Musicians wanted to play for free CL ad-perfect response

[taabru45]

Found this posted on Facebook, I think its great and for some reason thought of Tom.... :lol: :lol: Perfect reply I think.... 8) :lol: Steffan



Perfect analogy ~ on being asked to WORK for Exposure? > Craigslist Ad: We are a small & casual restaurant in downtown Vancouver and we are looking for solo musicians to play in our restaurant to promote their work and sell their CD. This is not a daily job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get positive response. More Jazz, Rock, & smooth type music, around the world and mixed cultural music. Are you interested to promote your work? Please reply back ASAP. > > A Musician's Reply: Happy new year! I am a musician with a big house looking for a restauranteur to come to my house to promote his/her restaurant by making dinner for me and my friends. This is not a daily job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get a positive response. More fine dining & exotic meals and mixed Ethnic Fusion cuisine. Are you interested to promote your restaurant? Please reply back ASAP.

 

[zulu]

Love it!

 

[southernGuild]

:lol: That's just perfect! :lol: :lol:

 

[dreadnut]

You should nominate that for "Best of Craigslist."

Honestly, I've had people act offended when I don't jump at the chance to have my band play at their venue for free :roll:

 

[6L6]

Excellent response!

Unfortunately, WAY too many musicians give their work away for free and vendors are now conditioned to expect that. I'm sure that Vancouver place will get plenty of musicians willing to play for free.

Musicians have no one to blame but themselves IMHO.

Bill

 

[coastie99]

Brilliant ! :lol: :lol:

 

[davismanLV]

OMG!! How funny is that?? :lol: :lol:

People are so funny. From having my own business for years, one of the things I learned early on is that if you give your services away for free, people immediately begin to believe that they are worth NOTHING.

It just doesn't pay to work for free. Don't do me any favors..... sheesh!! :roll:

 

[idealassets]

In the old days (70's & 80's) I can recall several opportunities for jobs if our band was willing to join the musicians union. After hearing the terms our band voted not to go union. But I did take away a few snippets of the union terms that I still recall. One of them was that per union agreement we would never play for free.

At that time I never played for free on drums, unless it was a special exception. Playing guitar today is a different story. The local pubs have definately learned how to exploit plenty of willing musicians that will play for free at nearly every open mic around.

It all depends on how willing many of these players might be- just to get up in front of a crowd. Now getting someone thatsd actually quite good is a toally different story.

Craig

 

[Ravon]

Thats the best response I've seen yet. Nashville's C/L occasionally has some funny 're's as well :lol:

 

[AlohaJoe]

I love it! :lol:

 

[fronobulax]

When I was but a lad and my main gigging instrument was tuba, I ended up playing several gigs for free just to get the experience and exposure. I was willing to play for free so that the gig was on my musical resume. I liken that to someone who takes an unpaid internship in a field they want to become a professional in. So, I don't think the restaurant owner was totally out of line by expressing the hope that people would play for free but the more experience the musicians have the less realistic that hope becomes.

Oh yeah. The musicians union was so strong that the people who were willing to pay a high school aged tuba player could not do so. As a member of a household where the primary breadwinner was a musician, I accepted that, but I did note the absurdity that the "gigs" I was getting wouldn't be offered if anyone had to be paid union scale. The economic choice was often "free" music or "no" music.

I also note that people's reactions to the restaurant seem to be rooted in their own self-assessment as a musician on scales involving talent and experience. Rephrase that ad so that the service is writing software (my profession) and I laugh in the restaurant's general direction. But my talent and experience (even as a geezer) are such that I'd play a few free gigs at a restaurant just for the experience.

 

[dreadnut]

I play for free all the time. It's called "volunteering." I have to remind some people that is my choice, not theirs. I've had to explain this to some retirement homes who want me to "entertain" for free. I explain that there are unlimited opportunities for me to play for free; I have a certain amount of volunteer gigs that I play for dementia patients every month, but I'm not about to entertain a bunch of affluent seniors who have more disposable income than I do, for free.

 

[Brad Little]

I have a certain amount of volunteer gigs that I play for dementia patients every month, but I'm not about to entertain a bunch of affluent seniors who have more disposable income than I do, for free.

Even when I was playing regular gigs, I would do occasional benefits, now they're the only gigs I do. Probably 3 or 4 times a year I play in a concert to benefit a homeless shelter or the outreach mission work of the church that sponsors our folk society meetings. Interestingly,I've read on other lists that many home owners policies consider it professional work if you play for free but admission is charged.
Brad

 

[dreadnut]

Yeah, we have some really upscale senior facilities around here that cater to people with lots of money, and who pay lots of money for the privilege of living there. It really cheeses me off when the facility's activities directors call me looking for an entertainment handout. Can you tell? :roll:

By the same token, I and my friends play at least once a week for dementia patients and other less fortunate seniors, on a volunteer basis.

 

[taabru45]

Yeah, we have some really upscale senior facilities around here that cater to people with lots of money, and who pay lots of money for the privilege of living there. It really cheeses me off when the facility's activities directors call me looking for an entertainment handout. Can you tell? :roll:

By the same token, I and my friends play at least once a week for dementia patients and other less fortunate seniors, on a volunteer basis.

Right on! Steffan

 

[6L6]

For the past four years I've played a monthly gig at a local "high end" seniors place. It's been a blast, especially if you play up tempo music!

I play for 1.5 hrs and get paid $150. it keeps me in nice guitars and I really do enjoy it. My songs are all 50/60's classic R&R covers (music I originally thought they would hate).

Don't be afraid to ask for decent pay!

Bill