$20 for a 2 1/2 hour gig? I'm outraged!
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205637)
Walnut Creek, California
January 21, 2017 10:38am CST
Actually, I'm not. We did a gig last night that had been set up weeks ago. It was at a local Cafe. They paid us based on how much food and spirits were consumed.
As it happened, last nigh was one of those with pouring rain and 30 mph winds--a good night to stay home with family.
Still, a few people showed up. Plus we got an excellent free dinner and I drank a couple of glasses of a nice Pinot Noir.
We played well, and everyone had a good time. They paid us $100. I think we got $28 in tops as well. I drove through two deep flood puddles on the way home, but my Xterra stayed straight and true.
Have you ever done a "job" and been underpaid? Do you get ticked off? Or look for reasons and "go with the flow"?
23 people like this
24 responses
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
21 Jan 17
Never been underpaid but I'm not an entertainer... I imagine the meal and pino was worth another $20. I guess you can't trust the weather...at least you don't live where its snowing...
7 people like this
@Daljinder (23231)
• Bangalore, India
21 Jan 17
How about not paid at all? I helped many in their school projects. Many times ended up doing the whole job. Wasn't paid at all. 
5 people like this
@TheHorse (205637)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 17
@Daljinder I don't have much tolerance for those who don't do the work they're supposed to do.
4 people like this
@Tina30219 (81540)
• Onaway, Michigan
21 Jan 17
Sounds like a good time had even if the weather sucked and you was under paid. My boyfriend and some friends here play at a local bar by us they get paid 300.00 and among the among the 5 of them they each get 60.00 a piece. Will you be going back to this place to play again?
2 people like this
@Tina30219 (81540)
• Onaway, Michigan
22 Jan 17
@TheHorse Wow is it just the area or what ard bands get paid a lot more than that where I live. But I am sure this is something you do for fun for a little side money right? Glad to hear you would go back and play there again I bet it gets more business in the summer so you are more than likely to get more tips from it at least.
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
21 Jan 17
It was stormy yesterday! But I bet you had a good experience and fun with your crew :) + the free food & drinks!
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
21 Jan 17
@TheHorse That is a good feeling! Have a wonderful weekend :)
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205637)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby Thanks. Today (Saturday) was another good day.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
21 Jan 17
eh not bad when you factor in free food and drinks
4 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
21 Jan 17
It all depends on my mood. Attimes I take it casually and at other time I get outraged
4 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
22 Jan 17
@TheHorse yes even I have a person who owes me Rs 4500/- and hasn't paid yet
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
22 Jan 17
You can say that you did sing for your supper! Maybe the next gig will land you a bit more money.
I have been underpaid when I was helping out a friend with cleaning out her home. It was trashed. She paid me $20 for my efforts and I was there all day. My kids also helped out and they got even less.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
22 Jan 17
@TheHorse yes, I do the same. Working for pennies when you do a good job is more like a cold slap in the face.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
23 Jan 17
yea,when i worked from my friend's band.i did everything from wardrobe to roadie.
i didn't mind most of the times except when i got dragged into interband drama.
and it was usually the hangers-on that started it..
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
23 Jan 17
@TheHorse some travel expenses,food,hundred or so here and there..it really depended on how good the shows were.they needed to enforce their rider more often.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205637)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Jan 17
@scarlet_woman Was it a good experience overall? We don't travel that much (one gig in LA), and we're our own roadies. Our groupies are our wives and friends.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73368)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jan 17
Always got underpaid or not paid at all when I did my content writing and since have not continued. Considering that you said you had calluses on your fingers for your efforts then I think you should always get paid $10 per finger 
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
21 Jan 17
Often it will go with the flow...circumstances do contribute to the lack of payment occasionally, but when someone underplays me and then goes out and spend 100s of $$ on something frivolous...I'm ticked off.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62096)
• United States
22 Jan 17
I figured that I got $1.95 an hour while in the Navy. That's okay, I'm making up for it now.
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Jan 17
My part-time job at the seed store pays over local minimum wage and I get a discount on merchandise. It isn't much, but I like the people I work with and that is worth a lot.
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
21 Jan 17
I think I'm underpaid in my job
We get free food and other perks though which does make a big difference as I hardly ever buy food.
Sounds like you had a good time and a nice dinner so maybe it was worth the low pay
We get free food and other perks though which does make a big difference as I hardly ever buy food.
Sounds like you had a good time and a nice dinner so maybe it was worth the low pay1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Jan 17
I've actually never been underpaid, but then again, I've never really had many side gigs either. My understanding, from musicians I've known, is that underpayment is quite common in bars and the like.
1 person likes this
