The Rock Band pay check

[scotty]

I was wondering what bars pay rock bands in your area. Here in South Texas they only pay between $250 to $300. Back in the late 80's I was making $1500 for two nights in the Minnesota area. We like to put on a good production but for so little money it is a lot of work for four guys. We try to be at the bar at 5pm or at least as soon as they will let us in. Lots of time we don't have time for a sound check even though the show doesn't starts till 10pm. Thank god for programmable boards.
Thanks in advance,
Scott

[skorb]

$200 - $300 a night in LA area. there are better places, but you have to know people.

[nsubulysses]

What do you mean here? Playing the whole night for a few hours? Playing covers or your own songs?

[toddstaples]

Rock bands get paid?? :ROTF: :ROTF: :ROTF:

An original Rock/metal band in phoenix usually has to split the door with 3-4 other bands. 25-100 bucks for a 45 minute set is the usual take.....
The CD, Stickers and Tshirt sales are what make it worth it,

[guitarsjb]

Originals or covers?. Cover bands do much more..us originals..play for the door, with 2 or 3 others..we usually get around ZERO at the end of the night..like Todd said, we get our funds from merch. Now we have been paid..the most we've made was like 75 bucks (for the whole band LOL) BUT.we got PAID!!

[scotty]

I was talking about cover bands that play all night. (4hr gig)
Thanks for the input so far guys.

[lerxstcat]

$250-$300 starting out. You'll make more if you can draw a crowd that buys drinks though. Private parties often pay better than bars too, and can be a lot more fun.

[SEEGERMANY]

The casinos are the hot ticket here in Shreveport/Bossier City. Last I heard, Horseshoe was paying $875 for the 8-1 gig. El Dorado pays just over a grand.

[Strat God]

The most we make for 3 sets of covers in a bar is $900/night but the norm is 500-600 in my area.

[Joe_Steeler]

We usually run up the bar tab and charge it to the Good 'ol Boys

[sonicsamurai]

wow..how do u get paid that much??? the biggest upcoming thrash bands like evile and gama bomb get paid just 200 for a gig over here, probably much more for sabbat and onslaught. i'm lucky if i get a couple of beeers when i gig...

[SEEGERMANY]

Well, let me be specific. Rock bands, country bands, pop bands, rhythm and blues bands, etc, make that kind of money. Metal, thrash, shred, whatever you want to call it, don't make shit because they don't pull a crowd.

[lerxstcat]

Yeah, the casinos are much better gigs here, I was referring to "civilian" clubs. But you also have to be a more "clean" band to get the casino gigs.

Most thrash, death, etc.. bands here have to go to New Orleans to play clubs, and just play keggers around here. Whether they get paid in anything but beer and weed is doubtful.

[rjohnstone]

The casinos here pay $500 to $1,500 a night for good cover bands.
The bars pay on average $300 to $500 a night. Again, this is for a good cover band.
These are cover bands that have their shit together.

If you play your own shit or are an "eh" cover band, you'll be lucky if you get a piece of the door.
After paying the sound guy and the bar tab, you make next to nothing here.

[krimson]

I play in a Cover Band and we get paid between $200-400 for 4 sets. Typically we are making $300 a night.