Pursuing the Paying Gig.

Many emerging artists face the question of whether they should perform gigs without pay. The truth is that this is often a staple of paying dues in the entertainment industry. In the beginning, more often than not gigs will be unpaid or underpaid. This is not a reason to be discouraged. The focus for emerging artists should be two things, honing their skill and promoting their talent. 

(Photo courtesy of Tuning The Concert blog)

Unpaid and underpaid gigs provide training grounds that can help emerging artists improve. These are times to find out what moves the audience, what really brings down the house. These gigs are an opportunity to build a following and add additional gigs to the roster. If emerging artists go into these opportunities with this mindset the paid gigs will soon follow.

Depending on the preparedness of your act, unpaid and underpaid gigs can be an opportunity to bring in revenue from merchandising sells. Artists can have cds on hand to sell after gigs. This can be an opportunity to actually make money though the venue isn’t paying you. I think that most artists would agree that selling merchandise is an end goal of any professional musician.

In the article, How Much Should Your Band Charge for Gigs? Nothing?, writer Marcus Taylor reminds emerging artists that their passion should come first and foremost. He further states that having to pay to perform at some gigs should also be a consideration for artists because, in the end, it balances out. Taylor makes a valid point, these gigs should be viewed as investments in your business, much like studio time. “If you get the opportunity to perform and sell your CDs to 5,000 music fans, and it costs £200 to perform the gig, so what,” Taylor questions.

Again, the emerging artist should focus on two things, honing their skill and promoting their talent. If these two things remain at the forefront of every opportunity, those unpaid and underpaid gigs will turn into a free fall of paid performances.