What a support slot actually pays
Two of them did not lose money, and one of those only because they slept in the van.
Every figure here was given to us by the band who earned it, checked against a contract or a settlement sheet wherever one existed, and printed whether or not it flattered anybody involved.
Every figure below was given to us by the band, and where a promoter disputed one we have said so. Six of the eleven asked not to be named, which is why they are letters — a band that publishes what a promoter paid them is a band that does not get offered the next one, and we are not prepared to cost anyone work to make a point.
The method, including what we count as a cost and the two things we have already got wrong, is published separately.
| Band | Room | Fee | Costs | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 400 | $250 | $310 | −$60 |
| B | 400 | $250 | $205 | +$45 |
| Marguerite Tide | 120 | $0 (door split, $88) | $40 | +$48 |
| C | 250 | $150 | $290 | −$140 |
| D | 400 | $200 | $355 | −$155 |
| E | 180 | $120 | $165 | −$45 |
| F | 400 | $250 | $480 | −$230 |
| G | 250 | $180 | $210 | −$30 |
| The Long Wednesdays | 120 | $0 (door split, $410) | $0 | +$410 |
| H | 400 | $250 | $395 | −$145 |
| I | 180 | $100 | $190 | −$90 |
| **Total** | **$1,750** | **$2,640** | **−$392** |
The Long Wednesdays are the outlier and they are the outlier on purpose — they have turned down every room above ground for three years precisely because of the column on the right. Take them out and the eleven bands are collectively $802 down.
Costs are overwhelmingly two things: transport, and the fact that four people took an evening off. We do not count the evening, because nobody in this industry does and counting it would make the table an argument rather than a record. If we did count it at minimum wage the total at the bottom would be about six thousand dollars worse.
The fee band is remarkably tight. Nine of the eleven were offered $250, $200, $180, $150, $120 or $100, and those numbers have not moved since 2019 in a city where the rent on the rooms has.
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