Band Profits And Band Expenses

Band Gig Expenses, Band Profits, And What To Do With Gig Profits

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Ways to save band profits to cover equipment your band expenses for gigs

Band Expenses for Gigs and Music Equipment - Many bands do not realize how expensive it can be just to get started.  Unless you are a singer, you are going to need a quality instrument that can hold up for long stage shows and gigs.  A typical rock band may have a guitar, bass, drums, and vocals.  Sure you can go to a guitar shop and pickup a starter guitar, but most times these cheaper guitars won’t stay in tune.  Starter instruments may not be a proper quality for long stage shows.  It looks unprofessional to tune a guitar in the middle of a gig or song.  Many guitarists bring back up guitars and amplifiers to shows as well.  This is helpful if you break a string or blow a tube in your amplifier.  So that’s at least two guitars and two amps for one guitarist.  Take into account the bass player needs a bass and amp and so on and so forth. Below is a list of music equipment and other expenses that can occur for a typical gig or show: (This example assumes a rock band with guitar, bass, drums, vocals, etc)

• Guitar
• Backup Guitar
• Guitar Amplifier (possible backup amp as well)
• Bass Guitar
• Guitar Effects
• Bass Amp
• Mics (the singer and backup singers need mics)
• Microphones for the amps and drums (These mics pump music to the PA System)
• PA System & Mixers
• Monitors (Needed for the musicians to hear themselves on stage)
• PA Speakers (Speaker that point out to the audience)
• Guitar Cables / PA Cables (Many cables are need to hook into amps and the PA system)
• Drums & Cymbals
• Drum Accessories (Drum Sticks, Bass Drum Pedal, Drummer Stool)
• Guitar Picks
• Guitar Strap (Strap Locks optional)
• Lighting (Typically venue has lights, but not all the time)
• Lighting Technician (You may need to pay someone to run the spot lights)
• Sound Technician (Someone will need to run the PA system, sometimes the venue provides the sound person and / or the PA system)
• Flyers to promote the gig
• Business card expenses
• Press Kit – sent to the booker of the venue before you get the show
• Demo CD
• CD’s (To sell at your band gig)
• Band T Shirts (Many bands sell T – Shirts, CD’s, or Mugs at gigs for extra money)
• Promotion costs

This list is not meant to scare you away from starting a band and playing shows.  We just wanted to make you aware that the costs of equipment and merchandise can get expensive.  Music equipment is considered a specialty item and typically quality musical instruments are expensive.  Most start up bands already have the basic equipment since they have been playing in their garage or basement for a while.  It’s just important to realize that there are hidden costs that you may not realize.  Sound Technicians who run sound at gigs typically charge a good amount of money.  I’ve played gigs where the sound tech got more money than the actual musicians.  If you have someone in house (friend or fellow musician) that is knowledgeable, perhaps they could help you out and run sound for a while.

Band Profits And Gig Payments

Ideas For What To Do With The Money You Get Paid From Gigs

• Decide ahead of time how you want to split the profits.  Do you and your band mates want to split the profits equally or should the songwriter get a larger cut.  It’s all up to you
• Invest in more instruments & equipment for your band
• Save up the funds to eventually record your band cd
• Does your band need merchandise to sell at gigs
• CD Duplication (Get your band CD’s ready to sell)
• Get your music online for sale and digital distribution
• Save, Save, Save (You never know when you’ll need an expensive piece of music equipment

Keywords

• Band Expenses To Play Gigs and Shows
• Band Profits
• What To Do With Band Profits from gigs

Band Resources

• How To Start A Band
• Band Image
• Stage Presence
• Stage Setup
• Band Promotion
• Social Media For Bands
• Fan Base
• How To Get Gigs