So.. you just played an amazing night, your guys are all pumped up from the killer show you just played. You wander up to the bar and tell em your ready to settle up, and thats when you hear the words.. "ummm.. we're not going to be able to pay you the full amount".
If you've been around the block with a cover band, chances are you've had some variation of the conversation above. Maybe the venue thought you didnt bring in enough people, maybe there was a lack of communicatin in how much the gig paid. Either way.. you should probably handle it differently than we did.
We were told half way thru our second set, that the venue was short on cash, and that we wouldnt be getting paid the entire amount. The kicker to this story is we were offered another gig that night that payed twice what this one did, but because we are honest blokes we stuck with our original commitment. Now the venue could have called us ahead of time, to explain their situation and let us decide wheather we wanted to go thru the trouble of setting up all our gear and driving to the venue for half pay. They unfortunaltey did not give us that opportunity. So.. in true rock and roll tradition we announced to everyone live over the mic that the crappy venue lied to us and wasnt willing to pay us for the entire night. Well.. it created a bit of an uproar, and we left with the remainder of the crowd who was obviously upset as well. But.. I still wouldnt recommend you handle things that way.
Do as I say.. not as I do. :)
The best way to avoid this whole scenaro is to have contracts signed prior to the gig. You can google a standard venue contract and make ajustments that you see fit. When a contract is signed it ensures you will get your pay. Be sure you and the venue sign it, and that you both have a signed copy. Bring your copy to the venue with you the day of the event, in case you will need to remind someone or show proof of what the agreed apon amount was. Many times, an owner/manager will not be pressent at the end of the night, and the bartenders are responsible to pay you. If you have your contract in hand, both parties will be better able to assess the situation. Be prepared and you'll never be put in a situation where you start a mass riot at some crappy hole in the wall bar. (Even tho it was a tad bit of fun)
