Last weekend we had a wind music festival here, with a tent of nonstop concert band music, a parade, food and beverage, the works.
Some bands are notoriously short of certain instrumentalists and so we were asked to help out for a concert. This would include four or five rehearsals and the concert itself, of course.
Now it is custom to give the aide a small amount of money (say $30) to cover the extra expenses (gas, beer, whatever), and that's it, usually. (It should be said that we're all amateurs).
What we got for our gig, however, was way over the top re generosity and while it certainly helped to create that warm fuzzy feeling in your innards, we really felt overpaid, especially as our own band is in the same situation of occasionally having to hire someone with a Bari or an English Horn.
Now what is your stance re paying aides? What do other bands do? Market paychecks for stand-in amateurs? Just a wet handshake and a free beer or two? Would thick paychecks kill the spirit of making music for the poor joy of it?
Again - this is strictly about amateur helpers. A pro lives on gigging and deserves a fair fee.
(PS: we decided to donate the extra money to the local youth music school)
Some bands are notoriously short of certain instrumentalists and so we were asked to help out for a concert. This would include four or five rehearsals and the concert itself, of course.
Now it is custom to give the aide a small amount of money (say $30) to cover the extra expenses (gas, beer, whatever), and that's it, usually. (It should be said that we're all amateurs).
What we got for our gig, however, was way over the top re generosity and while it certainly helped to create that warm fuzzy feeling in your innards, we really felt overpaid, especially as our own band is in the same situation of occasionally having to hire someone with a Bari or an English Horn.
Now what is your stance re paying aides? What do other bands do? Market paychecks for stand-in amateurs? Just a wet handshake and a free beer or two? Would thick paychecks kill the spirit of making music for the poor joy of it?
Again - this is strictly about amateur helpers. A pro lives on gigging and deserves a fair fee.
(PS: we decided to donate the extra money to the local youth music school)