SLMC

Norris Shepherd · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:09 am Post subject:

Hey Jasmine.. yeah.. that really sucks. I'd just chalk it up to experience.

I know I've had some pretty strange things suggested to me by a couple of fly by night venues that have come and gone. One place told me I could play for tips, but If I had received 1000 Linden, any tips beyond that would go to the venue. For some reason i didn't get back to them....

Just got to shrug it off i guess.

ticious · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 2086 Location: Chicago

Doubledown Tandino · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject:

I'm jumping on as devil's advocate for a second....

(Jas, you're 100% right, and yes, everyone saying they'd find various things to shove up venue owners asses is what I agree with too)

..... however.... Jas, lemme ask you this: You're a fresh new performer in SL.... the venue provided enough of a crowd to make it worth your while to not only just play for tips, but then to also give the venue 10%. Jas, how much promo on your end did you do? How many people that were there were there because the venue/mgmt/hostess got them there?

.... SO I will say it's a 1000% wrong to change the rules after the fact.... yes, the venue/hostess are scammers and shady fcuks.
But it sounded like the gig still worked out... you got paid well in tips, had a large crowd for being a new performer, and put it out of your mind fairly quickly to enjoy the RL sun.

Also, lemme ask ya, did the hostess or any staff tip you at all?
_________________
DJ Doubledown on The Sixty-One ~ SL DJ & Club Scene Blog
Ravelong Productions @ SLMC Info Island

Zak Claxton · Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 2008 Location: Podul/33/243/154/

ticious · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 2086 Location: Chicago

Zak, talk to Nad, maybe he'll let you borrow his rhyming dictionary Wink

_________________
Joy is in the ears that hear
- Saltheart Foamfollower
- The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant

vonjohin · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 458 Location: Nashville, TN

Tipping the venue or sharing the tips the performer earns should be either discussed in advance as their policy, or a purely personal decision. Obviously, never after the fact.

When I am hired to play a venue, I am hired to provide a service, which is to put on as entertaining of a show as I can muster, give them my two hours to do that performance, and make sure the people listening have a good time. I do my job, and none of the venues that hire me (many of which have done so since last summer) expect any of my tips, and have their own reasons for financing my show in their space.

Its not my role to second-guess their personal decision to hire musicians vs. trying to run a place where people play for free or for tips, or to split tips, etc. All I know is that the venues I play must be pretty happy with how I do the job I was hired to do, because they keep having me back and book me two and three months out to insure that I keep coming back on the nights that they want me to come back.

Sure, some do it out of their own pockets, because its their personal disposable income they spend on hiring musicians to play their SL club, vs. spending that money going to a movie, for example. They also don't bite off more than they can chew and book more than say, four paid shows a month (and not all with me).

And with what my fee is, they could hire me for about a four shows a month vs. the less than the cost of going to a movie on one night. With the high price of gasoline now, staying home, hiring a professional musician for $15 to entertain you and some pals in Second Life while you get to run your own club is a small price to pay for a nights worth of fun. Most of these clubs get a good percentage of that money back in tips to the venue separate from mine. Try going to the movies and asking for a portion back afterward because your attendance is helping their industry. Smile

Some of the venues are corporate-backed entities still marveling at the fact that a performer would play for two hours for what amounts to $15 plus tips US, and wouldn't dream of asking for some of that money back.

These shows get promoted by me to five different groups with notices, promoted at the concerts the night before, promoted on my website, and custom posters for the shows are made. So on top of doing the job I am hired to do that evening for two hours, there is another hour of work done for each show between promotion and graphics work when you add up all the minutes.

Bottom line, if the club is a "tip sharing club" you should have that choice up front when you book it. If the club is one that allows you to collect your own reasonable fee and keep your tips, you should have that choice as well.

Jasmine Usher · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 53 Location: Boston, Mass

Jasmine Usher · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 53 Location: Boston, Mass

Jasmine Usher · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 53 Location: Boston, Mass

I had a little bird inform me that on Monday the same place had me scheduled at 1pm. This never was discussed by the venue to me and I am hoping it was an oversight on their part. When I make an date to on anything I follow through, providing no RL issues. I plan to IM them and ask them what the deal is.

Jas
_________________
Music is freedom

vonjohin · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 458 Location: Nashville, TN

Well, all I can say is somebody would have to be a real drip to put a musician through that grind. Laughing