RUN YOUR BAND LIKE A DICTATORSHIP: Be the leader and make more money! * MUSIC BUSINESS ADVICE

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Someone has to be in charge, and it should be YOU! Start a band, learn how to get your band booked for live gigs, run it like a business, and make more money. Advice for your career as a musician! RUN YOUR BAND LIKE A DICTATORSHIP.
The Working Musician is all about the business of playing live gigs, how to start a band or solo act, how to get your band booked, or even how to make a living as a musician while doing what you love!

[@timlucasentertainment]

I ran a band like this. I put together the set lists, arranged rehearsal, booked the gigs and brought / ran the PA. Our arrangement was I get 50%, the other 50% gets divided up. This worked well because I was the only full time musician. The other guys all had jobs. We did alright - about 2 or 3 bar gigs per month. The rest of my dates I played as a solo (my bread and butter).

[@theworkingmusician8842]

That sounds like a pretty fair split. I've done it like that, too. Thanks for the input, Tim!

[@andyokus5735]

Have you guys ever sat back and looked at what you are being used for? You are making a bar owner/coke pusher wealthy. I was close friends with the great Yusef Lateef. He wouldn't play where there was Alcohol if he could help it. His music was a spiritual quest. He was blessing humanity. He wasn't spitting out " shake your booty " . It takes real courage to be a leader. I never had it. Of course my parents did everything in their power to try to make sure I would be a nobody like them. My point is if you are talented then you have been given a gift from something greater than yourself. Respect it and respect yourself.

[@theworkingmusician8842]

That's a good place to start, and if your gift is something that others appreciate, then they will pay for it, or will patronize the establishment where you perform. Thanks, Andy!

[@jrpipik]

A friend of mine met Gary Talent of the E Street Band once. He asked why he had simplified his style so much after Born to Run (really Wild and the Innocent). Talent said, "They don't call him the Boss for nothing." Springsteen was that guy. He took input all the time, of course. But he always made the call, collected the money, and paid the band. (He also paid the band a weekly salary when they weren't playing gigs.)

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Great insight!

[@matnapp]

Another great video! I have totally gigged out in a band like this! But for the most part, this is the method I use for my Solo stuff. I have the music I have written with all the parts tracked out and notated to chord charts and I just hire who I need and send then all the resources they need to play a successful gig with me! Keep the videos coming!

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Absolutely, Mat. Being the leader requires more work, but it can be worth it.Thanks much!

[@jbongo1]

Great stuff. refreshing to hear from an experienced craftsman like you.

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Thank you for the kind words! I hope some of these ideas are helpful. :)

[@wharman1]

I have never performed for less than an equal amount divided among the players. The exception to this is when we have had soloists or horn sections play with us. They get less but do not help with sound system or load-out. We give them an agreed upon amount and sometimes give them tips too. If I was hired as a hired gun for a specified amount, I would do it if it 1-made me happy or 2-made me money. Great subject for discussion.

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Thanks!

[@JuanAlvarezMusic]

Totally agree with everything you shared in this video.

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Thanks, Juan!

[@xaviermartinez2695]

Awesome video!!! Can you make a video going more in depth of owning a band and running it like a business??

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Great idea, Xavier! Thanks. 😀

[@k.p.bolden7329]

Yep and I liked being a hired musician, too.

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Absolutely!

[@garyjohnstonemusic]

Hi Brian. Only just came across your channel today and instantly subscribed. Your videos are great! You sound like someone who does exactly what I do. I run a 3 piece band called Three Card Trick based in Glasgow, Scotland in the same manner you talk about here. The "dictatorship" style (which I totally get the humorous use of) was really the most mutually beneficial option I had when we started doing weddings and other better paid gigs. I sing and play guitar and have a bassist and drummer. None of us had any money at the time to buy proper gear so I took a loan to get a brand new £5k PA rig and £2k on a van and just hoped that we would get busy enough to pay it back. Luckily we did. I organize all the gigs, do all the driving including picking the guys up and dropping them off (luckily we all live in the same city) and I liase with agencies and clients on a daily basis. In return I pay the band a set fee per wedding to literally just play. We split all bar gigs evenly as like you said there's not enough money in them to take an extra cut, but I'm compensated with the extra from bigger shows. I've seen bands TRY to do the even split thing and they rarely last as they develop issues as to who's not pulling their weight with regards to admin, social media, getting bookings etc. Most of the successful covers bands I know do it exactly the way you talk about here. I also write and record my own music which we play live together too. One question I have is, and this isn't pertinent to my band, just general discussions within our own local network of musicians - do you think someone who is a lead singer for 90% of the set AND plays a core instrument has a justification to get paid double for covering two bases? Keep up the great work with the videos. Looking forward to more 👍

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Thank you so much, Gary! Sounds like you have a good thing going. In response to your question, I would say that trying to convince other musicians that their part of the performance is less valuable would likely just create hard feelings. The tangible control comes from booking the gigs, providing PA, and managing logistics. Have a great week!

[@Larrymh07]

I've worked for a couple band leaders who did everything themselves. It was good to great! I've also gotten the 'we're a team, all for one and one for all BS. You're expected to be a roadie, a grip and a bus driver but express an opinion and you get dissed.

[@propagandakiller632]

In my neck of the woods, there is almost no such thing as a band with set members. All the musicians I know, will book the gig first, and then hire available musicians. If you need to rehearse first, no one will call you. You only take gigs you know how to do and decline the rest. To stay alive, you book and take as many gigs as you can get and handle.

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Sounds like a town full of working musicians! Thanks, Ray. 😀

[@propagandakiller632]

@@theworkingmusician8842 Not a town. Its more like a tri-state area. And work is not in abundance. If you can get 4 or more gigs a week, your doing better than most. For me, the best game in town is the nursing and ADC. Gigs are one hour and you can do 1 to three a day.

[@TotalSinging]

anyone who doesn't agree with any of these points has never run a successful band.

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Thanks, Kevin! Your channel looks interesting, also, so I'll check it out.

[@MikeHF]

What is your definition of successful?

[@Larrymh07]

You might want to do more research.

[@DBDiNsPireD]

I am from india and i am a guitarist and i am planing to go to USA for making a band there cause here in India its not as glamorous as it it is in the US so is it good to to go there after 5 years and btw i am an intermediate level guitar player.And i am thinking to make it my career without having q day job so is it good?And i am also gonna study music there

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Realistically, you'll probably need a day job for a while until you can get enough regular gigs. You really have to think like an entrepreneur and run it as your business, but if you focus on the better paying gigs, it can be done. Good luck!

[@DBDiNsPireD]

@@theworkingmusician8842 ok thank you sir fir your feedback I will surely try to get a day job and try get plenty of gigs its my dream to have a band who is famous internationally thank you so much😄

[@stuartjameswright]

Yep

[@theworkingmusician8842]

😃

[@DavidBryanSmithmusic]

How well does this work??? The final comments of. “I know some people who do this and I did it too”. Not I do this all the time. Tells you how well this actually works. I do know some hired guns who work with bands like this. They make money and that’s all cool. Most of them still yearn for a real band to join so they can contribute to something worthwhile. This is definitely an option. The title is a bit click baity (if that’s a word lol). I think you would be better naming it something like “Get more gigs and better pay with hired guns and be the boss of your band”. Or something like that. Keep up the conversation. 😀😃

[@theworkingmusician8842]

You're right, David. The name is a bit click-baity, and hopefully a bit humorous, but I'm glad that you got the point I was making. As far as how well it works, I know of some guys that have been running their bands like that for a long time. It's not something everyone will want to do, but anyone can. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@andyokus5735]

A good buddy of mine is the original keyboard player in The Dixie Dregs. He quit because Steve Morse wouldn't play one of his tunes. Well we all know the Dregs is about Steve Morse but my friend is a great composer. What's my point? 40 years later Morse had to crawl back and beg Steve Davidowlski to do the Reunion Tour. Stay true to yourself guys!

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Thank you, Andy, and Happy New Year!

[@harmonicamanrandy]

Yep, I've always been the guy who makes everyone else famous. Yet here I am, a gun for hire, and never the deed owner.

[@andyokus5735]

You bent over. I recorded with Jim Essery the harp player in the Allman Brothers. He played just short of Paul Butterfield. Another coke/crackhead. He ripped me off. Drugs and the music game are so entertained yet I never see anyone on Utube honestly addressing it. Maybe I should! Tell the truth and shame the devil.

[@andyokus5735]

The S E? Where exactly are you I played all over FL especially Jax and St. Augustine. Also Atlanta. You're right on. 45 yrs playing pro and basically a Big headache. The only satisfaction was booking and playing my own gigs. I was Always the best player in the band that's why I got hired. Got fed up with playing with assholes in " Sea Level " and I opened a music store in Atlanta. It depends on You! What is music to you? To me if I'm not playing what I wrote with a bunch of great guys who play better than me and I'm not the leader who is respected then fuck it .. I'm not interested. End of story.

[@theworkingmusician8842]

I'm based in Jacksonville. Who knows...maybe we crossed paths over the years. Thanks, Andy!

[@MikeHF]

For 100 bucks no rehearsal!

[@theworkingmusician8842]

An experienced freelancer probably doesn't need rehearsal! :)

[@harmonicamanrandy]

@@theworkingmusician8842 You're Goddamned right!

[@andyokus5735]

@@theworkingmusician8842 All the bar bands in St. Augustine and Jax all play the same tunes. That's why all the same hack dopeheads all constantly switching bands and gigs. It's one big clique of disfunction. That's why none of them will ever go anywhere!

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Right on point, Andy. One of the ways to stand out and draw bigger crowds is to NOT play all the same worn out stuff as every other band. Thanks! 😃

[@Joaquinonbasstheelectriklovein]

Thanks for dragging the cat outta the bag on this matter.I have taken heat from these hipsy dipsy bands that believe that I'm being unfair by hiring players & not being "democratic".What I've noticed is while these guys are wasting time to make "group" decisions I've been getting the gigs.I have to say I'm not a flash player but solid & I've noticed persistence & diplomacy trumps talent every time.As far as other player's opinions I could give 2 shits as their reviews are usually tainted with jealousy that I'm working & they're not.Btw my A team plays some of my original music too so it's not a total soulless operation.

[@theworkingmusician8842]

Excellent! Leaders get things done, and they don't wait around for committees. Good for you, Joaquin, and Happy New Year!

[@randallhaney7909]

Nope! If you want a sober legal aged Pro. level "Dependable Player? You have terms and conditions? So do we/I If you hire me ? You pay me for all the time I use/spend for you just like any other employer. And at a flat pay rate, For hours worked. Not some percentage of the gig payout. A reasonable time/pay to learn a song, And rehearsal hours pay too, Equipment transport for out of town gigs. As well. Time is money Mr. Dictator oops Boss.