I went and saw Joan Jett and ZZ Top in Calvert County Maryland, USA last night. The show was at a smallish outdoor "shed", seating around 5,000+? The tickets were $60.00 each. Me and my friend were wondering to ourselves how much the bands are paid to play these small, outdoor summer shows? I was thinking someone on this site might have some knowledge about this stuff? Thanks!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-08-23 02:32 by Sleepy City.

How was Joan Jett?

I really liked Joan Jett, she seemed like she was working pretty hard, it was mostly much a ZZ Top crowd, and she was happy to be back in her home state. She played longer than I would've thought, over an hour. I liked her better than ZZ Top, they didn't seem to have to work as hard to get the crowd into it!

Bands are usually paid a flat fee for shed shows, regardless if the venue sells out or not. For instance ZZ TOP would be paid a flat $150,000 plus merchandising, for a 90 minute set. The promoter takes the loss if there is one, not the band.

Quote
ShaTurd
I really liked Joan Jett, she seemed like she was working pretty hard, it was mostly much a ZZ Top crowd, and she was happy to be back in her home state. She played longer than I would've thought, over an hour. I liked her better than ZZ Top, they didn't seem to have to work as hard to get the crowd into it!

Thanks for the review. Does she have more songs than you thought, or what?

She has not come close to me in a while, but I am always amazed at how great she is... and she is no spring chicken anymore... but she has 100% of my respect. She started doing this (rockand roll) when she was a kid (15-16 years old) and she has never stopped, and she makes a very good living at it. Sure she may play the casinos and fairs, but she has made a very very good living playing guitar for a long long time, how cool is that? She loves her fans, lets people video as much as they want.. and she kicks ass.

I need a Joan fix, it has been too long, but she kind of plays the coasts.

Look at this video(July 14, 2011) where she messes with the cop... funny as hell


















Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2011-08-23 03:14 by Max'sKansasCity.

Merch 60/40 for most Live Nation Venues. Explains why shirts are $45. Simple ball caps were $35.00

Thanks for the input, I didn't think those guys made THAT much money!

MKC- Joan Jett wore out her songbook, played a long time. She was wearing the same outfit as in the videos you posted. She played Iggy's "I Wanna Be Your Dog", a song she wrote with Paul Westerberg of the Replacements that I don't remember, and a whole bunch of other stuff. It was like she was putting on a rock show, and ZZ Top was doing a loud lounge act? The bassist for ZZ Top had a wrap(?) on his fret hand/wrist, and it appeared as if they were playing some pre-recorded bass tracks, but I'm not a musician! I KNOW they didn't have a synth player up there! I'm sure in their day, they were something though. The guitar player for ZZ Top walked across the front of the floor about 10 feet in front of J.J. while she was in the middle of a song, I'm not sure why he had to do that. I also noticed small contingents of mostly younger women left after J.J., and skipped ZZ Top, but the bulk of the crowd was definitely there to see ZZ Top.

She played Iggy's "I Wanna Be Your Dog"....

Isnt that a funny one? I was never a big stooges fan, so I did not know that song the very first time I saw her play that live, maybe 15-20 years ago... and I recall looking over at my girlfriend at the time... and she looked back at me... and we both grinned wondering "is she really singing those words?" "she wants to be my dog?"... holy cow... pretty funny.

I have seen Joan many times, but not in the last 5 years... but from video she has stayed in great form and still just doing her simple rock and roll thing.... it is great to hear you saying how good she was... Thank s for the report.

Go Joan Jett.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2011-08-24 04:25 by Max'sKansasCity.

Quote
ShaTurd
Thanks for the input, I didn't think those guys made THAT much money!

MKC- Joan Jett wore out her songbook, played a long time. She was wearing the same outfit as in the videos you posted. She played Iggy's "I Wanna Be Your Dog", a song she wrote with Paul Westerberg of the Replacements that I don't remember, and a whole bunch of other stuff. It was like she was putting on a rock show, and ZZ Top was doing a loud lounge act? The bassist for ZZ Top had a wrap(?) on his fret hand/wrist, and it appeared as if they were playing some pre-recorded bass tracks, but I'm not a musician! I KNOW they didn't have a synth player up there! I'm sure in their day, they were something though. The guitar player for ZZ Top walked across the front of the floor about 10 feet in front of J.J. while she was in the middle of a song, I'm not sure why he had to do that. I also noticed small contingents of mostly younger women left after J.J., and skipped ZZ Top, but the bulk of the crowd was definitely there to see ZZ Top.

its long been a rumor ZZ TOP has been using prerecorded backing tracks sicne the mid 90's.


anyways i wish joan jett would release more new material. i think she has had 3 albums in the last 15 years