Cosmo Valdemar Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 In a nutshell - should you ask for payment before or after the set? We've done a few weddings before but always for someone we've known. This Saturday we're playing a wedding without knowing the lucky people beforehand. So far the groom has been the contact and he's been flakey to say the least - we were actually recruited quite late in the day for reasons unknown - either the previous band pulled out or maybe he's just spectacularly disorganised! We've been given a small deposit but aren't sure how to proceed with the rest of the payment. The rest of the band are insistent on money upfront or we don't play but I'm worried that could come across as confrontational. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockfordStone Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) i have no experience of this, but given you believe him to be flakey i would want to be asking for it before the performance.. you have to rely on people being sober enough to remember to pay you at the end of the evening Edited July 18, 2016 by RockfordStone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 If it's cash, we usually get the full payment up front. There's usually too much going on after the wedding and reception to leave it till later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Cant speak for anyone else or what is "the norm", but we don't ask for it beforehand. Sometimes they will offer it before, and that case we'll take it. If not, we usually either ask the best man/maid of honour after the event. I would say in 90% of the cases though, we haven't had to ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Get a contract sorted. We ask for 25% on booking confirmation and the rest paid in full two weeks before the big day. That way the band get paid and fuel covered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted July 18, 2016 Author Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1468844468' post='3093681'] Get a contract sorted. We ask for 25% on booking confirmation and the rest paid in full two weeks before the big day. That way the band get paid and fuel covered [/quote] As things are picking up, this is definitely something we need to be looking into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybassdoyle Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Contract, deposit and payment upfront. Everyone knows where they stand and you don't risk getting left in the lurch if they cancel short notice or having to chase up after the event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Do you have a written contract? If not, it's safer to get paid upfront - getting married costs a lot, and some people do opt to avoid paying for services they have already received, pro bands often take the full fee beforehand to avoid shenannigans later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Before the gig... as it likely to be sizable sum..and not pub money, I hope. It will do everyone favours ..them and you ..to get the money beforehand. Either the best man/groom or another sensible elected person. IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1468844468' post='3093681'] Get a contract sorted. We ask for 25% on booking confirmation and the rest paid in full two weeks before the big day. That way the band get paid and fuel covered [/quote] Yup, this. If you're doing function work and are commanding the sort of 'wages' you should from this work then make sure you are covered. If you need contract advice, then join the MU and make use of their extensive resources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Not confrontational at all. You should definitely get paid before you play. Send an email to the groom stating that you will need payment in full, at the latest, at the venue prior to show time. Request acknowledgement and confirmation - if he fully intends to pay then it shouldn't be a problem for him. NO DOUGH! NO SHOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 From the few I've done, payment in advance seems to be the way. It's nigh-on impossible to pin down the bride or groom on the day, and I wouldn't like to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Given that probably everyone else is being paid up front, no reason why the band shouldn`t be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 I agree, and learn the lesson, as soon as you are approached and agree a fee, remind them to ensure you don't have to bother them on their big day, it is payment xxx days / weeks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) If you don't know them and it's a professional function gig then it's got to be a contract for sure. When I was in a pro function band it was all contracts, PAT certificates, public liability insurance and so on and so forth. Normal wedding insurance (if they have any) won't cover public liability. It's a form of business insurance. Luckily I didn't have to deal with any of it, my personal arrangement with the band was cash from the band leader directly after the gig. Edited July 18, 2016 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largo Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1468846654' post='3093713'] Given that probably everyone else is being paid up front, no reason why the band shouldn`t be. [/quote] What happened to brown paper envelopes stuffed with cash.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunton-hobbit Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Did a lot of this stuff back in the day, and only had two crappy experiences (still got paid) - now it's a slightly different world, and I'd be looking for a deposit and payment in full before I started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1468844468' post='3093681'] Get a contract sorted. We ask for 25% on booking confirmation and the rest paid in full two weeks before the big day. That way the band get paid and fuel covered [/quote] Yep, that's the way to do it. We always specify in the contract how we want the funds paying as well, i.e. bank transfer into the band bank account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Did a few with the outfit a couple of bands back. From what I recall it was always paid on the night, much as mr hackenbacker has detailed above. It wasn't our main business though. We didn't advertise ourselves as a 'wedding band' per se, we just picked up a few off the back of pub gigs. No horror stories though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Seems we are being too trusting maybe!! We have 20% deposit upfront, with a contract signed stipulating what they can expect from us etc. Maybe i'll bring up the topic that we should start requesting the payment before we play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropzone Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 If you are doing a few sit down as a team and work out some standard wording Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='KevB' timestamp='1468850432' post='3093749'] No horror stories though. [/quote] I'll pile in if anyone posts a horror story... I'm not starting it, though. 99.9% of the weddings and functions I've done have been fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 The only weddings I've ever played were my sister's, and Paul the Drums' brother. That's two weddings, not one. They weren't marrying each other or anything. Bottom of a hole ... stop digging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1468855527' post='3093797'] The only weddings I've ever played were my sister's, and Paul the Drums' brother. That's two weddings, not one. They weren't marrying each other or anything. Bottom of a hole ... stop digging. [/quote] You Ok down there or do you need a rope? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 The best man will have the cash, along with loads of other cash he is holding for paying various people at various points during the day. He'll want to get rid of it as soon as possible. I'd suspect he'll approach you as soon as he can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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