piano39 Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 So, I perform as a solo act at some nice restaurants and bars. I also play 5 or 6 original songs each gig. A new restaurant in town is insisting that performers join ASCAP. I never heard of this. I know one local performer that belongs to a PRO and he gets royalty checks when he performs his own music. His CD sales probably total in the dozens. But, I repeat, he claims to be getting royalty checks when he performs his own music. So: [*]Are any of you, that are in a similar situation, belong to ASCAP or another PRO? [*]Have any of you ran into a situation where you need to join ASCAP to play at a particular venue? [*]If you join, do you join as writer, publisher, or both? [*] The cost to join ASCAP is reasonable ($50 one time fee). Need your advice Yamaha Motif XF6, Yamaha AN200, Logic Pro X, Arturia Microbrute, Behringer Model D, Yamaha UX-3 Acoustic Piano, assorted homemade synth modules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapeRocks Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 If the restaurant itself is not paying ASCAP/BMI/whatever PRO dues, it matters not of you are a member. AFAIK David Gig Rig:Depends on the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piano39 Posted October 21, 2017 Author Share Posted October 21, 2017 This particular restaurant is a member of ASCAP. There are very few venues around here that have live music but are not members. ASCAP has done a good job of insuring that restaurants pay their dues. Yamaha Motif XF6, Yamaha AN200, Logic Pro X, Arturia Microbrute, Behringer Model D, Yamaha UX-3 Acoustic Piano, assorted homemade synth modules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapeRocks Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 I'm sorry I don't know the rules more specifically. I can tell you that none of my band members, nor a lot of other musicians I know locally are members of any PRO. We make sure the venues we play are. We've never been asked to join any PRO by a venue or municipality. David Gig Rig:Depends on the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 Have any of you ran into a situation where you need to join ASCAP to play at a particular venue? I have never heard of this. Seems whacky and like someone is misinformed. If you join, do you join as writer, publisher, or both? Just join as writer. 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...
George88 Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 This is misinformation. The club pays PRO, not performers. Call ASCAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reezekeys Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 If the restaurant itself is not paying ASCAP/BMI/whatever PRO dues, it matters not of you are a member. AFAIK If the restaurant is paying ASCAP/BMI/whatever PRO dues, it also doesn't matter if you are a member in terms of any supposed requirement to play there. This restaurant is seriously misinformed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJUSCULE Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 Yeah lol, they might want you to be union members (which is still unheard of for a restaurant), but they definitely can't insist on a PRO membership. Eric Website Gear page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reezekeys Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 If you join, do you join as writer, publisher, or both? Just join as writer. Diverting a little bit maybe, but if you have tunes you've written that are released commercially, and you have a publishing share of the tune, then absolutely join as both. Years ago I made up a name for my "company" and filed a d/b/a at my local city hall. From doing that, I collect publishing on my compositions that I have a share in. Most of the checks I get are around $100 or less, but one year when a tune I co-wrote years ago was sampled by Mary J Blige (almost 20 year after it was released) I was surprised to open an envelope one day that had a check for $24,000. That was for 1/8th of one tune on her CD! There were a few more checks for that song that came after the first one, not quite that large though. I know a little what it feels like to hit lotto! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 If you join, do you join as writer, publisher, or both? Just join as writer. Diverting a little bit maybe, but if you have tunes you've written that are released commercially, and you have a publishing share of the tune, then absolutely join as both. Of course. I'm assuming the OP doesn't though. 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...
Reezekeys Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 If you join, do you join as writer, publisher, or both? Just join as writer. Diverting a little bit maybe, but if you have tunes you've written that are released commercially, and you have a publishing share of the tune, then absolutely join as both. Of course. I'm assuming the OP doesn't though. Right, I got carried away a little (hence the "diverting", lol). Playing a gig in a restaurant does not mean you have published tunes earning money! But why should he even have to join as a writer then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 If the restaurant told the OP that he needed to join ASCAP, they were seriously misinformed. What if he was already a member of BMI? "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reezekeys Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 If the restaurant told the OP that he needed to join ASCAP, they were seriously misinformed. What if he was already a member of BMI? Then he should require the restaurant to pay BMI licensing fees before performing there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 If the restaurant told the OP that he needed to join ASCAP, they were seriously misinformed. What if he was already a member of BMI? Then he should require the restaurant to pay BMI licensing fees before performing there! And the restaurant would really be confused! "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reezekeys Posted October 23, 2017 Share Posted October 23, 2017 Yea, I was countering one absurdity with another! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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