Getting Paid…Or Not
Like we said earlier, not every college has the same process for dealing with bands and that includes payment. You might be able to get a sweet paycheck for your time. Then again, you might not. Budgets are going to vary from college to college and their size or locations are not reliable clues in determining how much they can pay you. For example, a community college in the middle of Wisconsin may be able to pay you more than a huge university in San Francisco.
This variation in payment means you’ll have to be flexible and willing to adjust your performance price from college to college. If you’re unwilling to budge, you could be wiping out several valuable opportunities. If you need extra money for traveling expenses, make sure the entertainment committee knows that – many are willing to cover travel and boarding costs. The best method? Ask high, but be willing to go low if that’s the determining factor to being booked.
In this economic downtime, many colleges (especially state subsidized ones) are going through budget cuts. That means there’s a good chance the entertainment committee is functioning on less dollars. Don’t take a request to lower your price personally, state college or not. Some bands like to set a rate price for college performances. However, if a committee has a strict budget to function on, they’ll have very little regard for your ‘college rate.’
Do not try to bluff the college by threatening not to do the show if you don’t get the high price you want. It’s easier to say “no” and drop you than to continue negotiations. If you are able to do a show, DO IT! Only pass it up if the timing’s wrong or there’s not enough money to cover travel and expenses.
After You Get Booked
Once you’re booked, get a contract signed. Don’t rely on emails or phone calls to hold up if something goes wrong. Most colleges have their own contracts and are legally bound to use them. If you have a personal contract, only use it if the college doesn’t have one and they’re willing to use yours. There’s no need to sign both a personal and official college contract.
Next, get as much information about your performance as possible:
- What do you have to bring and what will be provided? (Ask about the PA system!)
- Will someone meet you when you arrive?
- Where on campus is your show going to be? (Always get maps of a campus you’re unfamiliar with, and don’t be afraid to ask for someone to help you navigate around)
- If outdoors, will there be a rain alternate?
- If the show is cancelled for a reason that’s not your fault (for example, if it rains and there is no alternate location) will you still get paid?
- Are you expected to draw a specific number of spectators to your show?
- Will the campus require a parking permit and will the college pay for it?
- If you have a large vehicle, or a trailer, what are the parking details? (Discuss this days, not hours or minutes, in advance. Some campuses may not have parking to accommodate cars with trailers or large sized vehicles, and may need to make arrangements.)
Most important of all… merchandise. Playing at a college is about expanding your fan base. Always ask if you can bring some merch, like t-shirts, stickers, pins and of course CDs. Be aware that some colleges will charge a percentage of your merchandise sales. If a college doesn’t allow the sale of merchandise (for whatever reason), bring flyers or business cards to hand out instead.
Right before a performance, make sure everyone is on the same page about the details of the show – and that means EVERYONE! If you’re a musician and your manager did all the booking, it may help to call or email the college anyway to get a rundown. Complications may arise when not all the information is clearly transferred from the college, to the manager and then to the band. In fact, most colleges prefer working out show details with those who are going to be present on the day of the show. “When bands come to campus, they don’t bring their (management),” says John Rios of Montana State University. John prefers talking to band members as opposed to managers to avoid performance day miscommunications, it’s a pet peeve of many college booking agents.
Building A Relationship
You sent a press kit, played a show, got a check (or not), and now it’s all over, right? Not yet! If you played once at a college, increase your chances of playing again by building a relationship and leaving on a positive note. Send a follow-up email thanking the entertainment committee for booking your band, and slip in a line about how you’d like to play again in the future. Booking agents like to know that you appreciated their work to get you booked. If you can, toss them a free t-shirt along with your thanks.
Now you know how to get booked on a college campus. Next time, we’re going to expand on the subject of building a strong relationship with a college campus, and most importantly, we’ll look at the mistakes that can damage your reputation on the college music circuit. Watch out for the “Biggest Band Mistakes” revealed by college planners around the country in our next article.
Contributors to this article include:
Paul Spella, University of New Mexico, NM – Student Union, Concerts
John Rios, Montana State University, MT – Concerts Director
Nathan Kogut, Colorado State University, CO – A.S.A.P. Concerts
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Awesome video, guys!