Olympics Policy Not To Pay Musicians

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 22 Jun 2012 7:17 pm

Well, this sorta sucks.

www.theleadingevents.com/?p=6538

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Jun 2012 7:38 pm

No, it doesn't "sorta" suck. It REALLY sucks! It's disgusting how bad it sucks. The Olympic Committee acting like some cheap bar owner who stiffs the band and tells them they should be happy to play "for the exposure". All this while paying mega-millions to fat-cat corporations. Sure, step on the musicians; they won't care, they like it.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 22 Jun 2012 7:44 pm

Yep. All musicians should boycott and refuse to play live music for free at the events. Let 'em play canned music and pay ASCAP and BMI or whatever similar agency there is in Britain. See if they can get away with stiffing them.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 22 Jun 2012 8:20 pm

Reminds me of a call I got a few years back from one of the major festivals in our state. They really wanted us but told us they didn't pay for bands, because the exposure would be a big plus for the band. Then had the audacity to ask for a demo/audition tape because "they had been stuck with some bad bands in the past". My reply was, "You don't pay for bands and you have been stuck with bad bands in the past? I believe your problem is obvious."

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Jun 2012 8:22 pm

I think my house-painter should work for free, for the exposure. If he does a really nice job on my house, my friends will ask for his card and also want him to paint their houses -- for free. What great 'exposure'! (BTW, I believe it's possible to die of 'exposure')

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 23 Jun 2012 9:25 am

Remember the old school motto:

You can play good and you can play for nothing.What you will end up with is good for nothing.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 23 Jun 2012 9:36 am

The Olympics has never wanted to pay for anything except their own fat salaries. That's why I have never supported them and never will.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 23 Jun 2012 9:49 am

They tried to get Keith Moon to play the closing ceremonies.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 23 Jun 2012 9:59 am

b0b wrote:They tried to get Keith Moon to play the closing ceremonies.

Do you suppose they wanted to have Keith,John Entwistle,Jerry Garcia,and Pigpen appear as "Who's Dead"?

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 23 Jun 2012 2:39 pm

I'll bet they're figuring they won't have to pay him anything. Let's see, he's been dead thirty-four years, could these people's heads go any further up their a$$es?

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 23 Jun 2012 4:30 pm

Unbelievable.

Nick Powers · Post by **Nick Powers** » 23 Jun 2012 8:01 pm

believable.
stuff the olympics.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 23 Jun 2012 8:11 pm

You're right Nick - it is all too believable.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 23 Jun 2012 9:20 pm

Something's in the air... at the recent Queen's Jubilee many of the security workers were "hired" from the ranks of the unemployed, only to discover that the jobs were unpaid positions. They were merely a trial run for a possible security "job" at the upcoming Olympics. $:\$

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 23 Jun 2012 9:33 pm

When someone uses the "exposure" angle with me, I get a sudden urge to expose myself to them and have come very close.

Leslie Ehrlich · Post by **Leslie Ehrlich** » 23 Jun 2012 9:46 pm

The only true beneficiaries of the Olympic Games are the corporations who profit from advertising and endorsements.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 23 Jun 2012 10:36 pm

(BTW, I believe it's possible to die of 'exposure')

Jim, I've been saying this for years. Sigh....

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · Post by **Archie Nicol R.I.P.** » 24 Jun 2012 2:08 am

I'd tell them to take a run and jump!

Arch.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 24 Jun 2012 4:17 am

Get payed to play????? Why ruin ones amatuer standing?

Rick Schacter · Post by **Rick Schacter** » 28 Jun 2012 12:42 pm

b0b wrote:They tried to get Keith Moon to play the closing ceremonies.

I love this part!:

"I emailed back saying Keith now resides in Golders Green crematorium, having lived up to the Who’s anthemic line ‘I hope I die before I get old’,” said Curbishley. “If they have a round table, some glasses and candles, we might contact him.”

Rick

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 28 Jun 2012 9:55 pm

I am sure that they will be able to find some musicians who are willing to do it "for the exposure" and that's really bad. If all musicians would tell them to..., they would have a problem.

Like good old Johnny Paycheck said: "Take This Job And Shove It"...

Kind Regards, Walter

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 29 Jun 2012 7:31 am

Unfortunately, Walter is right. I used to play a club that would only pay $200 for a Thursday night gig (4 pieces with the bass player paying the 5th piece (his girlfriend) his portion, so $50. Had tried for years to get a raise, but he says he can get free bands to play if he wants. He had/has a big band playing on Sundays for free and Karaoke other nights and a DJ on Friday and Saturday.

There are those musicians that will slut themselves out for free and undermine those like me who count on the money to live. But I guess if they aren't worth getting paid for their services, well...

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 30 Jun 2012 8:48 am

Richard,are you saying that the guy who works for nothing is telling everyone that his work is worth every penny?

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 30 Jun 2012 9:13 am

I haven't seen any updates on this, but I hope there's a change in policy. I've been a huge supporter and admirer of the Olympic games since I can remember. The 4 yr. wait between events seemed like an eternity to me.

They're televising the Olympic trials now, and every time I click past them, I'm reminded of this situation.

As much as I love watching the games, I just cannot support them if they continue to disrespect my fellow musicians this way.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 30 Jun 2012 10:09 am

I don't see any indication that they are backing down. These are the most recent news clips I could find:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18652088

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18637276

http://thequietus.com/articles/09189-ol ... -statement