The Pay vs Pain (in the butt) ratio is a factor in determining if a gig is worth doing. A while ago I was asked to perform in a variety show at a huge event. The pay was basically non existent, what it would cost for me to do the gig in travel expenses exceeded the pay. Why would I take the gig…well I like the people in the show, so it’s an excuse to hang out. That’s a -1 in the pay index. Also I’m not getting paid the day of the show, so that’s another -1 in the pay index.
Now that the pay isn’t the reason to take the gig, the reason to not take the gig is the pain in the butt factor. When I accepted the gig I was told we would get parking passes. Well, that changed and as a 15 person variety show, they only gave us 3 passes. That adds a +1 in the pain in the butt index.
When they scheduled me, asked me to sign up on their website so that they had my details. I went to create an account, which was a pain because it’s primarily a music event and none of the check boxes applied to me, and none had an “other” option. That’s a +1 in the pain in the butt index. What I ended up doing was just checking whatever box, but then the site needed to verify my email by sending me an email to continue to add my personal info. I never got that email, and was never able to complete their registration. That’s another +1 in the pain in the butt index. I had to reach out and argue with them to let me give them my info over the phone because their website didn’t work. that’s another +1 in the pain in the butt index.
Next they said we’d have to check in across the event grounds which are huge and it will be crowded. Why we can’t just have one person check us in as a group instead of everyone individually checking in, I don’t know. That adds another +1 to the pain in the butt index.
The morning of the event one of the producers of the show asked if I could bring my own audio. I said no, that’s not what I agreed to, and that this is a large event who I submitted my tech to weeks ago. If they were unable to accommodate a handheld microphone, they shouldn’t have booked me. That’s another +1 in the pain in the butt index.
So let’s look at the Pay vs Pain results.
Pay -2
Pain +6
That’s not a good ratio.
Shows that are low on pay should be very low on the pain in the butt. Ideally the pay should be at a 0 and the pain should be at a 0 if it’s a gig you’re not doing for the money.
-Louie