Acoustic acts wanted for Weekend gigs

Sounds very similar (identical?) to that musician vs restaurant joke that was doing the rounds a few weeks ago....

Craigslist Ad:
We are a small & casual restaurant in downtown Vancouver and we are looking for solo musicians to play in our restaurant to promote their work and sell their CD. This is not a paying job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get positive response. More Jazz, Rock, & smooth type music, around the world and mixed cultural music. Are you interested to promote your work? Please reply back ASAP.

A Musician's Reply:
Happy new year! I am a musician with a big house looking for a restauranteur to come to my house to promote his/her restaurant by making dinner for me and my friends. This is not a paying job, but only for special events which will eventually turn into a nightly event if we get a positive response. More fine dining & exotic meals and mixed Ethnic Fusion cuisine. Are you interested to promote your restaurant? Please reply back ASAP.

planandattack wrote: »

I don't know what all the fuss is about. If you provided maybe a bottle of wine and a meal I would play all evening. If you don't want to play and have nothing to offer why bother exacerbating the arguement?

Possibly because it's a community forum and there's a running argument that pops up every so often about whether bands should have to pay to play, be paid to play or be glad of an opportunity to play without being charged or paid.

Personally, I think that the owners of this wine bar were most likely being sincere and letting people know that should they want to, they can play to a crowd there, no charge and no fee.

Many other bar owners would be more than willing to offer this same deal, not because that was their only option, but because of a cynicism that gets people to add value to their business, making the business extra profit but costing nothing.

You can't argue option A without acknowledging that option B is a valid point also. Do all them trad pubs pay all those guys that come in and sit around playing? I couldn't honestly tell you if they do or not, but if the guys didn't come in and play it would negatively effect tourism which would negatively effect the bars profits. The Irish music industry could be a lot stronger if it went for long term profit rather than short term, but it's too easy to make the quick bit of cash instead of building up something that might bring in huge amounts of money. It can be seen from live music to radio.

*Although it must be said that there are those out there who work their heart and souls into providing good services and support for Irish music, usually for little or no monetary gain.*

In an industry where more often than not, the band are the ones to get f**ked over time and again, you can't expect people in bands not to kick up a fuss.