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Post by shyamwestwind on May 17, 2009 7:53:18 GMT
Hi Everyone I have always believed that playing at a Charity Event meant playing our music free. Wherever our Sound equipment was sufficient we took that along buut where the venues were large and more sound reinforcement was required, we would try and obtain sponsors for that expense. Today, I'm pained to see musicians and other artistes, charge a fee for performing at the Charity events, get accomodated at Five Star Hotels etc etc and then .......... put on masks of sainthood and Florence Nightingale to advertise their "donation" to the Charity. ................. Hypocrites !!!!!!!  I wonder why some people are so unfeeling and hypocritical ? I hate these "Crocodile Musicians and Artistes. |
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cptkay0s
Full Member
The only reason I get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory......
Posts: 607
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Post by cptkay0s on May 17, 2009 8:40:00 GMT
I agree whole heartedly Shyam!!!
You forget to mention those that also seem to "support" charities, dependent upon media coverage and exposure.
regards
Warren
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Post by JohnG on May 17, 2009 9:22:24 GMT
Me too Shyam and Warren,
They are becoming more like some politicians and most bankers with their "snouts in the trough"!
Human greed, where will it ever end? A very disillusioned ...
JohnG.
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Post by weegeo on May 17, 2009 10:05:02 GMT
Great to see you back on form Shyam, and a great topic as well.
I can only speak for my own band, but i can tell you that in 42 years i have never played in a band that charges a fee or `expenses` for any charity event, however i do know that most [if not all] of the so called big name bands over here do charge an expenses fee and sometimes this runs into over a hundred pounds sometimes a lot more. My take on it is very simple and it`s this if a charity needs your help then the charity is in some kind of shortfall cash wise so why make that shortfall more buy taking more money out of the `pot`as a band we play 3 of our own nominated charities every year but as a member of the showbiz club i personally if i am fit would do a lot more than that infact last week i had a concert for charity and today i also have a special concert for `children in need` this show will be attended by at least 4/5 different bands and 8/9 cabaret acts and we end up doing a massive `jam session` it`s really good fun and ALL the proceeds go to the charity with no expenses to the band or acts at all. Me personally i think as musicians we should do our best to give back a little to those that need it the most
Just a few thoughts.
weegeo
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Post by Tubbs on May 17, 2009 12:27:10 GMT
Yes but in the case of superstars doing it, it is the lesser of two evils...thats why the charities bring them on board in the first place.....a big name = big bucks..... regardless of what motives are behind it.
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Post by shyamwestwind on May 17, 2009 15:42:55 GMT
Somehow, I knew all the musos here would never charge a fee for playing at charities and I'm so proud to be with you guys !!
Yes, the Superstars are the ones who bring the big bucks in and the ones who are invited by most charities, Rightly so too, but I would like to think they will have super hearts too.
Talking of Media coverage, I remember an occassion where this BIG group (a much acclaimed Dance Troupe) charged a massice fee for performing at a Charity Event and their Sound and Lighting Bills equalled their fees. The turnout was so huge , the show was a complete sell out, but the Charity would have barely made any profit from the event.
At the end of the night, everyone got the surprise of their lives when the group donated their entire fees to the Charity and the Sound and Lighting organisation said their services were totally free.
That was truly magnanimous and the Group earned the respect of everyone there.
The audience knew what they normally charged and they got such a deafening applause for their kind gesture...... truly done in style !!
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Post by sweeney on May 19, 2009 8:46:10 GMT
Hi folks! Here's a different take on the topic. Tell me what you think. During the eighties I was playing with a four piece Club Band. We were all from the locality so travel expences weren't an issue. There were four large club venues in our area and each had their own favoured Charities. As we worked these clubs during the year, roughly five times each we were expected to perform three charity gigs in each per year. These were mostly Tuesday night dates when we were not playing so clashing with paying gigs was also not an issue. ""Now here is my point!"" We had to set up our PA system, Lights, etc: play the first hour for dancing then back singers. Sometimes we had to come early if there was an artist we had not worked with before to practice his or her set. They would arrive, change and go on when their alloted spot came. I always found the less talented ones the hardest to work with. They would want on early to get off and get away and complain about this and that. The talented ones were mostly old stagers, they just got on with it. After the Cabaret had finished we then had to play the last hour or so for more dancing. Generaly around 2am we finished. We then had to change into our ordinary clothes, dismantle the whole lot, pack it. and drive home. The entrance ticket fee, went to the Charity of the clubs choice but the raffle ticket money plus the bar takings for the night went into the club coffers. I never heard or seen a club make a donation from the till at the end of any night. I think this was because they had as much interest in Charities as I had in joining the army. None!! They just used these events as money spinners. We pulled the pin after two years and refused to do any more. ""Were we Right?"" Gerry.
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Post by weegeo on May 19, 2009 10:10:03 GMT
Hiya Gerry,
Thats a good take on the topic and off course what you say is completely right, the club/pub normally keeps their hands in their pockets and is more than happy to take the extra revenue which has been generated, and i also agree with you that the least talented of the acts like to be on first [sometimes not a bad thing lol]so they can retreat.
I would do a lot of work for children in need as well as my own designated charities and the guys that help always arrive 2/3 hours before the gig and do the setup and what i insist on is that if anyone wants to rehearse then they be there during the setup,i`m afraid i don`t suffer `prima dona`s`easily so if your not there to bad lol. Our gig is more of a concert thing where we have probably the makings of 4/5 bands and we just swap about for probably the first 1/2 hour then start to bring on all the first cabaret acts, we take a break do a raffle and or an auction then bring on the rest of the guests and finish with a good old jam it makes my year doing these gigs as i don`t really do much now. we insist that the club provides a reasonable amount of refreshments and food as part of the deal that way every single penny goes to the charity, if your ever in my knack of the woods when the next show is on i hope you`ll stop in and enjoy the craic. btw the charity on Sunday made 2,500.00
weegeo-----------------knackered in the corner lol
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Post by sweeney on May 19, 2009 16:51:58 GMT
Well done! It's a credit to you...........I read somewhere that the Good Lord said once to his followers when describing the art of Discipleship ""By their fruits shall ye know them"" Notice he didn't say ! By their Suits.........Keep it up.........Gerry.
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