The path to professional musicianship is long and difficult.In contrast to many other careers, there is no predetermined path to success or ladder to climb.As a result, many musicians spend a lot of time, money, and even time working for free, at least initially.
However, this may be a contentious issue.It stands to reason that many seasoned professionals view musicians working for free as a threat to their ability to survive.
However, not everyone is just getting started in the music industry.At Superbowl XLVIII in 2014, Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers performed during the halftime show.
The largest and most expensive sporting event in the United States; advertisements during the Super Bowl can cost more than $4 million, but Bruno Mars and RCHP performed for free.Only their costs were paid for.
According to Bruno Mars, “It’s the biggest stage ever.”You won’t be able to say no to it.
Given that the Super Bowl is watched by 96.9 million people, it’s safe to say that few people will turn it down because of its potential reach.
However, given that the NFL also refuses to pay performing artists, how does this set an example for other performing musicians and promoters who book and organize live music?
When could a musician be compelled to perform for free
There are still far too many requests to have you perform for free for those of us who still rely on music as our source of income despite not playing the Super Bowl.
Numerous amateur (and occasionally professional!)The promise of “exposure” frequently entices musicians to perform.
It is not unusual for a promoter to suggest that Apollo Music band London will benefit from a free performance, particularly in the world of original music, either by selling merchandise, gaining new fans, or obtaining a paid gig off the back of the freebie.
They frequently arrive at these shows to find either no one there or, even worse, crowds of people clutching expensive tickets that the band will never receive.
Too many live events companies now offer a variety of “Pay to Play” scams and support slots that appear to be in high demand but frequently turn out to be much less than expected.
In order to keep their event’s costs low, charity event organizers frequently inquire about free performances from cover bands.Even though these requests are rarely made with malicious intent, they can still put you in a very awkward position.
A small number of performers in both genres also fail to recognize music as a profession.Sometimes it just comes down to the fact that some people really don’t know that playing music can be a job instead of a hobby.Some of the comments that you might receive might surprise you!