tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post501673147338875217..comments2024-03-26T17:50:42.904+00:00Comments on GOT A UKULELE - Ukulele reviews and beginners tips: On Ukulele Performing, Gigs and the dreaded Dirty MoneyBarry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-22046948630436620632022-08-09T04:06:02.162+01:002022-08-09T04:06:02.162+01:00I will be perfectly honest here and say that I’ve ...I will be perfectly honest here and say that I’ve run pubs for the last 35 years in 3 different counties and not once expected any band or individual to perform for free or even just expenses.<br />And, I’ve never come across even hearing this before.<br />I have on the odd occasion seen bands perform for a lesser fee than normal because of a charity fundraising night that they want to be part of and who volunteered themselves rather than being asked.<br />I would never have the front or cheek to ask anyone to perform for free or expenses only. I know it must happen or you wouldn’t of mentioned it Barry, but It’s something I’ve never encountered, and would advise strongly to anyone who is a performer NEVER do any gigs for free unless you 100% want to.<br />Dave Whitcombe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-33691116319213409002018-11-19T00:19:18.084+00:002018-11-19T00:19:18.084+00:00My ukulele band plays for money, we will not play ...My ukulele band plays for money, we will not play for free, unless it is an event for a charity, or a fund raiser for a library or a museum or such as that. Sometimes even they will give us money. Today we played for a memorial service in a church, intending to play for free, and they gave us the take from a tip jar. They insisted. So we sheepishly took it and had lunch.<br />I know a man who takes his small ukulele group around to play for money, and he pays them each $10 for the gig, no matter what it pays, and keeps the rest. I think this is a rip off, and I told two of his band members I'd quit. I think they did. <br />A few months ago a group of elderly ladies told me they play for other groups of elderly people and won't take any money. They don't think they're good enough to charge. I told them to at least ask for a donation, because if they're good enough to play, they're good enough to have money for it, plus, they could be hurting us, who depend on that money. They said it gave them something to think about.Ukulelegeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682685228439447153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-18409320150992735272017-08-20T13:40:04.623+01:002017-08-20T13:40:04.623+01:00I do understand this article and where you're ...I do understand this article and where you're coming from, but I don't charge very often. That's because, like you said in the article, that's the worth I'm giving to my skills. I don't want to charge until I consider my playing worth the 20-30 dollars I could be earning. When I consider my playing and performance worth the fee, I'll charge. Until then, I'm free. Jade Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-90734412709772681572016-09-20T11:32:23.076+01:002016-09-20T11:32:23.076+01:00niceniceWilliamKinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11551278829221366384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-66982563082653633752015-08-04T16:51:23.014+01:002015-08-04T16:51:23.014+01:00Totally agree! We get many enquiries in a similar ...Totally agree! We get many enquiries in a similar vein: the genuine charities are often most generous & offer cash when we don't expect it from them, as they appreciate the time & expenses incurred. <br /><br />We're often approached about a week or so before - sometimes major (usually annual) - events & they seem surprised we aren't able to drop everything & play at short notice. Again, always for free. I'm sure everything else was probably booked well in advance but musicians clearly don't warrant similar consideration.<br /><br />People planning weddings seem most unwilling to actually pay much for the performers (though I'm sure they had ample budget for the rest of the function); TV companies definitely have the money but make every excuse to beat expenses down, whilst messing you about greatly, thinking that 'appearing' is worth al the time & aggravation. <br /><br />If we've been unable to offer our services, folk ask you to provide alternative options. After giving info on any likely suitable local acts & links of all the usual handy websites containing uke groups etc they rarely acknowledge & thank you for your trouble. So you never find out if any of your suggestions worked out / if you managed to get someone else a paid gig (aside for the obvious lack of courtesy).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-31953794998599342582014-01-21T11:28:26.897+00:002014-01-21T11:28:26.897+00:00Don't think there is one size fits all, and th...Don't think there is one size fits all, and the article isn't intended to instruct people what to do - but you need to play it by ear. I've nothing against a 'loss leader' to get on the ladder - not a bad idea. As a minimum - work out your costs to get there, be there etc and come up with a price. Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-30013678980649535962014-01-21T10:39:38.227+00:002014-01-21T10:39:38.227+00:00I am looking at getting into gigging (or at least ...I am looking at getting into gigging (or at least performing) in the coming future. Previously I have only really had public performances in community bands (playing the trombone, not the ukulele). I understand that performing for free is bad for other musicians and is undesirable. I want to get myself out there though, and I'm just a bit unsure about approaching venues and asking if they'll have me play and pay me for it. Would you say there is a price too low to be asking? Would it be unacceptable to do a couple of unpaid gigs to start out with? <br />I'm just unsure what to do about it all. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306646699713710145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-81424306790151925772013-12-09T11:25:08.794+00:002013-12-09T11:25:08.794+00:00If it makes you feel any better, I attended the Ch...If it makes you feel any better, I attended the Christmas 'spectacular' in question as a guest, with free access to all the chargeable areas, including food and drink: And yet I was still close to complaining about the food; the (lack of the promised) live music; the pathetic 3D 'cinema'; the broken snow-globe experience (with a man holding the roof up with a length of timber)...<br /><br />You did well not to be associated with a cynical commercial mockery of Christmas, and I was glad to get home and practice Christmas Dream on my uke - singing in mock-German makes playing uke seem terribly easy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-35597149894596176702013-12-08T09:57:54.950+00:002013-12-08T09:57:54.950+00:00I fully understand. It's the same with many th...I fully understand. It's the same with many things. I get it with photography. "If we publish your pictures, it gives you exposure" (pun intended). "A digital picture costs nothing".<br /><br />So, what about the equipment, computers, Terabytes of file storage I have, with backups on RAID, travelling, printing, not to mention the time I have spent developing a skill?<br /><br />Of course, it's all free. Yeah right.<br /><br />When I sell a print for £20, it's entirely justified.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16474141437010388410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-51795620710232001142013-12-08T04:21:57.922+00:002013-12-08T04:21:57.922+00:00Non-expiring Beer tokens!Non-expiring Beer tokens!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-80744207005570582262013-12-07T22:39:49.764+00:002013-12-07T22:39:49.764+00:00I agree with much of that. Certainly when I made t...I agree with much of that. Certainly when I made the point in the article that if you can't get paid, then you perhaps were not good enough to get paid, I was aware it may offend. <br /><br />But the other side of that is - I have spoken with a few well established and extremely tight acts on our local circuit and they have a genuine concern about free performers devaluing the business. They are increasingly facing venues trimming fees or expecting free gigs because ' the band we had last week did it for nothing'. Easy to say pick another venue, but as we all know we have lost so many in the last few years and it is hard in the pub and club trade.<br /><br />Thankfully there are still good venues out there who recognise the value in getting good music and pay fairly for it, but there are far fewer than there used to beBarry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-18938315899552521882013-12-07T17:25:40.766+00:002013-12-07T17:25:40.766+00:00unfortunately, that's life , I run a carpentry...unfortunately, that's life , I run a carpentry and joinery business and anyone and everyone will embark on DIY improvements around their home on friends and families houses too , then I have to deal with people with no trade background setting up as handyman services etc , they book me cos I'm a professional and good at my job .And here's a thought, would people rather see an amateur outfit for nothing at the pub or pay too see the uke orchestra of great Britain? I would suggest that 9 times out of 10 the latter . So my point being if you are playing for a living then you should be playing at a good enough standard that booking paid gigs shouldn't really be a problem. I also play the uke but alas I'm not the best , however I don't mind going to my local and playing for free from time to time , for me its a fantastic night out we all have a good singalong and a few drinks and being as how I know what a struggle it is for most pubs to turn a profit these days I'm only too happy to do so . Maybe we shouldn't worry too much about what other people are doing and concentrate on our own thing Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-62464215688187991032013-12-07T11:16:48.353+00:002013-12-07T11:16:48.353+00:00At the moment, I play Uke for fun and still class ...At the moment, I play Uke for fun and still class myself as a beginner. As I improve I would certainly expect a minimum of expences if playing a 'booked' gig, this increasing as I improved and therefore hopefully brought more people into the venue.<br />By profession I am a freelance photographer and over the last few years I have lost all my jobs for the local press due to new or hobby photographers offering their services for free. The attitude seems to be digital photography is free, so why pay for it? Ignoring the years of experience, hours spent processing etc images and of course thousands of pounds in pro spec equipment. The same arguments could relate, to a certain extent, to music. It is only when EVERYONE makes a stand that things will improve.Neil Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-9862681652779546812013-12-05T21:52:40.441+00:002013-12-05T21:52:40.441+00:00Well said Phil! Thanks mate! The costume proposal ...Well said Phil! Thanks mate! The costume proposal intrigues me!Barry Mazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-50008859076727326062013-12-05T20:48:40.314+00:002013-12-05T20:48:40.314+00:00Well said!Well said!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-75778097447182034332013-12-05T20:23:01.164+00:002013-12-05T20:23:01.164+00:00I reconcile the whole 'playing for the love of...I reconcile the whole 'playing for the love of it' vs. 'money' argument this way. The music is free, however I require paying to pack up my gear, fill up my car with petrol, drive to the venue, set up, soundcheck, sit around for several hours, pack up at the end, load the car, drive home and unpack at the other end. After all, I regularly play for say an hour and a half but spend 8 hours+ on the other stuff!<br />Phil Dolemanhttp://www.phildoleman.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-71994623824395100622013-12-05T16:34:06.884+00:002013-12-05T16:34:06.884+00:00I absolutely agree with every word of this. Musici...I absolutely agree with every word of this. Musicians who do favours and freebies are leaving themselves wide open for not being taken seriously and make it difficult for professionals to earn an honest living.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-70196132300030110532013-12-05T16:32:18.660+00:002013-12-05T16:32:18.660+00:00Something I've had to explain to people many t...Something I've had to explain to people many times before that expect me to play for free is that there are only so many nights in the week (and to be honest, most gigs are later in the week/ weekend)- if I play for free for someone, not only am I not earning, I'm also giving up the opportunity to be playing and earning somewhere else.<br /><br />I was even asked to play on a major TV show for free (not a music show- I'd consider that if it got me in front of a huge audience which would in turn possibly lead to more paid work). No, I would have been expected to dress up in a costume they would supply and play the music they wanted. In every sense it was a professional engagement, except the only 'pay' was my name in the credits. For this I would have to make a 400 mile round trip and arrange my own accommodation. Not surprisingly I told them that they should not be asking professional musicians to do this, and that a show of that size and popularity should at least be able to offer to pay the performers the going rate. Apparently it was an amazing opportunity I should have been glad of...<br />Phil Dolemanhttp://www.phildoleman.co.uknoreply@blogger.com