Higher Pay For Double Duty?

[Lee Baucum]

This is from an ad on our local Craigslist:

Looking for a Keyboard Player

Must be able to play bass lines as well as keyboards. Vocals is a plus.
Genre: Classics - Rock n Roll, Country, Oldies

Respond via email with qualifications.

They need you to play the bass lines plus cover the keyboard parts.

Regardless of the fact that many keyboard players have the talent and chops to do this; should they get paid more than someone who is hired to play only one instrument?

I'm several paygrades below even a weekend warrior; so, I don't know how such things work.

[Fred Treece]

As long as you’re not asking the guy to be Jaco, no. Left hand bass lines can sound good on a split keyboard, and it’s a fairly common technique among players. I worked with a guy who was great at it, but he never expected higher pay.

[Tony Prior]

Pretty funny, higher pay for double duty.

Double duty is what allows many players to earn SINGLE pay !

[Larry Ball]

Well being that we have time on our hands here is my 2 cents.

What about the bandleader or band that wants the steel player to also play 6 string
Guitar. I can do that “but” I won’t. Simply because it takes more equipment to bring to the stage plus more rehearsal time on different instruments.

You see this time and time again...”Question”. Do they get higher pay.

[Ricky Davis]

WEll to me; if you are hired for salary; yes salary should be equivalent to the amount of work(instrument; product; equipment....etc) you are and will compare different to others on salary. But most of us are hired "contract labor" so per gig...and YOU should always get/ask for what YOU are worth to play with the band, NOT in comparison to others; but in comparison to ONLY WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE WORTH.....PERIOD!!!!
Ricky

[Fred Treece]

Gaddz, if I asked for what I think I’m worth...I would never work.

[Travis Wilson]

I play keys. I’m usually doing rhythm/leads, so what’s the difference between rhythm/bass or bass/lead? It’s just part of being a piano player.

[Dave Hopping]

Once upon a time the Musicians' Union was "a thing"; one of its rules was that playing two or more instruments on a gig paid more than playing one instrument.

[Greg Cutshaw]

Most gigs don't pay very well and pry not enough to cover costs including gas, equipment, practice time etc. You have to pay a certain minimum amount just to get people to show up. That minimum is usually the bands pay divided by the number of band members. No doubt a certain band member may play more instruments but he's not more important to a small band than any other member unless maybe he's a one man band.

[Dave Hopping]

Most gigs don't pay very well and pry not enough to cover costs including gas, equipment, practice time etc. You have to pay a certain minimum amount just to get people to show up. That minimum is usually the bands pay divided by the number of band members. No doubt a certain band member may play more instruments but he's not more important to a small band than any other member unless maybe he's a one man band.

All of which is entirely true.Except when a band starts making real money selling records and filling arenas.At that point the equality of poverty gives way to an entire hierarchy of compensation.The Boss told us in his autobiography that he paid Clarence Clemons more than the other E-Streeters,and I should imagine Bruuce paid himself more than the whole rest of the crew. MUCH more....

[Tucker Jackson]

Funny... you said "pay."

It's a great idea. I'm going to look into it...

[Ian Rae]

The real question is whether anyone wants to play in or listen to a band with no bass player.

Yes, a pianist can play the right notes but he's not going to form a relationship with the drummer as he's got too much else to do.

You get what you pay for.

[Fred Treece]

Ian, that is a very insightful comment. I think the relationship forming thing is a two way street. The keyboardist has to understand bass playing, and the drummer has to understand he is working with a keyboardist. It can and does work with intelligent, capable players with good gear. It was a joy for me to work in a band with this arrangement, and I would do it again with the right chemistry between players. Definitely not a one nighter type of thing with a fill-in on either instrument, though.

[Ian Rae]

I played in a band like that and hated it, but then I'm also a bass player.

[Fred Treece]

We’re all bass players, aren’t we?

[Ian Rae]

If playing bass was good enough for Buddy Emmons, then it's good enough for us.

[Jack Hanson]

The Doors didn't travel with a bass player. The keyboard guy covered some of the parts. And when I saw 'em, they sucked. Except for Tony Glover.


Little Walter reportedly was too cheap to carry a bass player on the road. He had one of his guitarists tune down and cover the bass part.

[Andy Vance]

I do double duty in two local bands, or did before this virus thing, and I make the same as every other musician on stage, regardless of playing two instruments and both lead and harmony vocals. So, in most local band cases, I would say no extra pay is my experience, as the show value increments, that may change, but I wouldn't know.

[Ian Rae]

I loved the Doors' music but hated their records, if you know what I mean. I always felt the lack of bass keenly and thought it was an opportunity lost.

The bass isn't just a part, it should be an experience.

[Franklin]

Guitar, Organ and, Drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyJJltE ... FE9F209049

[Lee Baucum]

Thanks for the responses so far.

With regard to that ad, the cynic in me sees two guys, one plays drums and the other plays guitar and sings ... not enough for a proper band.

Now if they can get one talented individual to cover bass, keyboard, and sing harmonies, well now you might have a gig-worthy band. The new guy can cover piano parts, organ parts, horn parts, strings, etc. ... along with bass and maybe vocals.

It seems to me that he is bringing a lot more value to the group than the other two; but, I just don't know how such things work.

[Ian Rae]

It's superfluous to point out how fine PF's Pat Martino example is.

Of course the bass works because there's plenty else to feast on and it's the least important musically, although it has to propel the other instruments.

Being an organ, though, it lacks accents and that sense of movement up and down the neck which brings alternate tension and relaxation. But in this case, who cares?

As to what Lee says, I'm not sure the two guys concerned know how such things work either.

[K Maul]

Bill Monroe said if you play an instrument in his band but don’t sing you make half pay. You also had to be able to drive the bus.

[Joachim Kettner]

The Doors didn't travel with a bass player. The keyboard guy covered some of the parts. And when I saw 'em, they sucked. Except for Tony Glover.


I have seen them too, Jack. Morrison acted a little to obcene for me as a fourteen years old. I never listened to them again afterwards*.
But from what I've read they had bass players on their records, Ian.

*
One exception: I bought a best of, to figure out the chords to Light My Fire.

[Sandy Inglis]

I play in a 4 piece Band and I play Guitar, PSG, Mandolin, Blues Harp and do a large proportion of the vocals and do Harmonies during the rest. I also provide the PA/Lighting and usually set it up by myself. The boys do help with the Pack-out. We split the meager pay 4 ways as If I didn't, I wouldn't be out playing. I didn't ask to be the 'Main Man' I just gravitated to it by default. I do it because I love playing and I am probably my own worst enemy, but at least I'm out there playing!
During this Lock-down, I have suggested that, if they want me to play the PSG, they will have to pick up more of the lead vocals as I struggle to do both. Even though I can do all the vocals, I am happy to hand them over to the others. We shall see what eventuates?
Sandy