Should bands pay to play at gigs?

I just stumbled upon an interesting article in New Music Strategies debating whether it’s a healthy practice for bands to pay to play in venues or festivals. The issue exposed in the post is that a certain big UK music industry event, the Surface Unsigned festival, which is in fact a battle of the bands, allowed bands to sign up only if they could pre sell 25 tickets at 6 pounds each (more or less $12). P2P (pay to play) is common practice for promoter and venues, whereby they do you a favor by letting you perform in their venues – but is that favor worth the price you’re paying? In some scenarios it could make sense, like trying to break in a venue’s regular rotation of bands, but it should be a well prepared and detailed business decision. You can see it as part of your promotion budget, but don’t expect most club owners and promoters to give a doggie’s arse about your expectations: they’ll mostly just want in on as much money as you can give them.

Many of my “pay to play” experiences have only been bearable when we’re treated with at least a shred of dignity or respect. I can’t count the times we were pushed back 3 or 4 hours so the bands who payed more could play earlier in the night or were given a longer set time when we were told we would be on 2nd or 3rd. The less money you give them, the more they ignore you and push you aside, even if you have the best performance or happen to be well know in the area. It’s a shame.
Daley – www.prunkel.blogspot.com

Would love to have your comments on the matter.

Woof.

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