I played last night with a female singer friend and two other musicians (guitar and bass) doing jazz and old style blues.  It's the singer's gig, and she'd originally planned to do it without a drummer because of the money, but called me after deciding that it would go a lot better with a drummer.

So I played, but for short money, which didn't bother me too much at the time.  But here's where it gets interesting.

She wants me to play with them again at the same place, but the other two guys won't accept the 25% cut in pay that would enable me to make the same money as the rest of the band.  Instead I'd be expected to play for a guarantee of at least half what they get, with the (outside) possibility of more.

If I get a call at the last minute, I'm prone usually to take a gig, even if it's for less than desired pay, because I think it's better to play someplace than to stay home for a lot of reasons.  On the other hand, I don't like being the only guy in the band working for short money, especially when the other players are not any better on their own axe than I am, and when I'm frankly making the band and show substantially better by my presence (as stated by the singer).

After thinking about it all the way home last night and a good part of today, I think I know how I'm going to handle it, but am interested in hearing what the population here thinks.

So what would you do, and why?  Thanks in advance for your responses.

Don't do it. It's a terrible situation that will only make you resent the players.

I feel the same as above. It's a four way split or they can work three handed. I've done alot of charity gigs over the years, but this is going to far in the wrong direction.

If I go to Home Depot and want some paint, I pay the price, or leave the item there.

If she wants you, she'll pay your price.  If she won't, then she doesn't.  How she comes up with it is not your problem.

A charity freebie is one thing.  What is offered you is disrespectful. 

Don't do it.  The rest of the band doesn't want to shell out for a better drummer (you) and she (the singer) doesn't either.

You helped them out once, don't let them walk on you.

Agreed... it's one thing to help them out for a last minute thing.   I've done the same thing on occassion -- like you say, it's better than sitting at home -- but if they want to use you regularly, it doesn't make sense to pay you (or any other musician) less than the rest of the band.  

I never worry about what anyone else in the band is making. I've played gigs where I know the leader booked an outrageous price and I walked away with less than 1/10th of that. But it was plenty of money for me to play that gig, there were no hassles other than the ones I created, and it wasn't an unpleasant group to play with.

You need to decide the number you're content with, both on a practical level and a personal level. Don't ever take a gig where those two things haven't been reconciled before hand.

Working cheap (but same as everyone else) is one thing...but working for less than your fellow band mates does not fly.

BigBill

bravo.

you are a gifted and experienced musician, and deserve to be compensated for that. i'm glad you held your ground!

[me, i'd take whatever i could get]