benefits/fundraisers???

[mrmuzikhead]

Our band was recently approached to play a fundraiser for a local Arts festival. We agreed to it as it is a good thing for our city. I love the festival and support it. It is a showcase for local artists/musicians. We have played this festival a few times in the years past and were paid. (not large sums) It has come to my attention that several out of town bands have been booked to play (for pay) the festival and we were left out, not even asked. The main stage is booked solid. I am having a problem with the ethics/fairness of this and feeling very used and we are on the verge of backing out completely. They say they asked bands to play the fundraiser that had "benefitted" from playing the festival previously. I don't get how we've benefitted? Am I overeacting, lame, whatever?
For the record, we play about 8 paying gigs a year and usually 3 -4 benefits. I have no problem doing benefits once in a while but we are getting more selective. We do all originals.

Thoughts on this one please.

[mannish]

I don't know - I am very receptive to REAL benefits/fundraisers but don't recall ever accepting money to play one.

[Guitar55]

We've played many benefits/fundraisers. There are a few that feature multiple bands and no one gets paid. However, for those events where we are the featured performer, we almost always get paid at our standard rate. Entertainment is part of the cost of the event for the organizers.

[Gas-man]

Do the catering people get asked to play free at these events?

Bands are an easy mark and people don't value them.

[mannish]

The benefits I have been involved with the food & ..etc has been donated.
It's simple though if you don't want to do it then don't - If it's an Autism benefit I am there, I was there for my friend Jerry McCain & his late wife Jean's benefit, also animal rescue. Depends on the organization & type of benefit.

Originally Posted by Gas-man

Do the catering people get asked to play free at these events?

Bands are an easy mark and people don't value them.

[taco-man]

So you played a gig to raise funds... which were used to pay other bands to appear at the festival? I don't like it. If you participate in this again, I would get a contract that says if you play the fundraiser, you play the festival.

[mrmuzikhead]

Originally Posted by taco-man

So you played a gig to raise funds... which were used to pay other bands to appear at the festival? I don't like it. If you participate in this again, I would get a contract that says if you play the fundraiser, you play the festival.

We haven't played it yet and I'm about ready to bail. The festival is about showcasing local artists and musicians but almost the entire bill is showcasing larger acts from out of town. If all local bands were being showcased, I would have much less a problem with playing the fundraiser.

[mrmuzikhead]

Originally Posted by mannish

I don't know - I am very receptive to REAL benefits/fundraisers but don't recall ever accepting money to play one.

we're not being paid for the fundraiser of course but not booked to play the festival either which is a paying gig.

[mrmuzikhead]

Originally Posted by mannish

The benefits I have been involved with the food & ..etc has been donated.
It's simple though if you don't want to do it then don't - If it's an Autism benefit I am there, I was there for my friend Jerry McCain & his late wife Jean's benefit, also animal rescue. Depends on the organization & type of benefit.

we do our share of those as well. this one just made me shake my head.

[BBSuggs]

Every situation is unique. Our band played a benefit/fund raiser this past Saturday evening — our 3rd year. We're the only band. Everything was donated. Everything. They made $40K.

If there would've been other bands playing for pay, my guys wouldn't have taken the gig. In your situation, given the facts, we would decline. But we're a corporate/private cover band. The exposure of playing originals is not a factor.

I'm curious to hear how it turns out.

[pbradt]

Originally Posted by taco-man

So you played a gig to raise funds... which were used to pay other bands to appear at the festival? I don't like it. If you participate in this again, I would get a contract that says if you play the fundraiser, you play the festival.

I agree, this is a good compromise.

[pbradt]

These days, it has to be a cause I believe in. I'd happily play a benefit for Best Friends, Agee Memorial Wildlife or the Animal Rescue Foundation, but if it was something I didin't believe in, I'd pass.

[dets1]

played a benifit for the american heart association a few years back. a woman approached me and asked who "the money guy" was. i told her i didn't know what she meant,she turned on her heels and grabbed the band that just opened for us and gave them a nice envelope. i wasn't pissed that we didn't get paid, i was pissed that they took the cash. especially since one of the band members lost a brother to a heart attack less than a year earlier. i always felt that a benifit was donated time for everyone.

[germs]

i'd think that benefits and fundraisers are two different things.

benefit: something like when "______ just had a ______, and needs money now!" sort of thing. you get paid in food if you're lucky.

fundraiser: still NOT FOR PROFIT, but orgainzed and entertainment is part of the budget.

if you played a fundraiser for free - and the fundraiser was to raise funds for this local festival - but you're not playing the festival...well, i'd be a bit put out too.

oftentimes, the ones putting togther these things don't think of it like we do. i'd think that the stongest band is the one that gets to work the fundraiser AND a prime slot on the main stage. MAYBE the organizers just think of it as "everyone gets a turn" and that's that.

wouldn't hurt to talk to them and express your point.

maybe it's an oversight, maybe it's not. but you shouldn't be complaining about it if you don't know.

also, RULE #1 OF BEING IN AN ORIGINAL BAND: go out there and get it. no one is going to hand it to you.

[chrisgraff]

I'd back out, personally. It is your responsibility to teach people your worth.