were playing for a Jewish organization. We said we couldn't, they won't answer the phone on the Sabbath. We went back and forth for a while, and then a customs agent at the back of the room yelled out, "are you playing any religious music?" We took the hint and said yes (actually we were going to play some of that music already), and the guy at the counter said, "there's no fee if you are playing religious music" and let us through. Beats the hell out of a TSA religious cavity search. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklab Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Glad I read this thread! The band has been toying with the idea of playing some gigs in Toronto & Montreal, but if we have significant customs issues to deal with in order to play a gig north of the border, we might have to skip it simply as a business consideration. Obligatory Social Media Link "My concern is, and I have to, uh, check with my accountant, that this might bump me into a higher, uh, tax..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBFLA Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 When I lived in Detroit, we used to play in Windsor a few times a year. Granted this was a long time ago and lots of things have changed, but we were still asked to pull over the van and so they could "take a look" on more than one occasion. We ended up having the club give us a notarized letter saying we were to work a certain date and we carried a list (manifest?) of all the gear on board. Seemed to help some. Jim Confirmed RoscoeHead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 Just got a call from the GP, we're getting $2K for the gig! I worried for nothing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamy ALB Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Brilliant Chad!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Little-Bitter/185235472447 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cthulhu Fhtagn Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Score! Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklab Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I did a little searching, and it seems that a U.S. band that's playing a bar/club gig can expect to pay $450 Canadian in order to get a work permit to play gigs in Canada. Obligatory Social Media Link "My concern is, and I have to, uh, check with my accountant, that this might bump me into a higher, uh, tax..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 I did a little searching, and it seems that a U.S. band that's playing a bar/club gig can expect to pay $450 Canadian in order to get a work permit to play gigs in Canada. Just spoke to a rep at Canadian Immigration and was told if we're going to be playing an outdoor festival, not a bar, etc., all we need is a letter of invitation from the festival, not a work permit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicklab Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Yes, I read your post Chad. I was making a more general statement about gigs in Canada OTHER than festivals. Obligatory Social Media Link "My concern is, and I have to, uh, check with my accountant, that this might bump me into a higher, uh, tax..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 Yes, I read your post Chad. I was making a more general statement about gigs in Canada OTHER than festivals. Oh. O.K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I did a little searching, and it seems that a U.S. band that's playing a bar/club gig can expect to pay $450 Canadian in order to get a work permit to play gigs in Canada. That's what we were facing on the trip I talked about. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Hey Chad, I curious of the lineup. Are you guys the main attraction the day you're playing, or one of the filler bands for the schedule? Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Honestly, I don't know. I've never heard of any of the bands on the program, so I don't know who the headliner is supposed to be, except - not us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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