Restaurant Asks Musicians To Perform For Free, And This Musician’s Epic Reply Goes Viral
Making it as an artist is a struggle. Whether you’re an actor, visual artist or musician, until you’re famous, many people don’t think they should have to pay you for your work. Well, a restaurant on Craigslist tried to take advantage of some poor up and coming artists by posting an ad looking for musicians to play at their establishment – for free.
To point out how ridiculous and disrespectful this type of advertisement is, a musician responded to the ad with the perfect clapback and probably made them instantly regret their post. Hopefully, this will make others rethink asking any artist to share their work without compensation. Scroll down below to read the post and response! (Facebook cover image: Andreas Dreyer Hysing)
A Vancouver restaurant put out an ad searching for musicians to play for free
Image Credits: Justin Higuchi
A musician responded to the post with this clever shut down
People, especially other artists, applauded the response
BP, can we please stop it with the "one person says this and then this person responds in an epic way" posts?
BUT IT WAS EPIC! Songs will be sung! Stories told! Generations from now, children will learn of the glory of some douche bag posting their thoughts on the internet. EPIC, I say!!
Load More Replies...Any artist is always asked if they can do anything for free. It's so awful. And then when an artist is making money with their art, when the economy tanks, the arts are the first thing people cut from their budget. I made a ton of money before the housing bust, then after that i made zero. I wonder why people think any type of artist shouldn't be paid for their work. Ideas?
You can't really fault people for cutting art from their budgets when there is less money to go around. If what you do is no longer profitable you have to change not society. This restaurant didn't contact a specific band, they simply put an offer out there that musicians could avail themselves of if they wanted. If the response went well, the band might get some paying gigs and the restaurant itself might start making it a regular paid gig.
Load More Replies...Then perhaps they should call it an open mic night?
Load More Replies...Thank you! I saw the title "this musician's response was epic" under the picture of Robert Smith and I was like... That's not "this musician", that's freaking Robert Smith! Then I noticed the post was not about him... But I still feel weird seeing celebrities' faces used for stock photo purposes....
Load More Replies...What? Musicians do this ALL the time, especially amateur musicians who otherwise would not get a chance to perform. I have many friends who enjoy this. It is pretty egocentric for the musician who responded to be convinced that the ad was for him.
If you are established don't do it. If unknown the exposure might be of value. If you do free gigs and never see a paid gig maybe you need a career change.
There was nothing wrong with the craigslist ad. There are many struggling musicians who are desperate to get recognized. The restaurant simply gave an opportunity for the struggling musicians to get noticed. If they are good their chances of getting a gig will increase. This generation has become a generation of wannabe smartasses. Its common sense to ignore the things which does not make sense to you. I have lots more to say but I know the new generation will ignore whats important and make a big fuss about useless stuff.
Is it just me, or is the word "genius" being used so casually these days that it is losing all meaning?
When I was in art school, our teaches always told us to never do any work for free. But when I was starting out on my own I realized that sometimes doing work for free is great for a beginning artist. Yes, it gives exposure and things you can put on your resume and show in your portfolio (no one needs to know you did not get paid!) But what was more important for me - it gave me real world experience of working with clients - something that a school cannot teach. I did not get paid with hard cash but I got paid with experience and that's priceless. Of course one has to pick unpaid gigs carefully and consider all things that can come out of them. It is true, a lot of people try to scam you, but there are some good opportunities out there - charity events & nonprofits, children's hospitals, community fairs... And restaurants of course - you can always ask them for a free drink or some food :) And BTW - some restaurants DO go out to events and give out food for free.
If they really wanted him to play there, then they would be HAPPY to pay him for his time.
Serves that restaurant right! No goods and services are free, I don't understand why people don't understand that.
Really many bands have started their career by doing free gigs at local bars and festivals so I uderstand that attitude. But I agree that it would be fair to pay for every performer.
Load More Replies...I’m actually furious they used a photo of Robert Smith, and then the story has nothing to do with him. That picture is why I decided to read this one. Just click bait. Don’t turn into one of those sites, Bored Panda!
I have read this post and I don't see this restaurant asking for anything for free? Am I over looking something?
Art of every kind is business. The Artist does not work for free. Having made this mistake a couple of times in my youth, I say the exposure is zero. Don't entertain or decorate someone's business for free, just don't it. I don't believe the people who stated the scheme worked out for them.
Look at a blank piece of paper. Can you do anything on it? If not, do not refer to yourself as an artist. No musical notes no words. Just draw something from scratch. No help.
My brother was a musician when he was younger. He says sometimes they gave them free beer. If they were paid, they had to divide it up and it wasnt much. They had a local following and brought customers in.
And lived in their respective mothers' basements? Musicians WORK. It's hard work, too. They aren't there to promote someone else's restaurant, they have to pay rent.
Load More Replies...I had a professor that said he was at a party for Anthropology majors and the local Anthropology Student Association. My professor was introduced as a Doctor of Archaeology during the opening speech before people were left to mingle. He was approached by one excitable man that said he was really interested in studying ancient cultures. My professor asked "So what do you do?" The man answered "I'm a Gynecologist, but I do Archaeology as a hobby." My professor responded with "What a coincidence, I'm an Archaeologist, but I do Gynecology as a hobby."
BP, can we please stop it with the "one person says this and then this person responds in an epic way" posts?
BUT IT WAS EPIC! Songs will be sung! Stories told! Generations from now, children will learn of the glory of some douche bag posting their thoughts on the internet. EPIC, I say!!
Load More Replies...Any artist is always asked if they can do anything for free. It's so awful. And then when an artist is making money with their art, when the economy tanks, the arts are the first thing people cut from their budget. I made a ton of money before the housing bust, then after that i made zero. I wonder why people think any type of artist shouldn't be paid for their work. Ideas?
You can't really fault people for cutting art from their budgets when there is less money to go around. If what you do is no longer profitable you have to change not society. This restaurant didn't contact a specific band, they simply put an offer out there that musicians could avail themselves of if they wanted. If the response went well, the band might get some paying gigs and the restaurant itself might start making it a regular paid gig.
Load More Replies...Then perhaps they should call it an open mic night?
Load More Replies...Thank you! I saw the title "this musician's response was epic" under the picture of Robert Smith and I was like... That's not "this musician", that's freaking Robert Smith! Then I noticed the post was not about him... But I still feel weird seeing celebrities' faces used for stock photo purposes....
Load More Replies...What? Musicians do this ALL the time, especially amateur musicians who otherwise would not get a chance to perform. I have many friends who enjoy this. It is pretty egocentric for the musician who responded to be convinced that the ad was for him.
If you are established don't do it. If unknown the exposure might be of value. If you do free gigs and never see a paid gig maybe you need a career change.
There was nothing wrong with the craigslist ad. There are many struggling musicians who are desperate to get recognized. The restaurant simply gave an opportunity for the struggling musicians to get noticed. If they are good their chances of getting a gig will increase. This generation has become a generation of wannabe smartasses. Its common sense to ignore the things which does not make sense to you. I have lots more to say but I know the new generation will ignore whats important and make a big fuss about useless stuff.
Is it just me, or is the word "genius" being used so casually these days that it is losing all meaning?
When I was in art school, our teaches always told us to never do any work for free. But when I was starting out on my own I realized that sometimes doing work for free is great for a beginning artist. Yes, it gives exposure and things you can put on your resume and show in your portfolio (no one needs to know you did not get paid!) But what was more important for me - it gave me real world experience of working with clients - something that a school cannot teach. I did not get paid with hard cash but I got paid with experience and that's priceless. Of course one has to pick unpaid gigs carefully and consider all things that can come out of them. It is true, a lot of people try to scam you, but there are some good opportunities out there - charity events & nonprofits, children's hospitals, community fairs... And restaurants of course - you can always ask them for a free drink or some food :) And BTW - some restaurants DO go out to events and give out food for free.
If they really wanted him to play there, then they would be HAPPY to pay him for his time.
Serves that restaurant right! No goods and services are free, I don't understand why people don't understand that.
Really many bands have started their career by doing free gigs at local bars and festivals so I uderstand that attitude. But I agree that it would be fair to pay for every performer.
Load More Replies...I’m actually furious they used a photo of Robert Smith, and then the story has nothing to do with him. That picture is why I decided to read this one. Just click bait. Don’t turn into one of those sites, Bored Panda!
I have read this post and I don't see this restaurant asking for anything for free? Am I over looking something?
Art of every kind is business. The Artist does not work for free. Having made this mistake a couple of times in my youth, I say the exposure is zero. Don't entertain or decorate someone's business for free, just don't it. I don't believe the people who stated the scheme worked out for them.
Look at a blank piece of paper. Can you do anything on it? If not, do not refer to yourself as an artist. No musical notes no words. Just draw something from scratch. No help.
My brother was a musician when he was younger. He says sometimes they gave them free beer. If they were paid, they had to divide it up and it wasnt much. They had a local following and brought customers in.
And lived in their respective mothers' basements? Musicians WORK. It's hard work, too. They aren't there to promote someone else's restaurant, they have to pay rent.
Load More Replies...I had a professor that said he was at a party for Anthropology majors and the local Anthropology Student Association. My professor was introduced as a Doctor of Archaeology during the opening speech before people were left to mingle. He was approached by one excitable man that said he was really interested in studying ancient cultures. My professor asked "So what do you do?" The man answered "I'm a Gynecologist, but I do Archaeology as a hobby." My professor responded with "What a coincidence, I'm an Archaeologist, but I do Gynecology as a hobby."
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