Mark2 -> RE: Brokering Gigs (Aug. 21 2012 17:09:06)
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I just pass the gig on to another player and don't try to profit from it, but..............I get gigs from an agent and he profits from every gig I do. He has a staff he has to pay, an office, advertising, and many years in business in which he has established a reputation. People who call him aren't going to call me. He asks me how much I want for the gig, then puts his markup on it, and trys to sell it. I get the check in the mail before I even get to the gig. As a result of this relationship, I have booked very few gigs myself for many years. He can sell a group for more than I can because his clients are used to paying more. I know he puts 20% on most gigs, which is a healthy number, but I couldn't care less. He earns his money. I can name any number I want, so if I say I want 2k for a gig, and he sells it for 3k, why is that a problem? It's not like someone called me and offered me the 3k. To underestimate the skill, time, and effort it takes to sell a service is a mistake IMO. I would ask yourself this: If your group usually gets 2k for a gig, and this other guitarist calls and offers you a gig for 5k, you take it and then find out he collected 10k, are you upset? If you feel he doesn't have the right to profit from his experience and reputation, then I would pose the following question: You have a group in which you are the featured musician. You've sweat to learn VA's material, etc. Then you hire a bass player, who although a talented player, knows nothing of flamenco. So, you chart out the tunes, help him with the compas, etc. Then you book a gig for 2k because you have advertised your service, and they want a "flamenco" group. Do you split the money evenly with him and the other players? If you have the right to profit from the labor of the bass dude, then maybe the other guitarist has the right to profit from his reputation as well. I'm not saying I would do this, but I understand why someone would. A couple of my buddies are in a name band, and have played in the band for more than 20 years. They get half of what the singer gets per gig, even after 20 years. They got sick of it and demanded x per gig, which they got. But the singer still gets more. It's typical in many circles(jazz bands, some rock bands, etc) for the leader to get double, or even more. Nobody questions it. Bottom line, you can refuse the gig offered, or you can name a number that will make you happy and not worry about who else might be making a few bucks. In business I think it's a mistake to count the other guy's money.
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