Play for free - pros and cons and stuff like that

[amyFB]

I'm in a debate with some jam buddies, and your opinions are of interest to me.

Note: this is all about me, not about my jam buddies,; they are who they are and I love them both dearly.

We were asked if we wanted to have our weekly jam at a photography show.
The venue is not offering any money, and we're ok with that.

The problem?
We are a trio and I am the only one who thinks it is important that we choose songs that we know well, and that we practice them ahead of time.

The main detractor (and original contact person for the gig) says it does not matter, no one will be listening and we're not getting paid. When asked 'why bother playing then?', the response is: it's just a favor.

Detractor declares there is no care what impression is made on the person for whom we're doing a favor, because it is a favor, not a paid gig.

Third member of the trio doesn't give a hoot one way or the other, but doesn't care for the pressure of a paid gig; happy to jam in a different space if we are all there.

It's pretty unlikely that the others will change their minds and agree with my performance standards.

I realize that my personal sense of pride is at risk when I agree to participate without any planning or rehearsal. It won't take place without my participation because the other guitar is not strong to lead and the detractor doesn't play a lead instrument or sing.

Am I overthinking it to exclude myself from this 'gig as a favor' because of personal commitment to providing rehearsed and planned entertainment?

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

[Lacks Focus]

To me, the fact that you're not getting paid, and doing this as a "favor" is irrelevant. There will be people hearing (if not listening). That alone is all it would take for me to feel a need to prepare and to do my best.

[jbt123]

I agree with LF. Also, even it is just a "favor" perhaps people would be interested in booking you for future performances.. That is if you do practice of course lol

[GibbyPrague]

Welcome to the virtues of playing in a band.

Personally, Im with you in that I would refuse to play somewhere where I dont feel I have the material to the standard I would be happy with. Paid or unpaid.

You play because you enjoy it first, hence why would you want to do a gig which you would not enjoy and it would just make you bitter after.

You need to keep the standard first, irrespective of the compensation.

[Pitar]

Solo; your post is one of myriad reasons for it.

You are correct to be well-versed in the material you're presenting.

The notion that nothing matters because it's a favor, unpaid and no one will be listening except those who will be listening is pretty much unfathomable to me. The color of the wall paint doesn't matter, nor the quality of its application, as long as the wall gets painted. It just never ends, does it?

Solo.

If you accept, learn the material very well and take the lead. That's what leaders do. Yours is one of lead, follow or get out of the way. It sounds to me like you drew the short straw and you're own men want to frag you for properly leading.

Good luck.

[roylor4]

Amy,

I think when you do a gig that you owe it to yourself to sound good and be prepared for the performance.

If you are not happy with the quality of what you do it won't make any difference if other people thought you were good or not.

Been there. Done that.

If you are happy with your performance, then it was a good performance. If you think you will fall short of this I would skip it. Just my .02

[muscmp]

whether you get paid, or not, whether an audience is 1 person or 400, you have to be prepared. what if someone offers you a paid gig while you are doing that one? play it and play the best you can!

play music!

[Ed-in-Ohio]

I'm not trying to dodge the questions, but...for me it would really depend on the other two performers in the trio. I have been in combos where this would not be an issue for me at all because of the talent and chemistry of us all together, and I have been in combos where I'd never EVER consider performing anything but material we had rehearsed many, many times.

All that said, The things I think you need to weigh against one another in this situation are:

• Your commitment to playing well rehearsed material only,

• Your relationship with the other band members,

• The extent to which you believe your performance product will be entertaining, and

• The value of the musical experience regardless of how it works out.

By the way, the entertainment quotient can be huge. I was in a band with a front man who was a major rehearsal slacker, but he had mad skills and remarkable performance charisma. When he got on stage it was like some wonderful spell came over him. He would kill, and everyone loved him (and therefore all of us)...Remarkable things (good and bad) can happen when it becomes a "performance" situation. It might be worth it for you to a try this once just to see what happens!

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

[6L6]

LF got it right.

[BBWW]

If I like the place I'm playing for free I will play there. I have one gig I do every month for free. It's a cool spot and I get to workout my new songs or new jokes...or my joke of a song. If you are not paying to see me, you'll get to hear me working out my new stuff.

I would never play a night in a bar or similar venue for free. If it is a good listening audience I will. I'm happy most listening audiences will be at paying venues.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Originally Posted by BBWW

Guitars: I'm really happy to have a few nice ones.

Roger that!

[llew]

I have a similar situation where in my neighborhood we have a super club that meets usually once a moth or every other month. It's our turn to "host" this shindig and usually with another couple there is some sort of theme gathering. My wife sees my very little used PA and says...how about we host an open mic party? So I'm trying to get the folks I play with each week to commit to some practice time prior to this gathering two weeks from tonight. It's like herding cats? But hopefully it will happen. I don't like playing/singing anywhere unprepared. Paid or not?

[rick-slo]

Assumptions: They are your jam buddies you play with regularly. You can pick your own tunes. Don't you guys have enough material to play a set without a lot of prep time required for each time you guys play out?

[Oldguy64]

It may be "just a jam". But unlike your usual jam/practice you'll have something of a set list.
You won't be sitting in the garage discussing life and stuff between songs.
And you won't be going back to fix any "clams" like you do when you practice.
It will be a performance.
Even if it is unpaid, I'd advocate setting up a tip jar or some such. For kicks and giggles..and to remind you to stay focused.

It's a very short distance from background noise to focal point.

[amyFB]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Assumptions: They are your jam buddies you play with regularly. You can pick your own tunes. Don't you guys have enough material to play a set without a lot of prep time required for each time you guys play out?

We are just a little jam group. We don't play out; it's a weekly jam for the fun of music making together in a small group of just the three of us.

Only I play out; solo or with my duet partner, (who isn't in this jam group).

Neither of the others plays out. The few times previously it has come up in discussion, we end up in the same debate that triggered my post here today.

I think I'm reaching the conclusion that I have in the past, which is:

If the group isn't agreeable to working with a common purpose and set of performance quality standards, I don't want to play out with them.

thanks for all your comments, appreciate it!