How to renegotiate compensation for a recurring Jazz gig with stubborn owners?

Question

Back in the summer of '10 I was interviewed for a summer job after coming home from my first year at college. I got to talking to the manager who hired me, and she mentioned that her boyfriend owned a restaurant very near where I go to school (Eastman School of Music) and mentioned that he would possibly be interested in booking bands during our Jazz festival that summer. One thing lead to another, and we were booked. He paid us $100 for the entire group (as a "first-time" playing there basis), but we made enough in tips where it was okay. He invited us back, (given our success), and we met and negotiated that I would bring in a quartet every Friday 9pm - 1am, for the same price $100 (total) and free food at the end of the night. He said that if the band did our part to advertise (which we have done), he would also advertise (he hasn't) and there would be opportunities to increase our pay if things went well. I was inexperienced at the time, and really thankful for the opportunity. That first year, things went okay, but many times it was a struggle to put a full group together. The bar was practically empty many nights, and we struggled to bring in a crowd.

Since then, the restaurant has changed its hours, so now we play from 9-12. Over the past couple of years, it has become extremely hard to find a group, many times, it stresses me out beyond belief, calling in favors to fellow peers, and professionals in the area. The gig has become a second home to me, and I consider it to be more of a hang/ jam, than a "paid" gig. Whenever better paying gigs come along that conflict, I am able to sub out my recurring gig.

There are 3 owners of this restaurant. It is a fairly high priced restaurant and bar, in downtown Rochester, NY in the East End district. The clientele is high-class, and the restaurant (although it is only 4 years old) seems to be doing quite well at the moment. So well in fact, that when I asked 5 different employees for the power cord that we need for the bass amp, none had enough time to help me, and many snapped at me because they were so busy. When I finally found the owner, (outside socializing) he said he would do it, yet never did, so we played without it the entire night.

I have tried to negotiate for more money over the last couple of years, but nothing seems to work. Most of the time, the answer is that we should scale down the band. Many times I do bring a trio, but it is very difficult to find adequate pianists that are available to play on a Friday night for such little money, so I am forced to bring a drummer and bass player, which is hard work for all of us, but is better than anything else I can come up with. It is very difficult to hire pianists like I said, as well as guitarists for some reason. The drummer that I bring, is extremely tasteful, and is very sensitive to volume constraints in such a small boomy (tile room) area. He has been basically steady for 2 years, and has been extremely loyal to myself, as well as the restaurant. We have managed to fit either a trio or quartet in a very small space, and are always sure not to block walkways.

The other night, one of the owners pulled me aside and told me that it "wasn't working with the drummer". I asked him why, and he said that "it wasn't that he didn't like him, or that he was too loud, but just that he took up the most space, and that we didn't need him". The drummer is a great friend of mine, and I will be mortified if I have to tell him that he is done for good, but yet the band will stay.

Rather than argue with someone who clearly knows very little about music, I decided to try to make things work as always. The owners expect me to bring in a great entertaining high-class group week after week, with such little pay and benefits, and yet won't even allow me the courtesy to choose a configuration that I think will work. I have monitored our volume time and time again, and have actually fired drummers that insisted on playing at a dynamic that frankly did not work in the space.

Also, that very same night, I ordered a steak dish, which I have not done typically in the past. The owner mentioned that "once in awhile" I could get a dish like that ($18) but only ME, (not the rest of the band), and usually, we are only allowed burgers and sandwiches ($9-$12). This is the first I have heard of this. The band is also not allowed free alcohol, yet practically every employee drinks free beer/ liquor after there shifts are finished (in front of the band many times).

Clearly, we are being mistreated here.

I desperately want to keep this gig, for the experience, but also for the simple fact that I feel a great amount of pride that I have been able to keep a recurring gig so close to school for so long, with so many other talented musicians in this town.

Thoughts? Thanks, in advance for your help.

Answer 1

You're unlikely to get more money out of the current gig.



While I would say that you could be treated better, I would not say that you've been MIStreated, based on what you've said. It is not always the case that the band gets fed. It is common for the waitstaff to get fed. They may be drinking on favors from the bartender not on official compensation.



On the owners' side, subbing out the gig is cause to fire you. Not having a cord and not having a bassist all night because of it is cause to fire you. Any complaints about volume are cause to fire you. Struggling to fill the room is DEFINITE cause to fire you, even if it happens only once. So... you are really not in much of a position to "negotiate."



use this gig to get another one. If the place is truly so well-respected, that will help you get another one. Do not burn bridges. That will NOT help you get another gig. If the owners at the current gig start badmouthing you (fairly or not) it will not help. And vice versa - even if the current situation SUCKS, you don't want to come off like a whiner. You want people to say how pro you were even in the face of adversity.



And get busy on this. You are right that its hard to find good players on a Friday night for such low pay, so it will be hard to find another gig. Consider that you could get paid a lot more in a wedding band or some crappy cover band where drunks are knocking over your equipment, getting in your face while you're playing, or puking onto the stage. (Yes I've done those gigs too, and would take the nice jazz gig in a nice place over that for lower pay unless I was just desperate for money. But if I were that desperate, the cover band would not pay enough to solve those kinds of money probs.)



As a short term solution, see if you can ask the drummer to switch to hand percussion, mallets, etc. instead of trap set. And ask the owner first. Else you may all get fired.



Bottom line: solve the short term problem (drummer) in whatever way you must in order to keep the gig. If your drummer is that great of a friend he will understand. Or end it now - give two weeks' notice, like any other job, and start looking for another gig.



Consider a duet with a pianist, too. You can then pay a LITTLE more and keep the gig while looking for another one.



But I agree with the others that it's probably time to end this one.



Parting shot: this probably won't be appropriate for this venue, but if you can work the tip jar harder that may be an answer too. I.e. Mention the tip jar once a set. make a big deal -- over the PA system --- when someone tips, especially if its a lot.

Answer 2

Looks like you in a little mess



But you must decide if this IS truly what is best for the band and yourself.



Why you want to stay:



- for the experience

- personal pride



*add more as you wish



Why you should leave:



- mistreatment

- lack of respect

- lack of money



*I know there are lots of reasons but mistreatment

right about sums it up.



Think of ALL the reasons you would want to stay and why you should leave.



Which one outweighs the other?



Good Luck.

Answer 3

My answer : Leave.