Comments on: My Continuing Experiment with “Free” – This Time At a Gig http://oneworkingmusician.com/my-continuing-experiment-with-free-this-time-at-a-gig Makin' It Happen - Livin' the Dream - Payin' the Bills - Jason Parker, Seattle Jazz Trumpet Player Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:50:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Jason http://oneworkingmusician.com/my-continuing-experiment-with-free-this-time-at-a-gig/comment-page-1#comment-593 Jason Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:28:43 +0000 http://oneworkingmusician.com/?p=1694#comment-593 Thanks for sharing your stories, guys! I'm really glad folks are trying these new models and that they are working. They sure have been good for me, and I think good for my fans/audience. Thanks for sharing your stories, guys! I’m really glad folks are trying these new models and that they are working. They sure have been good for me, and I think good for my fans/audience.

]]> By: Tim Carey http://oneworkingmusician.com/my-continuing-experiment-with-free-this-time-at-a-gig/comment-page-1#comment-591 Tim Carey Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:08:17 +0000 http://oneworkingmusician.com/?p=1694#comment-591 Jason, My rock band GACKSTATTER actually did that when we played at Dante's in the u-district. As the bar never has a cover, we just asked for a $3 donation. with all of the regulars (about a hundred and fifty on that saturday night) our meager 3-piece rock band actually ended up making some unexpected cash. Of course there where those people who didn't want to pay to get into there local bar, but at the end of the day, the place had more people and we had an audience. I very much support the donation, or "sliding scale" it allows everyone to enjoy themselves : ) nice post. Jason,

My rock band GACKSTATTER actually did that when we played at Dante’s in the u-district. As the bar never has a cover, we just asked for a $3 donation. with all of the regulars (about a hundred and fifty on that saturday night) our meager 3-piece rock band actually ended up making some unexpected cash. Of course there where those people who didn’t want to pay to get into there local bar, but at the end of the day, the place had more people and we had an audience. I very much support the donation, or “sliding scale” it allows everyone to enjoy themselves : ) nice post.

]]> By: Rik Wright http://oneworkingmusician.com/my-continuing-experiment-with-free-this-time-at-a-gig/comment-page-1#comment-590 Rik Wright Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:05:51 +0000 http://oneworkingmusician.com/?p=1694#comment-590 I've kinda developed a a general rule - charge at the door and give free CDs to anyone who wants them, or no cover but ask for a donation at the door for a CD. Either way, I almost always walk away with more money in my pocket than I ever did without offering an incentive. Most likely they'll take the CD home & listen to it and then come back to one of your shows and bring some friends along. It's just good marketing. In my opinion, too many musicians think of he CD as a product. I treat the live show as the product, and the CDs as a commercial to get people to the live shows. It cost you what? $2 a piece to press the CD? Add another $1.50 for recording and production costs? Do the math. It works to your advantage every time. I’ve kinda developed a a general rule – charge at the door and give free CDs to anyone who wants them, or no cover but ask for a donation at the door for a CD. Either way, I almost always walk away with more money in my pocket than I ever did without offering an incentive.

Most likely they’ll take the CD home & listen to it and then come back to one of your shows and bring some friends along. It’s just good marketing. In my opinion, too many musicians think of he CD as a product. I treat the live show as the product, and the CDs as a commercial to get people to the live shows.

It cost you what? $2 a piece to press the CD? Add another $1.50 for recording and production costs? Do the math. It works to your advantage every time.

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