MUSIC CAREERS » Blog Archive » Q. How Much Should the Opening Act Make?

Q. How Much Should the Opening Act Make?

Posted by Music Careers On October - 13 - 2007

The information here is general in nature. There are many different kinds of deals for shows, and your own circumstances may be different.

A. There are a few different ways opening acts are paid, and much of what determines what kind of deal you get depends on what kind of show you are playing:

At larger shows (be they larger club shows or shows in even bigger venues), there is usually a set fee for an opening act. This fee can be A LOT smaller than what the headliner makes. There is usually an unwritten standard opening act fee in most areas – say $50 or $100 – ask around and get some feel for what others in your town are getting.

At small club shows in which the headlining band has a door split deal, the opening act may not get paid at all. In these cases, there is an unwritten rule that the promoter will throw a little money in the direction of the support band if the show is a big money maker – but this money is just a gesture and may not even be enough to cover your transportation costs.

At very large shows in which the gig represents a major promotional opportunity for the supporting act, then the opener might not get paid at all.

The idea here is that the promotional benefit of the show is payment enough. In fact, in some instances, opening acts “buy on” to large tours, which means they pay a fee for the chance to be a support act. Although this happens, you should never commit to this kind of deal without having the advice of an agent or manager. This kind of deal is also not for you if you are not in a position to take advantage of any buzz generated by your shows – having a record deal or distribution for your music is a must to get the benefits of a buy on tour.

So, what does it all boil down to? There are not really any hard and fast rules governing deals for opening acts. In many cases, you have to approach a support slot at a gig as a promotional opportunity and not a money making venture. Think of it this way – you’re taking advantage of the change to play in front of an audience to turn those people into fans, so you can be the headliner some day.

That doesn’t mean, however, that you should accept any opening offer slot that comes your way. Although they are good promotional opportunities, you should weigh up the expense of playing the gig with the benefit you will get from it – for instance, if you have an indie rock band, it’s not worthwhile to travel 500 miles to support a hip hop act. Also, especially if you’re not getting paid, make sure you will be allowed to sell merchandise at the show. Some headliners can get weird about openers selling their albums, because it may take sales away from them, but that is one demand you should try to stick to – you may want to bend for a major opening slot opportunity, but for indie shows, you should be allowed to sell your merch. If you can, try to get in on the rider action, and try to keep your costs down by sharing gear with the headlining band.

Written by Heather McDonald

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

***