The 'Gigging Special I sent you still rumbles on:

I got an interesting Email from one of the Members re my 'democratic band' versus 'you own the band and pay the members'. You keep 50% of the money.

>>>>>Would you advise applying the 50% idea to all income i.e. ticket sales, merchandise, CD sales?<<<<<<<<

My answer:

50% after commission. And I would consider making it 50% after fuel [a mighty expense, particularly in the UK]

In other words, 50% of the net income. Personally I have always paid a 'gig fee'. But that is in a situation where we earn quite a considerable amount of money, every concert pays a different fee and, quite frankly, we go by the traditional 'showbusiness code' that the paid help should NEVER know the amount on the cheque. There are a lot of reasons for this...that 'code' has worked well in show Business since God was a boy!

Hired Help only see and only want to see the gross figure, so we never let them see it...they have no conception of expenses, commission, rehearsal costs, studio costs, equipment hire, cost of equipment movement, equipment storage, hire, servicing etc. they only see (in their heads) the gross fee...so the logic is to never let them see it. It saves the hours of endless explaining and arguing.

Best pay a set fee to band members, roadcrew etc. It's called 'swings and roundabouts'. You may travel six hours to one venue for that fee but the next night it could be ten minutes down the road. Crew and band members never think in terms of how easy a gig is...always how hard it is. Always endeavour to have a hot meal provided by the venue. Not by way of a silly 'rider' [which all venues laugh at...trust me] no, as my Serious Writers Guild Members know, there are much better ways of getting the best treatment! A hot meal is priceless in keeping good band morale.

Merchandise:

Always have the best, most outgoing, people friendly, member of the band or roadcrew in charge of merchandising. Just like a shop, if the guy behind the counter is not a good 'seller' then you will take very little money. Be cruel, check out each guy's performance with the buying public and choose the best. Two can be even better [one to take Polaroid photos, one to sell]. The other band and crew members should be actively asking for names addresses, Email addresses for the fan base.

I would suggest 5% should be given to them or 10% if you are really generous. Again, if you let them count the money you are stuffed...they, again, only see the gross figure. YOU must always be there, to sign autographs, and generally be a nice guy..but mainly as a deterrent to the staff [they will nick money!] They forget that you had to make the albums [they, more than likely, weren't on them?]...you had to front the investment to buy the stock, store it, transport it, worry about it etc. etc. Be vicious, count the stock pre-show and count it after the show...work out easy systems for this...it's worth giving it thought.

I won't divulge the fantastic systems for selling I give the members of The Serious Writers Guild in the Master Class...but let me tell you that merchandising can be a license to print money ...when done right...or a total misery if done wrong....Members get to know the very best methods...and it's easy! But not very logical. I have spent my whole career improving the systems...and they work!

As with most successful methods, in Show Business, there is NOWHERE on the Net that you will find the 'real' story...the proper methods for successful band management EXCEPT with The Serious Writers Guild....

Sean - as a Member, you can call me anytime...you know that...and I will give you every bit of knowledge I know....

You can also check through the list of 'One Minute with Dec' in the Archive page www.makehits.com/archive.htm

An Email re the quality of 'today' songs: