Topic: Tapers: Should we be guest listed if someone asks you to tape a show

[Myco]

I think that except for a couple of people who said that they pay anyway to support the bands, we're all in agreement here. All good.
Although an extra $5 in a bands pocket rather than your own is no big deal anyway. If you wanna flip a $5 the bands way, fine. I do the same buying them beers after, so I don't really see the need to "help them out" this way.

[acidjack]

I think that except for a couple of people who said that they pay anyway to support the bands, we're all in agreement here. All good.
Although an extra $5 in a bands pocket rather than your own is no big deal anyway. If you wanna flip a $5 the bands way, fine. I do the same buying them beers after, so I don't really see the need to "help them out" this way.

This... ..or buying their records/merch.  From my conversations with bands, the #1 thing they care about, finance-wise, is selling merch.  I was talking to a guy recently about this really successful European tour they had.  Financially, he said he was happier about having sold a bunch of merch at a given show as whether it was sold out or not.

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I think that except for a couple of people who said that they pay anyway to support the bands, we're all in agreement here. All good.
Although an extra $5 in a bands pocket rather than your own is no big deal anyway. If you wanna flip a $5 the bands way, fine. I do the same buying them beers after, so I don't really see the need to "help them out" this way.

This... ..or buying their records/merch.  From my conversations with bands, the #1 thing they care about, finance-wise, is selling merch.  I was talking to a guy recently about this really successful European tour they had.  Financially, he said he was happier about having sold a bunch of merch at a given show as whether it was sold out or not.

in my experience with bands, the profit order is;

tshirts > trinkets > cds.

Depending on how they handled mastering/packaging/label/etc, they may get little from a CD sale, but their tshirts yeild upwards of $5-$10 a shirt depending on how much it costs to make and other middlemen. Also, the most valued gifts (in the bands eyes) I've ever gotten from bands were always shirts.

[bryonsos]

The gross $$s they make on CDs may be smaller than what they get for shirts and trinkets, but they definitely get more for a CD sold at a show than via brick and mortar, iTunes etc. I usually buy a CD if it's a new release, if for no other reason than to help me with tracking and labels. Plus, it's always better to get the liner notes etc. that you generally don't get with a download.

[runonce]

The gross $$s they make on CDs may be smaller than what they get for shirts and trinkets, but they definitely get more for a CD sold at a show than via brick and mortar, iTunes etc. I usually buy a CD if it's a new release, if for no other reason than to help me with tracking and labels. Plus, it's always better to get the liner notes etc. that you generally don't get with a download.

Its different at each/various professional levels....
But regardless - those CDs go on to be little marketing devices in the worlds where they land...particularly if they have any graphic production to them. Makes them more of a conversation piece.

I've seen new, upcoming bands just give away a choice live show. - Its sort of like "cloud seeding"
Seems like an inexpensive, per fan investment in promotion.
Giving away studio work is bit more of an investment, but I've seen it done.
Or - I've seen bands just ask for donation for a new studio disc.

But once you have enough fans, you should be selling...live or studio, you need to have that product at the show and available on-line.
But then, its a job(gasp!) - and the band has to be ready to manage that part...otherwise they just get lazy, forget the discs, etc...

[Elana]

For any bands who would ask me to tape, I'd probably be on the guest list anyway, so it wouldn't matter to me.  In the event that's not the case, it depends on if I was planning on going before I got asked for the tape.  If I was already gonna go, then I wouldn't care about guest list.  However I wouldn't go to a show I wasn't otherwise planning to attend without at least being listed in exchange for taping.

[bradfordzilla]

If a band asks me to come and tape them, I'm getting for free.  All of the alcohol that I consume that night, I'm getting that for free as well.  I don't know of many musicians that would play a gig and not get compensated for it in some way. If the band is half ass decent, each member should be getting $100 - $150 a night.  The least they could do is break me of a little something something.

[drivingwheel]

I'm talking about local shows, the $5-$10 shows that you might or might not go to anyway.
If it's a band I really like, I'll pay the cover and tape.
 
It's not so much the money, but the work involved AFTER the show, especially when there are three bands to transfer, track, upload, etc. Even if you don't upload it, there's a fair amount of time and work involved. Is it too much to expect to be placed on the guest list for this?


MSTaper

we always try to guest list tapers, period - anytime anyone wants to come to a Driving Wheel show with their gear and want to roll tape, we try to accomodate the taper to the point that he/she can get the best possible recording.  It just makes sense.

[newplanet7]

If a band asks me to come and tape them, I'm getting for free.  All of the alcohol that I consume that night, I'm getting that for free as well.  I don't know of many musicians that would play a gig and not get compensated for it in some way. If the band is half ass decent, each member should be getting $100 - $150 a night.  The least they could do is break me of a little something something.

Bar tabs usually aren't included, nor should they be expected to be. That's just ass-hattery.

[ScoobieKW]

If a band asks me to come and tape them, I'm getting for free.  All of the alcohol that I consume that night, I'm getting that for free as well.  I don't know of many musicians that would play a gig and not get compensated for it in some way. If the band is half ass decent, each member should be getting $100 - $150 a night.  The least they could do is break me of a little something something.

Bar tabs usually aren't included, nor should they be expected to be. That's just ass-hattery.

Yes, but a drink ticket or two is a nice touch.

[newplanet7]

If a band asks me to come and tape them, I'm getting for free.  All of the alcohol that I consume that night, I'm getting that for free as well.  I don't know of many musicians that would play a gig and not get compensated for it in some way. If the band is half ass decent, each member should be getting $100 - $150 a night.  The least they could do is break me of a little something something.

Bar tabs usually aren't included, nor should they be expected to be. That's just ass-hattery.

Yes, but a drink ticket or two is a nice touch.

Indeed.

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If a band asks me to come and tape them, I'm getting for free.  All of the alcohol that I consume that night, I'm getting that for free as well.  I don't know of many musicians that would play a gig and not get compensated for it in some way. If the band is half ass decent, each member should be getting $100 - $150 a night.  The least they could do is break me of a little something something.

Bar tabs usually aren't included, nor should they be expected to be. That's just ass-hattery.

+1

I know plenty of places that don't even give free drinks to the band who they are paying.

Second, you can be really good at what you do, and still get just about shit on a nightly haul. Everyone starts somewhere.

[ilduclo]

I generally have a lot more $ than any of the bands I tape, so I really don't expect anything from them and usually buy merch and contribute more to gas funds than anyone else.

[John Willett]

I generally have a lot more $ than any of the bands I tape, so I really don't expect anything from them and usually buy merch and contribute more to gas funds than anyone else.

That's down to you and your generosity - but if they *asked* you to tape, you should be on the guest list.

If you are well off and want to donate to help the band and not charge them for recording, that's up to you.

[digitallive]

anyone ever have the band guestlist you, but then the venue say no you have to pay?

thats pretty much the policy at the Smiling Moose in pittsburgh. haven't been there in over a year but the soundguy/doorman are douchebags and will make you pay and tell you the band has no guestlist. their closest competitor in regards to size/audience is the 31st st pub, whose owner always waves me in w/o paying even if i'm not taping. you can guess which club i refer touring bands to when they are looking for a gig in pittsburgh