Roadie, Inc

Posts relating to the book, ‘Roadie, Inc – How to Gain and Keep a career in the Live Music Industry’

The Etiquette of Sound Checks

Playing a show will usually involve some kind of sound check. This check will take place before the public arrive and involves setting up your equipment, having the sound engineers place appropriate microphones and DI boxes, cabling everything into the mixing console and playing a  couple of songs in order that the front-of-house engineer can … Read more

The band road crew dilemma – work for less or lose the work?

A quick tip based on recent experience – do not be afraid to stick to your guns when setting a price for touring crew work.

If a potential client (artist manager, booking agent or musical director) says he cannot afford your price, you should not drop your daily rate just to get the tour. Dropping your price can make you appear desperate in the eyes of your client and also sets a precedent when trying to negotiate a contract in the future.

For example, say you are a FOH engineer and your rate is $250 a day. You are offered a 32 date tour andthe  bands management inform you they can pay no more than $175 a day. If you say ‘yes’ to this offer they will then  know that they can reasonably expect you to drop your price whenever they ask you in the future. That is not good for you. However, if you say ‘no’ you run the risk of losing 32 days of paid work. What should you do?

Read moreThe band road crew dilemma – work for less or lose the work?

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