The relationships between musicians and those that hire musicians can differ wildly. Someone hiring a musician for their wedding reception, or other private event, may want a dictionary definition of a musician, someone skilled at the art of music (a string quartet). Or perhaps they want more of an entertainer (a rapper with dancing backup singers and light show). A restaurant may want a solo artist to play quietly in the corner. A large bar may want a loud high-energy band. This is all part of matching the correct artist with the appropriate venue or event. This is easily done when the buyer and the performer understand each other’s expectations. The purchaser finds an act that matches their venue and audience, and then they agree upon on a price.
Problems arise when the purchaser has expectations that have not been made clear to the performer. A musician seeks to be paid to perform music for the pleasure of an audience. That is generally their main goal (other than picking up groupies). What frequently happens is a musician negotiates a price for a performance, delivers said performance, and then when asking for payment, the club owner wants to re-negotiate price, or worse yet says “I’m not paying because you didn’t bring any people.”
A struggling club owner may look to hire a band for only one purpose, to bring people into an otherwise failing venue. That club owner often doesn’t care what kind of music is being played, how bad, how loud, or out of tune it is, so long as they bring in paying customers. Said owner may agree to a price for a band, and never mention that it depends on attendance. This is not only unfair to the musician who was expecting to be paid for a performance, but it is very short sighted of the club owner.
Why is it short sighted? Because the club owner only sees the profit he makes from one night and doesn’t realize is the potential damage done to the club’s reputation. Scenario: Club hires an awful band because they bring all their friends. Then a couple comes in off the street and orders dinner. That couple is going to remember having to listen to that loud obnoxious noise, and they are not likely to come back. They may also to tell their friends that the club has awful bands. Word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising and in this case, it will be negative. End result, the club gets one profitable night, but continues down a failing road.
So what’s better? Better would be for the club owner to strive to provide the highest quality music possible. Just as they should strive to provide the best steak, the best beverage selection, the best service… Provided a quality product and people will come. If it is a slow night, you still pay your musician what you agreed upon (same as you’d pay your chef). Eventually the word will get out that you have a quality establishment. End result, the club builds towards long term success.
Alternately, if the club wants to pay based on attendance, then state that up front. Agree to sell tickets, or charge at the door and ask the band if they will perform for whatever is taken in. Most trades won’t work that way, but some musicians will.
The definition of a “Musician” according to Webster is, “One skilled in the art or science of music; esp., a skilled singer, or performer on a musical instrument.” Hire them for what they are!