I think it's great that the musician held up a mirror for the restaurant owner! Let him hear what his ridiculous offer sounds like from the receiving end. Brilliant!

I started playing out when I was just 16. Local clubs and bars had 'House Bands' on salary and hired bands for the week-end crowds. I was gigging an average of two to three times a week! The 'average' pay back then was $20. per man, per night. $40 to $60 a week was a lot of money for a teen-ger in 64'/65'. More importantly, we had a ton of places to play in to get experience, to -learn the trade- and... we got paid!

I don't know when this 'pay to play' policy kicked in, but there is just no place left for young musicians to learn and grow (and) to be compensated for their work. I'm glad I came up when I did. I wouldn't do very well in today's world of 'you pay them' to play in their clubs. It's all become bass ackwards!

John

this appeared on the Rochester NY craigslist, only using a bar as reference

I am still in the "playing mode" and we are finding extremely difficult to find decent paying gigs. the bar owners want the bands to advertise their bars and take money at the door. sometimes when the bar owners provide someone at the door, the bands don't get all the money. being a musician in this day and age if really hard. Take me back to the 60's/70's PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+1.You and I are around the same age John,and this is how I remember it also.Not just clubs and bars,but parties,and grammar school and high school dances.My very first gig,was a paying gig at a grammar school dance for 25 buck a man,at barely 16.This was 1970

There were,in some places in Manhattan and Brooklyn,where there were bars on every block,and a live PAID band in every one.

We did a few free bees hear and there,but business asking us to play for free?We'd laugh our butts off.There were more than a few places to play back then,especially if you were a good band,and had a rep....and even if you didn't.

Just my 2 cents,but NOBODY,should play for free.You invest lots of time,pay for lessons and buy and maintaintain you instrument(s).That comes with a price tag,which shouldn't be just to satisfy your own ego.

Steve B

I make a great living just by playing for free.

I accept any kind of restaurant or bar offer such as that in the post...to play for free.

When the customers hear just how awful my playing is they start yelling and screaming for me to stop.

Then I make them pay me in order to STOP playing!

The Band

> There were,in some places in Manhattan and Brooklyn,where there were bars on every block,and a live PAID band in every one.

That doesn't exist for the kids coming up today. It's sad. I grew up in Manhattan. Back in the day, I was part of a group of neighborhood musicians who all knew each other, and we all played with one, or the other, fairly regularly. Whoever heard about a gig would call in whatever guys were needed to 'fill the bill' and get the gig. It was great. One night I'd be backing up a Doo-Wop singing group with a three piece band at some dive in Harlem, and the next night I would be playing a Blues, or Rock gig with a full band, horns, keyboards and all. Crowded, busy places where the feedback from the people and the dancers was instant if you threw in a clinker. But that's how you learn. On-stage, in front of a crowd, and under the gun to get it right, all while you're moving and grooving. Those rat-hole bars and clubs was the best school for musicians you could imagine. University Of The Streets! And... we got paid for it. Kids don't have that today... we were so lucky.

John

Now that hilariousLaughing H

We are a small and casual restaurant in Boston, MA looking for chefs, bartenders and waitresses to promote their skills in front of live, paying (us) customers. Also looking for food and liquor sellers to promote their products without the hassle of invoices. Any electricity or gas provider is welcome to join under the same stress-free conditions.