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u/brighter_hell Mar 19 '23
I don't know why people are complaining. I would do this in a heartbeat! Food and drink for playing a few songs? Sign me up. Also, I can't play any instruments and I can't sing. But you get what you pay for.
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u/HappyLucyD Mar 19 '23
All she wanted was someone who loves music, so I say you fit the bill. Go for it!
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u/OtherwiseHappy0 Mar 19 '23
Serious^ inquires only. I seriously love music and can’t play shit. That must count
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u/HappyLucyD Mar 19 '23
I am of the opinion that it does count.
Please record the wedding and your performances if you end up getting the gig, because you may not be payed by the bride, but I’d give good money to see THAT!
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u/Paid-Not-Payed-Bot Mar 19 '23
not be paid by the
FTFY.
Although payed exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. The deck is yet to be payed.
Payed out when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. The rope is payed out! You can pull now.
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
Beep, boop, I'm a bot
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u/HappyLucyD Mar 19 '23
My daughters will be so pleased that I was caught with incorrect diction…
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u/BatmanTextedU Ice cream and a day of fun Mar 20 '23
They'll never forget it and always remind you of it lol
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u/fasterbrew Mar 19 '23 edited Mar 20 '23
> I can't play any instruments and I can't sing.
I'd just type in 'weddings songs' into pandora and go get free food.
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u/vdivvy Mar 20 '23
Was about to write almost verbatim the same thing ☺️ great minds!
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u/fasterbrew Mar 20 '23
Haha. We had some event in college and I got stuck on music. This was late 90s so thankfully downloading mp3 had just come into vogue. Nothing beats a hard drive of 90s dance mix music.
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u/Bird_Brain4101112 Mar 19 '23
You’re hired!!! Feel free to bring a band aka any random friends who still have their Rock Band instruments from back in the day.
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u/ItsJoeMomma Mar 20 '23
Oh that would be funny. Instead of a band setting up and playing, you're up there playing Rock Band.
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u/TheRealBaconleaf I can give you exposure Mar 19 '23
A wedding nah, but we’ve played in quite a few bars (of the diving kind) for basically fuel and food money. It was fun still. I know we wouldn’t play for/with a venue if this dude was in charge though. Those “free publicity” or “for exposure” are lame. You’re taking multiple peoples’ time and essentially telling them it’s worthless
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u/EtainAingeal Mar 20 '23
And at least half the audience aren't your target. I sincerely doubt Great Aunt Mabel will be attending your next show and spreading the word. Similarly, I doubt anyone looking to hire aspiring new bands is frequenting OOP's wedding.
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u/ozadzen Mar 19 '23
Dude we should form a band. I’m sure I’ve gotten better since they took the recorder away from me in fourth grad!
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u/brighter_hell Mar 20 '23
We switched from recorder to ukulele and while I haven't played since 7th grade I'm pretty sure I would watch a Youtube video and get the gist of it
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u/PorkyMcRib NEXT!! Mar 19 '23
I can’t play the harmonica, but I would buy a cheap one and let you use it.
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u/Princess_PrettyWacky Mar 19 '23
Can me and my dog be in your band please? Technically you don’t need me after my singing gets the dog howling.
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u/Voice_in_the_ether Mar 20 '23
I would pay extra to have a 'singing' dog at my wedding.
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u/cathygag Mar 20 '23
I can absolutely make that happen! Happy to bring you a whole youth choir of singing pups!
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u/tiahillary Mar 20 '23
I'll be your backup singer. I also can't sing AND I can't dance or keep time! Maybe we should eat first ... before they hear us play.
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u/icaydian Mar 20 '23
I can’t sing but I could do karaoke for a couple of hours for free food & drink. Word of warning, though…I sound worse than George in Adam Sandler’s movie, ‘The Wedding Singer.’
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u/azrael4h Mar 20 '23
I was thinking that some Dio era Black Sabbath and Heaven and Hell would work well for a wedding. Start with Bible Black, follow with Neon Knights and Children of the Sea, then maybe The Sign of the Southern Cross. Then Heaven and Hell itself into Holy Diver. Finish with a Medley of Man On The Silver Mountain and Long Live Rock And Roll for a change at the end.
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u/LupusEv Mar 20 '23
Happy to show up to this too - I've always wanted to learn the bagpipes or violin. I've never played either of them, but willing to give it a try here.
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u/RamenNoodles620 Mar 19 '23
Ah yes, it's so hard out there for everyone. By everyone, I mean me since small time bands obviously don't need any money.
If you're a proper couple who loves their wedding, pay people an appropriate amount for their work.
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u/Used_Grocery_9048 Mar 19 '23
Doesn’t everyone know that musicians live and eat for free. They don’t need money…
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u/Bird_Brain4101112 Mar 19 '23
It’s all for the love of music. That’s why Taylor Swift tours. Not for all that sweet cash.
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u/Lazy_unknownComedian Mar 19 '23
As a musician weddings are always a pain in the ass. They won’t have any PA equipment they won’t have a soundman. They will want to use the mic and PA all night so you can’t leave. They’ll want you to learn at least one song you don’t know and probably don’t like. We do at least 3x quotes on weddings.
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u/mankytoes Mar 19 '23
Honestly, of all the gigs I wouldn't expect a musician to do for free, a wedding would be top. It's not exactly "cool", you aren't the main focus, no one wants you to play your own stuff.
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u/MasterChicken52 Mar 20 '23
I feel like I am the only musician who likes doing weddings haha. To be fair, though, I only do the ceremony itself or if anything at the reception, it’s generally the cocktail hour if they have one or just background music during dinner. I’ve done so many through the years that I don’t often have to learn new music; however, there are definitely couples who want special requests, and times I have to make my own arrangements of songs. Those are fun for me, but I definitely wouldn’t do it for free for someone I didn’t know. People don’t realize the years of study and practice that go into being a professional musician.
All of that being said… I will do wedding music for free for a couple as their wedding gift from me if it’s people whom I would be attending their wedding anyway and are close friends. It saves them money and is one less thing for them to worry about as they plan their special day. But only for close friends or family.
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u/thefract0metr1st Mar 20 '23
My dad played in bars with a classic rock cover band for most of my childhood and their attitude towards weddings was “yeah we’re doing this for the music… we like the songs we play and don’t want to play the songs you ask us to play even though we’d make more money doing it”
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Mar 19 '23 edited Mar 30 '23
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u/Bird_Brain4101112 Mar 19 '23
I like to think I was a chill bride. I figured I was hiring professionals who knew what they were doing so I paid the going rate and let them do their thing. I had a blast at my wedding because I wasn’t trying to control every little detail. I’m still learning about blips and hiccups several years later that I didn’t notice because it turns out, it doesn’t matter if things are off by a few minutes here and there.
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u/theoutdoorkat1011 Mar 19 '23
Yup! Same here. My wedding planner actually told me at our last meeting before the wedding that we were a dream to work with lol. We had all of their note sheets and the whole binder of details done by our second meeting lol. It stormed heavy the morning of and hailed during the ceremony, but our guests were great sports and we expected hiccups so we rolled with all the punches.
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u/AllModsRLosers Mar 20 '23
As a musician weddings are always a pain in the ass
Holy crap, testify!
Don’t forget turning up at 11AM to sound check for a gig that won’t start until 9PM, assuming Aunt Linda’s speech doesn’t go long… spoiler alert: it goes long.
We made a rule: we stop playing at midnight. WDGAF that Dad didn’t stop talking until 10PM, we’re going home.
Over the years, our contract for weddings has gotten longer and longer and includes so many more things than we started with, including: we need to be fed, we need a room while we’re waiting to play, you need to hire our sound guy, and his PA, plus a few more… plus we charge like the Dickens.
Essentially my attitude (shared by all in the band) is that we’d be vastly happier at home with our wives & kids, so I need to be able to spend the gig thinking about how much quicker I’m going to pay my mortgage down with your money.
Fuck weddings, fuck them every time, forever.
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u/Leaf62 Mar 20 '23
Never mind there seems to ALWAYS be someone in the wedding party who thinks that since they paid you to play music, you can also stack chairs, move tables, clean up the venue... like you are this one uncle/sister/aunt's personal employee, and they are going to "get their value" out of you. (And, the three times this happened, it was never the person actually paying us, lol). I would refuse, and then it's just confrontation and awkwardness. I WAS there for the music, not the " job," lol. After the last one, i said no to any more wedding gigs! I strongly dislike playing weddings anyway.
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u/AllModsRLosers Mar 20 '23
LOL, I have never had that happen, and I would happily tell someone "I don't work here" or whatever.
If anyone wants to confront me, or anyone in the band, we're fucking walking and they can plug their spotify into bluetooth speaker.
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u/bulimiasso87 Mar 20 '23
Not a musician, just a bartender, but I can’t even count how many times this has happened. If it directly involves rearranging to set up the bar area, sure I’ll help- but every wedding I’ve ever worked I have had to convince them that no, I’m just a bartender, I don’t work here and I can’t help with set ups. Not to mention I have people asking me if I’m open to serve while I’m clearly still unpacking and putting the bar together, my time is always short no matter how early I arrive.
And if I don’t know every detail of the venue, because I’ve been stuck in my little hole slinging Cabernets and vodka sodas, then I’m unhelpful and rude. Once someone was literally furious when I told them I didn’t think there was a coat check but the wedding planner might be able to help. Apparently that wasn’t convenient enough because they walked in late during the speeches.
Man I fucking hate weddings.
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u/Jwishh Mar 21 '23
It also is purely a financial motive for doing weddings. No one goes home and looks up the wedding band
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u/3-orange-whips Mar 20 '23
Wedding are great gigs, but you have to hire the sound crew yourself and bake it into the cost. You cannot rely on the planner or the couple to know what is necessary.
The best way to do these kinds of gigs is to go into negotiations with a firm set of boundaries. Remember, they are hiring you to ensure their reception is fun for everyone. Part of that expertise includes BEFORE the reception and setting the stage for a good show.
Don't let the bride and groom pick the set list: you know which songs work best, so ignore that shit. Don't agree to learn anything for a first dance. Just have the sound guy (who works for you) play it of their phone. Make sure that there is wifi and that you know which version of the song works. This was easier in the days if iPods, but it can still be done. EVERYONE is going to be happier with Stevie Wonder's version of "Isn't she lovely."
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Mar 19 '23
Sing for your supper. And also drinks. I'm sure they will get what they pay for. If they can't afford a band the food is probably crappy too.
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u/Bird_Brain4101112 Mar 19 '23
Yesss!!! These people give “I shouldn’t have to pay my vendors” vibes. Or they will run out of food. Food being cheese trays from the grocery store left out for hours before the ceremony.
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u/thestibbits Mar 19 '23
I'm under the assumption that after 2.5k comments and 200+ shares, there had to be some negative comments 😂
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u/EdgeXL Mar 19 '23
You know who else is going through hard times? Musicians who pay exorbitant amounts of money for their equipment while trying to survive in an economy rife with inflation.
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u/NetworkElf Mar 19 '23
I've always wanted a job that pays crappy wedding food in exchange for my labor!!!
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u/Warm_Guitar Mar 19 '23
Local band does not mean cover band. I was in a few bands in my younger days and we definitely played some free gigs...but that was playing our own music. I guarantee they don't want a band playing songs nobody knows for their wedding reception. I played with a cover band for one gig and while we made good money, the grind to learn 4+ hours of music across many genres was a lot of work and is entirely different from a "normal 'band. Screw CBs...
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u/Iplaystrings Mar 20 '23
I've been in a lot of bands. Both covers and originals and varying genres. Being in a cover band isn't all that bad. You get paid decently every gig. Most bars will give you free food and drinks. Especially if you know how to get the crowd buying drinks and having a good time. The last cover band I was in paid pretty well. And playing bass in that band meant that my job was super easy. I enjoyed the $200/night, free food, booze, good pay, and occasional one night stands.
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u/ItsJoeMomma Mar 20 '23
I think it would be funny if someone with a punk band showed up to this wedding party. Or some really bad heavy metal garage band.
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u/Quality-content-only Mar 19 '23
Lol Spotify playlist on shuffle is a great idea for them. 🤣 that’s what we could afford
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u/RockWhisperer42 Mar 19 '23
That’s exactly what we did for our wedding last year.
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u/3-orange-whips Mar 20 '23
I am a professional musician and I can tell you I've played MANY weddings where this would have been a better party. I know there is a certain level of cache to having a band, but at some crowd sizes, a DJ is just better.
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u/Professional-Mess-84 Mar 19 '23
yeah. I was thinking just get a DJ.
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u/WhereDoTheyComeFrom Mar 20 '23
Nah. Gotta pay for that shit…
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u/Professional-Mess-84 Mar 20 '23
Way less than a band though. These bridezillas are nuts. Very low likelihood they stay married - they just want to be the center of attention at a party.
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u/ExoticBoulder Mar 19 '23
What is it with weddings?! People will want the most elaborate and unnecessary weddings and associated parties as well as extortionate stag and hen do’s and then demand shit like this for free.
I could be biased though, I’ve never understood the way so many people feel they’re entitled to anything available or possible for nothing or pittance just because it’s their wedding day.
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u/RockWhisperer42 Mar 19 '23
It’s weird to me. My husband and I got married last year at our favorite music festival, which is where we met. All we had to buy were our tickets/camping passes and some post-wedding food for our very small number of guests. Had a Spotify playlist, and my best friend got ordained online and hitched us. I wore an old sundress and flip flops, and some were even in swimwear (it was beside a River). It was dirt cheap and the best we could pull off while camping, but it was so beautiful and special. It amazes me what people will spend on weddings. It’s not about pageantry, it’s about two people making a commitment in front of loved ones. I think all the fluff just distracts away from what it’s really about. That’s just my opinion though.
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u/Adventurous_Look_850 Mar 19 '23
I love that! It sounds so personal and fun. Many years ago when I got married, I believe everything came to about $2,000 total. Which is far less than most spend but if I was to ever do it again (now divorced) I would never spend that kind of money again. You are right, it takes away the meaning of the day and the enormous amount of money and stress is not worth it in my opinion.
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u/Sarcastic-Pangolin Mar 19 '23
This is the toxic sale teachers get. “You’re not doing it for the money, you’re doing it for the love of the kids.”
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u/ruready1994 I can give you exposure Mar 19 '23
Hi is there any 1 who paints/is a painter who wants to get a good opportunity? HOA is on my ass about my house's paint and I'm looking for people to do the painting. I've been quoted silly money from all the painters I've rang - they are making so much money from just painting a few walls it's disgusting this is hard times for us all and we can't afford much it will be a good opportunity for a painter to paint and get themselves seen and some free publicity. There will be peanut butter sandwiches and water from the hose for free and even Sherwin-Williams did free painting before they got famous. I bet local painters would get somewhere if they was willing to paint a few houses for free. So if you're a proper painter who actually loves painting then please get in touch. Serious painters only please No negative comments like you always see spitted.
I'm serious, I do need my house painted. Fucking HOA.
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u/tauntonlake Mar 19 '23
Set up a karaoke machine, and let your drunken wedding guests entertain you.
all night long.
for free.
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u/PerkyLurkey Mar 19 '23
“It’s just a few silly songs” karaoke it is!
you’ve hit upon the best solution!
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u/ItsJoeMomma Mar 20 '23
I can hear this gif. Drunken secretary at karaoke night singing Michael Bolton.
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u/MustLoveDoggs Mar 19 '23
These are the type of people who go to church on Sunday then head out to eat, are shitty to the staff, and leave loose change on the table as a tip.
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u/Remarkable_Quit_3545 Mar 19 '23
Another paid with exposure, eh? How many people are at that wedding party and aren’t going to be drunk? The least they could do is say they could post it to their Facebook/instagram/twitter/etc where they definitely have millions of followers.
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u/Janjello Mar 19 '23
Imagine all those “disgusting” musicians wanting money for their time and talent when there could an actual talent scout among the attendees who could offer them a contract on the spot. Un-proper musicians need not apply.
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u/DickTarden666 Mar 19 '23
I can fart "Flight of the Bumblebee" AND I work for free food. DM me.
I don't fart rock music. It's a pain in the ass.
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u/diskebbin Mar 19 '23
These are the same people who spare no expense for their wedding, until it comes down to the food they serve their guests. You spend a whole day, dress up and possibly drive a huge distance only to get served cafeteria food. It grinds, so very much.
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u/Gogo726 Mar 19 '23
These are hard times for us all but fuck anyone else who asks for money for their services
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u/maitlands2point0 Mar 19 '23
I would agree to this and then not show up just so they end up without any music at all. Can’t afford live music? You don’t get live music.
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u/ItsJoeMomma Mar 20 '23
Better yet, find some teenagers with a hard rock garage band and let them have the gig.
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u/richmagpies Mar 19 '23
Fucking cheap skates…it’s your wedding ffs..😂😂😂….and good use of ‘was’ instead of ‘were’…so, dumb as fuck as well as cheap…
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u/JennyFromTheBlock81 Mar 19 '23
I gave my wedding DJ all he can eat and I still freaking paid him.
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u/Princess_PrettyWacky Mar 19 '23
The quality of music determines whether your reception is a blast or a bust, period. Not the food, the venue, the weather or anything else. So skimping on the music is the single biggest mistake you can make. If a great band isn’t in the budget, then go for a recorded playlist and rent the best audio equipment you can afford.
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u/Flat_Sock_9582 Mar 20 '23
I don’t see how people legitimately post this stuff. Like sure, I’ll play for free. I don’t play any instrument more than a beginner level. You wanna hear broken ass wonderwall and wagon wheel for 4 hours? Sure. It’s free. Why not. You get what you pay for, which is a drunk Canadian who will probably smash the guitar and start a sea shanty crowd sing.
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u/Bird_Brain4101112 Mar 19 '23
Yep. Musicians should play for free. I’m sure their time, equipment, rehearsal to actually sound decent and have a good stage presence is all free. But at least you get free food and drink from people who will probably provide water and bologna sandwiches because how dare the help expect to be treated like humans.
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u/Gullible_Flow2693 Mar 19 '23
I'm currently learning the Ukulele. Il do it!
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u/aidantemple Mar 20 '23
I'll back you up on the recorder. I haven't picked one up since primary school, but I'm sure it'll all come back.
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u/NewUserNameIsDumb Mar 20 '23
“Just playing a few songs” = loading thousands of dollars of equipment to haul across town, set up in the least accommodating setting, several people play for five hours while everyone complains about any breaks taken, drunk lady who keeps trying to take the mic, and drunk guy whose fun new dance moves ruins half your equipment… but hey… Two free hot dogs and two Solo cups of the cheapest keg beer they could find should be ample compensation for that Saturday.
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Mar 20 '23
I dont understand who these people think they are when they are advertising "good opportunity" with no pay. Did you bring invite some talent scouts to your wedding? do your guests own a recording studio? wtf does that even mean?
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u/Hendiadic_tmack Mar 20 '23
Play a song and then crank the mic up, like obscenely loud, and read advertisements for 3 minutes. Then ask if they’d like to pay for a subscription and that they’re music will return shortly, then play a couple more songs. It worked for Spotify, it will work here.
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u/Abystract-ism Mar 20 '23
Spoiler alert-free gigs like this DON’T get you paying gigs! My band has been offered MANY of these and once your audience FIND OUT YOU PLAY for FREE and so WON’T PAY! “EXPOSURE” doesn’t pay!!!
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u/freedareader Mar 19 '23
“This is hard times”, so don’t have a party and expect people to WORK for free. Now, if it’s just for the love of music, I can go and play my fav tunes on my guitar. I don’t play well, but hey I love music.
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u/Adventurous_Look_850 Mar 19 '23
"Although our money is too tight to pay you, our wedding will be so grand that the free publicity will launch your music career!"
😂😂😂
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u/KWNBeat Mar 20 '23
Even just strategically, I feel like people could at least lowball. When someone says, I can't pay you market rates or your stated quote for X reason, but I can pay you something, I at least feel like they are showing basic respect, and I will sometimes consider it if I have the time or the project seems interesting. When you don't even bother to give a semi-reasonable lowball and jump straight to free, it's insulting, plus how often does it even work? It's almost like an urban legend exists: "there are people out there who do X for exposure." But how many of these people actually exist in the wild?! A few noobs who just entered the field and are still naive, perhaps?
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u/cathygag Mar 20 '23
😂. I would absolutely troll the hell out this person and show up to their wedding with a borrowed guitar and randomly strum the strings and caterwaul nonsense… when they start to complain, “welp bro- ya get what ya pay for!” Maybe just hook up your playlist to some borrowed speakers next time?
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u/Mundane_Ad701 Mar 20 '23
...and then everyone is surprised a horrible blackmetal-band plays at the wedding.
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u/Tao626 Mar 20 '23
If they're expecting me to do it for next to nothing, I'm totally cool with that. I quite like wedding finger foods.
But I'm also playing what my band REALLY plays, which shockingly isn't all your favorite top 40 love songs which everybody knows, we get paid more for doing that as we're not learning "Angels" by Robbie Williams because we think it's a banger.
No, we shall be playing obscure death metal and giving your older guests a heart attack. Open the pit, granny, this breakdown is extra brutal. Tell your friends about us, we'll throw you some T-shirts.
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u/HarnessMeDesignsOUB Mar 20 '23
“Can’t afford much”… but still hosts a wedding with the expectation of a live band?…
You know who works for free? A music playlist and some blue tooth speakers.
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u/TheOneWhoDucks Mar 20 '23
2500 comments. They’re getting ripped apart as they should.
The audacity of some people.
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u/RockEcstatic8064 Mar 20 '23
How about a trade? What do the bride & groom do for a living? One free day if their work fir each if the band members wedding time
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u/TheMaskedDrummer2162 Mar 19 '23
I do have to comment. The guys from muse did do freelance gigs for almost nothing to get their name out there. Lotta popular musicians actually did that. I’d be among the group of people to do it for free. I’m a hardcore metal head drummer. She never said there were any specific songs.
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u/eissirk Mar 19 '23
I'd go play music for a free meal and drinks on these conditions:
-my drink at the piano is always full
-your equipment. Im not bringing shit with me*
*will rent and transport equipment for you at 2x my normal hourly rate
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u/akioamadeo Mar 20 '23
Are these people famous where their wedding will be a promised amazing exposure to a rich clientele? Or will they just be exposing themselves to other broke people who will want the same free service.
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u/TJ_McWeaksauce Mar 20 '23
this is hard times for us all
If times are hard and money is tight, then don't have a wedding party. If this poster is from the US, then they should be able to get married in a courthouse for less than $100.
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u/J-Whalley Mar 20 '23
I played at an ex's cousin's wedding once. Played myself during the ceremony and had a few friends join me for the reception. We did it for free, had some food and drinks for free and had a great time.
Would I do it again for free? Absolutely not.
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u/Unit_79 Mar 20 '23
So I’m getting free publicity… playing for people with no money? Huh. Not sure why that’s supposed to be enticing.
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u/Much_Accountant4381 Mar 20 '23
It’s not feee food and publicity for them though… they have to spend time, petrol money and money on instruments, clothing, makeup etc to do the performance.
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u/Whohead12 Mar 20 '23
My husband is in both the local music scene AND the veterinary medicine scene. These are the same people who think it’s ridiculous to have to pay a standard amount for vet care because “you must be in it for the money, not because you truly care about animals!!!”
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u/Howlingwithwolves Mar 20 '23
When they said, “if they was willing,” it made me read this in an entirely different accent.
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u/SnooCrickets7337 Mar 20 '23
Free food and drinks? My 30 minutes of guitar practice has prepared me for this moment.
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u/gogomom Mar 20 '23
My husbands band did some of these types of gigs before the paying ones - just so they could get some video of them together at an event.
That said, every one of these free events were held by a close friend or family member - randos pay.
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u/hididillyhothere Mar 20 '23
I used to play music professionally. You’d be surprised how many offers like this we’d get. I’m sorry, but I can’t pay the rent with the free food and beer at your shitty event. Pay me what Im worth asshole
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u/Purple_Advance_3516 Mar 20 '23
I can't play an instrument, but I can work a kazoo and can hum better than anyone all for free!
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u/noncenuggets450 Mar 20 '23
Asking for money to provide a service which costs thousands in equipment + travel? Disgusting.
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u/Corey_Feld_Man Mar 20 '23
Why do all the people who post things like this go ham on the broken English? It’s almost like uneducated people become choosing beggars!
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u/InsideFastball I can give you exposure Mar 20 '23
You guys are fucked up, you don’t get it! This is a hard time for us!!
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u/wuzzittoya Mar 20 '23
I am a pianist, and very used to being expected to play (weekly, of course) for church over the years. I was absolutely shocked when a congregant insisted on paying me $50 to play their granddaughter’s funeral.
I have been required for weddings during service, but not after. People too poor for bands are supposed to be polite enough to hire a competent DJ.
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u/ArchRangerJim Mar 20 '23
How is working at an event creating “free” publicity? That’s the definition of working for something!
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u/z-eldapin Mar 19 '23
This was the sales pitch back in the 80s lol.
Really not applicable in the digital age
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u/Bhalzard Mar 19 '23
I don't know much about big weddings with bands, because it's not a thing here, but free food and drinks should be always a thing. Covering the traveling costs for going there and back should be a thing too.
Don't know what the actually payment is, but if it's a five member band, everyone should get 500$ at least, if they have to play the whole day and night. Sounds this fair? Sorry, if it's not enough
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u/TheBlackHymn Mar 19 '23
What you can have for free is plugging your phone into the PA system, which you probably don’t want to hire either.
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u/BillTheGreek980 Mar 19 '23
probably got their wedding party ruined by all of those 2.5k comments. Don't blame them for commenting
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u/mamadoula3 Mar 19 '23
Get exposure to a bunch of people that know you are there for free… which makes them want to hire you for money? Or think that you should also come play for THEM for free since you did it once why not keep doing it?
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u/Fluffy_Frybread07734 Mar 19 '23 edited Mar 19 '23
Yeah people needing money for a service is just oh so silly & disgusting.🙄
I always read “no negative comments” as “I don’t wanna be held accountable for anything I say, no matter how stupid it is.”
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u/MelloJelloRVA Mar 19 '23
“Times is tough, so you should use exposure bucks from my party to pay your bills.”
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u/mtempissmith Mar 20 '23
What do you want to bet there's plenty of free alcohol involved and the bride's dress won't be cheap and that they're trying to get the photographer to work for free too?
Been there and usually it's the photographer they're going cheap with. They usually pay the DJ or a band.
Stuff like this is why I never wanted to do weddings..
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u/BourbonSommelier Mar 20 '23
The near-illiterate vibe of that post pairs perfectly with someone too dumb to understand things like this aren’t free.
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u/Joe-Eye-McElmury Mar 20 '23
I’ll come play your wedding, but you don’t get to make any requests or complain about the set list.
It’s gonna be all Zydeco covers of Marilyn Manson.
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u/Isteppedinpoopy Mar 20 '23
I was gonna do mariachi Rammstein.
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u/Joe-Eye-McElmury Mar 20 '23
Omg, we need to go on tour together!
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u/BadPom Mar 20 '23
I think I paid $300 for an hour, hour and a half of harp music for my wedding. While people were coming in to the ceremony, aisle walking and then the cocktail hour at the reception. So I got to hear roughly 5 minutes of it.
Worth it. Expensive and worth it. Pay people for their time and talent.
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u/I_might_be_weasel Mar 20 '23
"Do I have unrealistic expectations for what live music costs? No. It is every musician who is wrong."
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u/DanscoRed Mar 20 '23
Hard times for them but getting married and obviously spending thousands. Yeah no thanks.
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u/Needcoffeeseverely Mar 20 '23
I can show up with my guitar I only know 3 chords on and have a free meal
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u/czarl13 Mar 20 '23
probably posted something similar look for a photographer...free exposure
exposure doesn't pay the bills, unless you are midly successful on onlyfans
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u/boomajohn20 Mar 20 '23
If wedding couples just invited four or five talent scouts, this would be a great opportunity!!
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u/Therealluke Mar 20 '23 edited Mar 20 '23
Then just put on a Spotify playlist on a Bluetooth speaker there champ.
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u/FollowingJealous7490 Mar 20 '23
Someone should ask him if he goes to work with this same mentality.
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u/Bertie637 Mar 20 '23
God, to think so many musical careers never got off the ground as they never got to play that famous gig, some girls wedding. Has to be right up there with Live-Aid in profile.
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u/Turbulent-Canary-572 Mar 20 '23
I would be tempted to form a band of the most enthusiastic karaoke participants. None of these really good people though. Get what you pay for.
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u/wojonixon Mar 20 '23
As a longtime weekend warrior dadrock hack I’ve played my fair share of wedding receptions; even friends never expected us to do it for nothing (although I’ve done freebies for certain loved ones). They tend to be well paid gigs.
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u/drumkombat Mar 20 '23
"They make so much money by playing a few songs" Took me 40 years to achieve this playing 🤔
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u/According-Ad-6968 Mar 20 '23
I've had people tell me that I should perform because "we're members of the church " and "I'm your friend " and "would you put a price on love"? Yeah. It's usually $100/hr or I can negotiate a flat rate. Those years of training are still being paid off. I work with a school district that caps my prices. That's my "working for the love of the craft".
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u/ItsJoeMomma Mar 20 '23
I love when they say "no negative comments" because they know they're going to get a ton of negative comments.
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u/AF_AF Mar 20 '23
Having played in wedding bands before, that "so much money" the band makes is usually for about a 12 hour day. Whatever you're paying the band, it works out to not a lot, especially after paying for gas.
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u/T-money79 Mar 19 '23
If you have to end your post with 'no negative comments', you know you shouldn't post it in the first place.