Is It Possible To Get Paid For Gigs In The UK?

[Mark76]

If you aren't some big name act with a powerful manager/agency behind you.

Only, it would be nice to actually have some reward for our efforts.

[ESBlonde]

Supply and demand. Give them what they want and they pay you for your work. If you don't play what the customer wants and don't provide a professional service you get treated as an amateur. Playing original material though is a hiding to nothing unless you have done the toilet gigs and built a following over the years. Be professional in your attitude and get professional fees.

[Not_the_DJ]

Learn Mustang Sally and play weddings

[zenzeypher]

We get payed, it's not a lot when spread between 6 of us but it covers petrol, booze, strings and a 20 deck.

Depends in the promotor/venue.

[stickyfiddle]

Learn Mustang Sally and play weddings

Or Brown Eyed Girl. Or Sex on Fire.

Literally the only 2 songs in our set that had everyone dancing at the weekend. Not even the almighty Girls & Boys/Disco 2000 combo did the trick

[Not_the_DJ]

Disco 2000

Our singer suggested that one the other week. Does it usually go down well?

[stickyfiddle]

In pubs it usually does really well. Not much beats it aside from Brightside, Sex on Fire and (when we occasionally play it) 500 Miles.

This last weekend not even Brightside worked, so I think the audience were all dying or something.

[Not_the_DJ]

Cool. We'll give it a go (I never really got Pulp, but a guitary rocked up version should be fun).

(sorry from the thread hijack, carry on)

[monquixote]

Perfectly possible to get paid for gigging.
Tribute bands and function bands pay good money, but it's hard work.
Pub bands will pretty much cover expenses.
Original material will probably lose you money even if you get signed.

[JAYJO]

I think when the beatles were a cover band they played what was current at the time. Cover bands now seem to be playing the same old covers and getting fed up with them. Maybe the audience feel the same. I think to get paid well it may be worth taking some present hits and having a go at them ie Bruno Mars, all the tarts stuff you know, just sell your soul and have a go or do brown eye girl again. Try Rhiana or something. Plenty of cover bands have tarts singin male parts so vice versa.