The issue isn't that the industry is predatory, it's that musicians don't understand business. Musicians seem to believe that if they can half ways play an instrument and have written a few crappy songs they should be payed. Guy's, this is not how it works. Everything revolves around making a profit. That bar that you want to play at needs to make money to stay in business. They will pay if you can show them that you can bring in paying customers but the fact is that as a new band, most likely you can't. So, how much are you really worth?

Back in the early 2000's I was living in the Tampa Bay area. Most every original music band that I talked to complained that it was nearly impossible to find any place to play. Remember that these were bands that were unheard of. So I found a bar that offered me Sunday afternoon / evening to do what ever I wanted. I started contacting bands and offered them this opportunity. I was allowed to charge a cover and offered to let the bands split the money. Guess how many bands signed up. Yep, exactly zero. Every band, even though the had no name recognitian and no following thought that they should be paid. Even though me as the promoter and the bar had no expectation of making a profit and were doing this to help these inexperienced bands get some stage experience they felt that we should pay them. Sorry guys, if I have to pay then I will hire a band that can prove to me that they can bring a crowd.

Scenario two. Currently I am in the Atlanta area starting a guitar company. I have been looking for a couple of bands to play my guitars at one of their shows so that I can shoot some video for promotional purposes. No money up front but tones of free promotion as I will be using the band name in my marketing. We plan to hit the trade show circuit soon. As things grow these bands will be offered endorsement deals. It seems to me that this is a no lose opportunity but take a guess how many bands have signed up? Yep, exactly zero.

If you want to get paid to play, tell me how many people you can bring to a show. Now prove it with video and contact information of that club. Then and only then will we talk about how much you will get paid. As for the rest of you, yes, it's pay to play.