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A Little Piece of the Pie

Today's topic: Where the money goes...Case study: Irving Plaza
By: The Brannock Device

Occasionally people come to a Man or Astroman? show and remark to me that we "must be making the big bucks these days" or something of the sort. Well, that's not totally true. We're really happy with the way things are turning out, and know that we are very fortunate in our dealings with this business, but sometimes things can be decieving to those on the outside. People don't realize that just because 300 people paid six bucks apiece ($1800) to get in- Man or Astroman? members don't walk out with $450 each.


Just when you think that the hard parts are done, the little bits of B.S. are behind you, and that the rest is smooth sailing, reality slaps you in the face with a 2x4.


Let's look at the figures for the largest amount of money ever pulled in by MoA? for a single show where they were the headliners. MoA? recently played a show in New York City with The Dirty Three and The Hentchmen. It looked like MoA? was going to play to a good crowd (advance sales were over 300 people, and that number usually about doubles with walk-up day of show people) for a good price ($10 - High in some places, but according to everybody at the show, ten bucks is a cheap thursday night show at a place the size of Irving Plaza in NYC). You would think that the guys in the band would be getting a good chunk of that cash. you'd be wrong. I wouldn't be exaggerating when i tell you that the members of Man or Astroman? left the show with less than 2% each of the box office reciepts- LESS THAN ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN THE SHOW!!!!!!!!!


Here are the numbers, with comments referenced in parentheses.


MONEY IN: (IN DOLLARS)
SOURCE....................................... NUMBER......PRICE.........TOTAL

TICKETMASTER ADVANCE....179..............10.................1790.00
TICKETMASTER DAY OF............29..............10....................290.00
IRV PLAZA ADVANCE.............159..............10..................1590.00
IRV PLAZA DAY OF SHOW........41..............10.....................410.00
NIGHT OF SHOW.........................319..............10..................3190.00
-----------------------------------------------------------
GRAND TOTAL IN....................................................................7270.00


MONEY PAID OUT:

MAN OR ASTROMAN?...........................................................1000.00
THE DIRTY THREE....................................................................300.00 (*see coco's end note #1)
THE HENTCHMEN......................................................................100.00

ADVERTISING: .......................................................................1751.09 (breakdown for advertising below)
..... VILLAGE VOICE.............................585.54 (1)
..... NY PRESS .......................................188.60 (2)
..... AQUARIAN .....................................108.29
..... TIME OUT.........................................189.70
..... ISLAND EAR......................................30.12
..... FLYERS.............................................100.21
..... FLYER DISTRIBUTION..................112.50
..... MISC.....................................................15.00
..... COLOR NEGATIVE ..........................121.13 (3)

SOUND & LIGHT.....................................................................500.00 (4)
RENT..........................................................................................750.00
STAGEHANDS/LOADERS.....................................................575.00 (5)
PRODUCTION MANAGER......................................................300.00 (6)
SECURITY............................................................................... 854.13 (7)
TICKET FEES...........................................................................122.40
BOX OFFICE (DOS).................................................................150.00 (8)
ASCAP/BMI.............................................................................150.00 (9)

INSURANCE.............................................................................626.34 (10) (breakdown for insurance below)
..... 727 PEOPLE AT $.42 A HEAD..... 305.34
..... PLUS 1 EVENT CHARGE OF..........$321.00

CATERING...............................................................................300.75 (breakdown for catering below)
..... MISC........................................................18.75
..... MEALS 13 MEALS AT $10..........130.00 (11)
..... BACKSTAGE BEVERAGES..............152.00 (12)

TELEPHONE/FAX..................................................................100.00 (13)
MISC...........................................................................................15.45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL MONEY OUT...................................................................$7595.16



MAN OR ASTROMAN? MONEY IN...............................................+$1000.00
MAN OR ASTROMAN? MONEY OUT
BILLIONS CORPORATION................150.00 (14)
BRANNOCK DEVICE..............................30.00 (15)
THE LOUNGE LIZARD............................50.00 (16)
GAS TO SHOW........................................64.00
TOTAL ASTRO MONEY OUT..........................................................-$294.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL PROFIT FOR MAN OR ASTROMAN?...............................$704.00 (*see coco's note#1)



Hey, $704 isn't insignificant- there's a lot of bands out there that never make that much on a show.
The remaining $704 gets split 5 ways, one share for each band member, and the remaining share goes into the band fund and gets quickly gobbled up by van maintenance, long distance phone calls, and other miscellaneous tidbits, such as this website.

*Coco's Note #1: actually, we ended up paying the Dirty Three another $150.00 (hey c'mon, they came all the way from Australia, and what a show)

So, after everyone takes there thumbs out of the pie, each member of Man or Astroman? has $140.80 to pay for their own individual expenses like guitar strings, drumsticks, and whatever else. The rest is what they make as a wage for the job they chose. That's not a bad chunk of change, no one's trying to sell you on that. The point is that THE GUYS IN THE BAND MADE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THE SHOW!!!!! Go up the list and find a smaller amount. You can't.
Yes, this show is on the extreme end of the spectrum, but as MoA? get more fans and have to play bigger places, things quickly swing this direction. Like many people have pointed out before me, the bands aren't the ones getting rich off rock and roll.

thanks for reading, The Brannock Device.

Here are the numbered explanations: END

*Coco' note #2 (and final note)
It is also interesting to note that the following night we played in Philly, at a club that had a capacity of about 200 (tops) called Silk City...there was no security, advertising, double billing, bar prices, blah, blah, and Man or Astro-man? actually made more money per member than in NYC (and in front of one fourth the people). When these venues get larger, the expenses go up almost exponentialy...which makes you wonder if it is worth it to ever bother with these bigger shows....
Also...some ask why you just dont refuse to pay for all of these ridiculous things that the venue charges you..and well...you can't argue with them when they withhold it from you...it would be another story if you actually paid it out to them, but they just take it out of your money before you get paid (or negotiate the contract).
Man or Astro-man will continue to play and prefer the smaller more D.I.Y. type venues, but a few of these type shows are bound to come up...We still enjoy playing regardless of all this, and hope those of you that came to the above show had a good time too!


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