Band meal

chrose · #1 06-22-2009, 11:49 AM

Usually when the band I'm in does a wedding we get fed sometimes better then other times. In this case, the subs tasted better than they looked even though they were nothing more than meat and cheese, no condiments of any sort. But the other abomination was some sort of potato salad contrary to anything that it looks like! I'm hoping that the wedding party food was better!
What you see there was the whole of the meal.....

Koukouvagia · #2 06-22-2009, 12:05 PM

You're lucky. I've done a bunch of gigs where they don't even give us anything to drink much less food. Do I REALLY have to ask for water??

ED BUCHANAN · #3 06-22-2009, 01:05 PM

Most NYC caterers charge the host to feed band at a reduced price,and rightfully so. They drink at the cocktail party in most cases. Even when unlimited music which patron pays extra for.( Union says 1 man only has to play all times in unlimited). Figure it out . I did 15 weddings on a weekend x 4 peice band average, Thats 60 people or almost a small party, why should I have that expense? They get paid to work like anyone else. I have seen many times where they are fed, they dont even tip their waiter, so most waiters now dont even want to wait on them. Do you blame them?

bughut · #4 06-22-2009, 03:58 PM

Hope u didnt eat it Chrose. Looks like a night hanging over the loo waiting to happen.

At home, the band is not catered for,but its always understood they will get something and they do. The more popular they are, the better they seem to be fed and watered. The caretaker too is looked after with a plateful of goodies put by for him.
It always pays to keep in with them as they can be a great help setting up a function.

In particular, I pay homage to Bob the caretaker/Curator on the frigate Unicorn Dundee.
I'm indebted to his help time after time. Nothing is too much trouble for him. And he always gets a good feed from us.

Koukouvagia · #5 06-22-2009, 05:00 PM

I don't believe it's the caterer's responsibility to feed the musicians. It IS however the host's responsibility and when I play at a wedding I expect to get something - I'm only human after all and it feels really bad when everyone is drinking and having a good time and I don't get a bite, I need my energy for goodness' sake.

When we had our wedding we had 2 church musicians, a jazz trio at cocktail hour, a 6-member band, and a DJ. They were all provided with dinner as well as the photographers, videographers, clergy, wedding coordinator, etc. The caterers provided dinners for these people at a reduced price.

bughut · #6 06-22-2009, 05:17 PM

>I don't believe it's the caterer's responsibility to feed the musicians. It IS however the host's responsibility and when I play at a wedding I expect to get something - I'm only human after all and it feels really bad when everyone is drinking and having a good time and I don't get a bite, I need my energy for goodness' sake.<

I disagree completely.

In any other job, when would you expect to get fed?

Granted, in catering its often accepted that staff get catered for some way or another. but in any other job you have a canteen, bring your own lunch, or go out to eat.

As a caterer i simply give my clients plenty of food and there just happens to be enough to feed entertainers etc. I've never heard of a function that ran out of food. If they did, there was something very wrong.

I've also never catered a function where the entertainment wern't looked after. maybe your lot were simply cheapskates.

Koukouvagia · #7 06-23-2009, 08:32 AM

Well, in this job for instance, I'd expect all staff to get fed. Maybe it's a cultural thing but I wouldn't hire anyone without letting them participate in some way. Even if a plumber comes to my home I'd offer him something to drink at the very least. I've been doing this kind of work since high school and have always been very well treated by the people who hire us for music. Every once in a while you come across real cheapskates who see us as "hired help" rather than musicians and don't bother treating us well.

chrose · #8 06-23-2009, 11:55 AM

The caterer is in no way responsible for the band meal, and shouldn't be. They didn't hire them. But we do need to eat and in many cases we are a captive audience and have no chance to eat otherwise.
To give you an example of my schedule on a gig coming up.

Quote:

MEET AT LOCATION: XXXXXX
MEET AT TIME: 4:15 PM
TRANSPORTATION TYPE: Carpool
VAN/BUS LEAVES: Depart Rochester by 1:00 PM
ESTIMATED MILEAGE TO GIG: 164 miles / 2 hrs 55 mins
BACKLINE TO ARRIVE AT: 4:15 PM
SOUND CHECK/REHEARSAL: 4:30-5:30 PM
MEAL: 5:30 PM
TEAM MEETING: 8:00 PM

SET 1: 8:30-9:50 (80)
SET 2: 10:10-11:30 (80)

Quote:

6:00 PM Ceremony (just outside of ballroom, on lawn)
6:30-7:30 PM Cocktail Hour
7:15 PM Band Introduces Wedding Party
7:20 PM Bridal Dance: “Moon River” - performed by a guest
7:25 PM Toast
7:30-8:30 PM Dinner * * Sometime during dinner, a guest will perform “NY State of Mind” - we will need to stop the recorded music during this time
8:30 PM Bride / Father Dance: “
8:35 PM Groom / Mother Dance:
9:15 PM Cake Cutting

It's a long night. In this case we are getting pizza delivered, in some cases a pasta bar, once in awhile we get the same meal. But I am always thankful for anything. The potato salad while not particularly appealing nor good, was edible.

bughut · #9 06-23-2009, 02:42 PM

I hear what you're saying Chrose. All i'm saying is that it seemed to me, Koukouvagia saw it as her right to be fed. Please correct me if i'm wrong.

In the same situation, i'd have a contigency plan. ie. some cheese ham and tomato rolls in a cool bag that could be made into toasties the next day if not needed

PeteMcCracken · #10 06-23-2009, 03:03 PM

NEVER "assume" anything! All that does is make an ***/U/ME!

Your contract for the "gig" should specify the conditions of employment, and that includes meals and refreshments in addition to time and efforts!

Otherwise, you are "at the mercy" of the client.

ED BUCHANAN · #11 06-23-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bughut

I hear what you're saying Chrose. All i'm saying is that it seemed to me, Koukouvagia saw it as her right to be fed. Please correct me if i'm wrong.

In the same situation, i'd have a contigency plan. ie. some cheese ham and tomato rolls in a cool bag that could be made into toasties the next day if not needed

In New York the musicians union local 802 makes no mention of feeding the band. Some clients get mad that they are told they have to have x amount in the band because of size of room. Then on top of the price which is from 200.00 per 4 hour gig per man and up playing 20 minutes on and 10 off that means they are barely playing 3 hours the host pays 10%union adminastrative and wellfare fee then sales tax. Enough already let them bring their own food.

shroomgirl · #12 06-23-2009, 03:25 PM

customers pay for the band to eat

bughut · #13 06-23-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shroomgirl

customers pay for the band to eat

Really. How come?

MaryB · #14 06-23-2009, 04:31 PM

When I was catering BBQ parties many people hired bands and had a dance. I was always asked to include enough food so the band could eat also which was usually not an issue anyway. I prefer to cook extra and always carried a FoodSaver with to bag it for the customer if there was anything left.

bughut · #15 06-23-2009, 04:55 PM

I'm thinking there may be a difference between our expectations due to cultural, geographic and city v provincial ways of going about things

On the whole, the functions i've catered, whether big weddings, or a ceilidh for 80, the entertainment has been a casual affair. ( someone has a freind who knows someone that suits...) No unions or layed down rules. Simply common courtesy to feed the entertainers. I'm sure this goes back centuries. No-one's specific resposibility, but in general there is always plenty of food, and it is definitely a Scottish rule that no-one goes home hungry or thirsty.