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Looper's Delight
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>1) Swag. Even if you're not getting any of the door, if there's an >opportunity to make your CDs, t-shirts, etc. available for sale to a >crowded room, the gig could end up being (marginally) profitable. well ... i think that's incredible optimism. very often the reason the performance is going unpaid is because you're dealing with a crowd that isn't bringing alot to spend. i would definitely play at a shop that was selling my CD, however. the breakpoint for a 'real' gig (for a local unsigned act) and a 'hobby' gig is one hundred dollars per team-mate. any less and i'd rather be playing for free at a punk rawk show. i will definitely _never_ play at a bar for less than a hundred again for the rest of my life. that's like 1970s pay, guys ... if musician pay were actually following inflation we'd pull down at least a thousand per gig for a drinking-establishment band. the one hundred dollar figure keeps us at the poverty line. >2) Exposure. Consider who's going to be there: if it's a two hour drive to .... >press, which can in turn lead to better opportunities. i happen to believe that the benefit of 'exposure' is a myth. that is my opinion, though ... feel free to feel different. no matter how many people are there, my rule is still in effect for _me_ ... booze for sale = money exchanged = money should be in my pocket too. i have driven 6 hours to play for two people, the promoter and the guy that cleared the room (that had 50 peeps when he started) in the set previous to mine ( here's his worthless site: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/8393/ds98.html ... i'm not bitter at all) and got paid 5 dollars. i found that personally more fulfilling than the last free bar gig i played, where the organist who rented my rig (whose band we opened for) _broke_a_key_. i have got no work from either of those gigs and the stories from the Milwaukee experience were more interesting. 'exposure' only works if you're going to be the next Mudvayne and you're willing to do 'whatever it takes' to get that worthless record deal. but if you're on that route your best bet is to locate an industry contact to snort coke with while partying at the local nudie bar. he'll take care of the 'exposure' for you ... even put a crack team of exposure specialists on it. btw, that 'exposure' will cost you so much that you better sell that debut record _triple_platinum_ or you'll NEVER see past your advance and the label will drop you like a hot potato after they rape your back catalogue from when you were just a 'local' band. btw, the triple platinum figure for LD50 is for real. i _almost_ feel sorry for sPaG, or is that SpAg? but if your goal is to be an unsigned and modest regional touring unit then playing showcases and whatnot doesn't really help you. you'll get alot better results hanging out alot, chatting with people, being instantly recognisable, and handing out flyers _everywhere_you_go_. basically, you'll get alot further pounding the pavement by yourself then playing free gigs for a lot of people who are most likely there to see someone else. people don't come to gigs because they like the music or the flyer impresses them. they come to gigs because their friend is, or because they like you on a personal level. love of the music will soon follow. these are my feelings. Eric Williamson www.suitandtieguy.com