Would you ever say "NO" to a gig offer?

[dimpler]

To all the working musicians out there, is there any type of realistic gig you would not agree to do no matter what you were paid? I'm discussing this w/ a few friends and there are definately some "no go" gigs we'd not agree to, but most of us are between bands at the moment. So I wondered especially to the more seasoned musicians out there if you all could think of anything?

[mondaythursday]

I honestly can't think of any gig I would turn down if the money is right.

[HughesP]

Depending on what you are doing, I'd certainly say no to some gigs...

I played for quite a while in a band that mainly did corporate events & weddings. When we started off, we'd take some bar/club dates from time to time as well just to keep a bit of a public profile and give prospective clients an opportunity to come and see us live.

We once took a gig at a slightly run down bar and a couple that was interested in booking us for a wedding us came out and were immidiately turned off by seeing us in such a place. The bride-to-be had a drunk throw up on her.

The loved the band, but basically told us they didn't want to have anything to do with people who would frequent such an establishment.

We were fortunate enough to be able to reconcile this by getting them permission to visit us at an actual wedding the next day - and got them to realize that we weren't the cause of their bad experience. We got the booking, but that bar gig certainly didn't help.

This sort of thing happened to us numerous times, and that's just reffering to the people we know about. Who knows how many couples saw us and didn't even come close to talking to us! But it was always the same thing - "your a great band, but I can't picture 'this' at my wedding".

After a while, we stopped playing those types of places, and would only play more upscale venues. This not only got us better work, consistently, but more work too. Best of all, we stopped hearing how couples couldn't picture "this" at their weddings.

So yes, I would say "no" to particular gigs.

[rob2001]

LoL on weddings!! My old band WAS NOT a wedding band and we played a few biker weddings that were awesome gigs. One was a bar and one was a pig roast. Some of the nicest people I've played for.

We got an offer to play for a wedding at a pretty fancy venue and it was clear from the start we did not belong there. We played well but it was a rough gig. Lots of older inlaws looking on and I knew they were thinking...."Where is the Chicken Dance"!!

So for me....no more weddings. It's just a case of the wrong band for the situation.

No offense intended to the wedding guys.

[Deacon]

"Regardless of pay" is the key element. I would probably turn down very VERY few gigs where price was wide open, but I'm sure there are some.

I know I wouldn't play for functions for certain governments, certain political parties, certain individuals.

Yep, I've turned down other gigs. Mostly cause the venue wasn't to my liking, or the pay wasn't enough, or thedate didn't work well.

For example, I generally only do gigs on the weekends when I don't have my sons.

[BBSuggs]

We're a horn band, playing private venues for the most part. We're perfect for weddings, covering music that reaches all ages.

We've said no to a particular casino gig due to a bad experience with the soundman.

I'm confident we'd say no to playing at numerous bars. It would depend on the venue and it's typical patron. We don't care for the structure of 4 sets until closing. Too late.

Also, while I can't speak for the band, I'd say no to playing at a political rally -- if it ran counter to my own perspective. Don't want to derail the thread with details.

[GCDEF]

We turn down gigs all the time. If somebody wanted to pay ridiculous amounts of money of course we'd play pretty much anything, but for our regular pay we'll turn down places that don't seem appropriate for what we do. Our main reasons for turning down places would be they're too small, they cater more to people that want to eat than hear live music, they don't have a good drawl, the owner is a douche.

Basically we're a rock band. We're not stupidly loud, but we do sound like a rock band and we'll only play places where that kind of sound is expected. Some places think they want a band, but really they just want somebody with an acoustic guitar and we won't play those places.

[Jerry Lundegaard]

...any where they want me to rap...

[dancehall]

Apparently a lot of musicians are taking heat from having done private gigs for Gaddafi, and they're donating the money they made. Would you do a private show for a repressive dictator? I want to say "no" but I can't honestly say if the money was incredible that I am sure I could stay strong.

[The Golden Boy]

Absolutely.

I guess I'm not enough of a "professional" to not be able to overlook playing with bad musicians or assholes for the sake of money.

[DGTCrazy]

I was just talking about this subject yesterday. The problem is that you usually don't know until after the fact. In my younger playing days, I played one regular specific Corporate gig, that I would later discover that the money they used to buy anything was basically stolen from the community where I lived, including family members.

We had NO clue at the time, and didn't question being paid well at the time. We had the best local band, and they only wanted the best. It was a Savings & Loan, and it was the 80's. But it turned out our little S&L was part of a much larger problem in America.

[Phoebe]

To me it's not all about the money, within reason.

I don't take anything that I feel I can't make a contribution to. If the style is outside my fun zone, these days I pass.

[66Park]

I honestly can't think of any gig I would turn down if the money is right.
"If the money is right" cuts out quite a few gigs for me.

[frankencat]

Yes. I mean no. :D

It's not about the money for me although I do like to get paid. There are many reasons why I might say yes or no to a gig and in certain situations - like if I really need the cash - money will make the difference. But mostly if it is enjoyable or for a larger cause or both I am there. If it is a big pain in the a$$ with no benefit other than to have some noise in the background - I am out. I have played professionally for years. Honestly, when you do this as a job day to day as your sole source of income it gets to be a drag. Yeah I know, "oh man I would LOVE to play guitar for a living". I hear you but I would rather live to play guitar than play guitar to live. Been there, done that, not for me. Too much work for too little return plus, you had better have the energy and stamina of a 25 year old or you are gonna get worn down pretty fast. It's a young man's game I tell ya. the old dream died a long time ago. The new dream is to have someone record one or more of my original tunes and have a hit or even a semi-hit where the royalties keep me going financially. Let the "artists" do the road work, just send me the royalty checks, thank you very much. :D

That said, I play out regularly 2-3 times a week and I have other offers coming in both for me personally and for my band. I don't think this will last forever but things have been good for the past few years or so thank God.

[bluesbreaker59]

I've said no on plenty of occasions. My reasons include: no pay, low pay, charity I don't believe in, butt head club owner, poor treatment, bad neighborhood, questionable bar (fights, etc), band I didn't want to be associated with, too long (4 hrs and more) and too far of a drive.

All these things help keep your pay up and the ability to play by your rules. I specify that we play no more than 3 hours, preferably we play 2 hours. We don't play "for the door" or "for exposure" both of these are ways to get taken advantage of really quick.

[buddaman71]

^ You typed almost verbatim what I was about to.^ agreed

[GlueMan]

I've talked to some fellows that were duped into doing a White Supremacist rally thing. If they had known going in, they never would have taken the gig - needless to say, I wouldn't have either, no matter how much money.

[jaycee]

Apparently a lot of musicians are taking heat from having done private gigs for Gaddafi, and they're donating the money they made. Would you do a private show for a repressive dictator?

I wouldn't be able to live with myself. What you didn't mention is that they only donated the money after they started taking heat, afaik. They are whores to the highest degree. I mean c'mon, did Beyonce really need that 1 million that she got (or whatever the total was?). Or Mariah? F#$# them.

I'd play for one only if the cia or the dod asked me to.

The only realistic gigs i would turn down are playing places that have a reputation for being tough bars, like 1%-er hangouts or redneck places, etc.

[pete kanaras]

To all the working musicians out there, is there any type of realistic gig you would not agree to do no matter what you were paid? I'm discussing this w/ a few friends and there are definately some "no go" gigs we'd not agree to, but most of us are between bands at the moment. So I wondered especially to the more seasoned musicians out there if you all could think of anything?

absolutely yep, i just turned down a $50k a year road gig, which is pretty sweet. it woulda tidied things up quite nicely around here. but i could'nt see myself playing that kind of music (and i'll leave that at that) so i had to say thanks but no thanks. i would've been miserable, and at my advanced age if i can't believe in what i'm doing, musically, i'm just not gonna do it. ymmv

[Ampegasaur]

I play metal, so yes. I rarely play bars, and MUCH prefer all ages venues, with no alcohol, or a small designated area for it. Brutal death Metal at most weddings is frowned upon.

[KRosser]

A lot of factors go into negotiations, and I've turned down easy gigs for very good money as often as I've taken very demanding gigs for very little money.

[bbarnard]

We just turned down a gig. They wanted us to play for $300 for four hours. When you add on an hour for set up and tear down, that's 6 hours or $50/hour. We are a 7 piece. That works out to be less than or about equal to minimum wage. We said no.

[fyler]

a friend summed it up well: the gig either has to be fun, or it has to make a lot money. there's always some balance of the fun vs. money equation in play. if it seems like it will be neither, skip it.

[jrjones]

If the money was right, I'd take most any gig. There is one guy that unless it's enough money to buy a new prs or badcat I won't take another gig with, and then it would be cash up front. I can deal with people whose personalities don't really get along with mine for the right money, but the number for them is much higher than for people who are enjoyable to be around and play music with.

[jrjones]

We just turned down a gig. They wanted us to play for $300 for four hours. When you add on an hour for set up and tear down, that's 6 hours or $50/hour. We are a 7 piece. That works out to be less than or about equal to minimum wage. We said no.

I wouldn't have taken that one either. Not worth your time.

[jrjones]

I wouldn't be able to live with myself. What you didn't mention is that they only donated the money after they started taking heat, afaik. They are whores to the highest degree. I mean c'mon, did Beyonce really need that 1 million that she got (or whatever the total was?). Or Mariah? F#$# them.

I'd play for one only if the cia or the dod asked me to.

The only realistic gigs i would turn down are playing places that have a reputation for being tough bars, like 1%-er hangouts or redneck places, etc.

I'd probly take that gig for the money. Just sayin...

[Sensible Musician]

LOL i just started typing and my phone rang - total a-hole, crooked bandleader. i'm not answering.

i literally write reminders to myself not to play with particular people who ruin my performance experience - in any way: crap playing, shenanigans, pure downer personality, whatever...

[monty]

I'm not proud, if the $$ is right I am there, lol.

[jaycee]

I'd probly take that gig for the money. Just sayin...

Well, i know it would be veeeery tempting.

But the thought of what these a$$holes do would turn me off completely. Like that maggot Sean Penn shaking hands and having a friendly meeting with the now deceased dictator of a certain middle eastern country. He didn't even do it for the money but that's another discussion.

My point is....i don't think i could do it.

[ksandvik]

Oh, there are many cases, some of which I could think:

* The venue owner asks money for playing. Or something silly like selling tickets and so on.
* The place is dangerous of many reasons, not worth risking your life for a gig.
* The time to get there does not make sense, like driving 12 hours for a 30 minute gig.
* The event is dealing with something illegal that could get someone into trouble.

Use common sense.

[Johns7022]

I said no to playing lead guitar in two gigging bands.

When the money is good enough to live on, have a future, make a career, maybe I will jump in. If I want to play out, I might as well drop into a decent blues jam, have a beer, play a few songs with the right people, then be home by 11pm.

[germs]

"if the price is right" is really the key to the situation.

i can always find a way to get by "for the money".

regardless, i've turned down my fair share of paying gigs for a number of reasons. most often, it's because the money ain't worth the effort (like out of town on a holiday for a bad time slot at a bar we've never played before mainly for the exposure...). so yeah, money is a powerful motivator for me.

[chrisr777]

I have played an outdoor gig in 115 degree heat. I will never do it again, I'm too old for that crap.

And if I ever take a gig on my anniversary I will die.

Of course, my band broke up so none of this is happening soon anyway.

[Dexter.Sinister]

To all the working musicians out there, is there any type of realistic gig you would not agree to do no matter what you were paid? I'm discussing this w/ a few friends and there are definately some "no go" gigs we'd not agree to, but most of us are between bands at the moment. So I wondered especially to the more seasoned musicians out there if you all could think of anything?

I have turned down gigs that provide support/entertainment for groups/concepts/causes with which I find discordance. For example, I turned down a lucrative gig playing a white supremacist event in southern Oregon...

DS

[musicofanatic5]

I really like opening my fridge and seeing it loaded up with groceries, so yeah, if the dough is good I would play for Gaddafi, or play with a bunch of no-playin m.f.'s, or whatever it takes. Bottom line is I get to decide how much $$$ is enough for the circumstances of a given gig.

[V-Type]

We had too say No too a few gigs that would have paid well.
Our ex-singer used too go on myspace and volunteer our band for all kinds of gigs without seeing what was up first.
He managed too somehow misrepresent us as a country rock band and book us too open for a Country concert for a decent fee.
However the only country Rock song we knew is Give Me 3 Steps the rest was the Black Crowes,Ozzy,Jackyl,UFO,AC/DC,etc.....
Once we cleared that up they didnt want us and were pissed that our singer lied
about the music.
Also when said ex singer booked us across state for a couple of battle of the bands on the same night I finally said enough was enough.
Between his lack of vocal abilities and his "I dont need too do homework" attitude as well as his lack of comprehension when dealing with others in a band We cut him loose so he could be the Karaoke crooner he really is.

[Jahn]

If my credit score was at stake, perhaps:

7dFbNw3bpKE

[shredtrash]

My band turned down a gig at a strip club once. 2 out of 3 of us are married so there was no way that was going to fly.

That's not the only time I've said no though. The key is to get the band to the point where you don't have to take every lame gig that comes around.

[germs]

My band turned down a gig at a strip club once. 2 out of 3 of us are married so there was no way that was going to fly.

That's not the only time I've said no though. The key is to get the band to the point where you don't have to take every lame gig that comes around.

all i'm sayin is that if the gig's in a different area code, does anyone REALLY need to know?

[funkycam]

bad players &/or not enough money &/or terribly put together music.
i would not turn down a gig for any other reason.

[mrkenny]

I only play music in the genre I enjoy with players that can deliver the goods for an amount money that is fair. Everybody wins, musicians, audience and venue.

[jimfog]

I'd probably do most any gig, IF the $$$$ was good enough.

Of course, how much I'd demand to do some gigs (in order for me to consider it "good enough") might take me out of the running, anyway.

....and YES, I've played many, many times for organizations and political groups I'm vehemently opposed to......again, for big $$$. My rationale is, I'd rather have them paying me the inflated rate than supporting someone who actually BELIEVES their BS. :rotflmao

[rbnum1fan]

I won't do outdoor summer gigs or weddings. aside from those i'll take anything