Thy Art Is Murder frontman CJ McMahon‘s recent exit from the band saw him quote some rather worrying numbers about his and his bandmates financial situation. Amid his departure statement, he offered:
“One of the biggest reasons is money, I / we have been broke for years and being 32 years old I can’t live like this anymore. I am getting married next year and plan on having a family, these things cost money, to put the finances into perspective for you I /we have earned between $16k-$18k each over 6-7 years, I feel there is something massively wrong with this, I will not live like this anymore.”
MetalSucks have had manager Derek Brewer of Outerloop Management (Dying Fetus, Veil Of Maya, etc.) examine those numbers. Amid that he also provided the following actual budget used in 2015 of what a band Thy Art Is Murder‘s size (selling around 500 tickets a night in mid-level clubs) should be making on the road as part of a 32-date tour:
“Tour Income
$2,000.00 per night show guarantee (30 dates)= $60,000.00
$750.00 per night in gross merch sales (30 dates)= $22,500.00TOTAL INCOME GROSS= $82,500.00
Tour Expenses
Merch/commissions:
Estimated merch expense (cost of goods, venue fees, shipping )= -$9,000.00
Management commissions of guarantee (15% gross) = -$9,000.00
Agent commissions of guarantee (10% gross) = -$6,000.00
Management commissions of NET sales of merch= -$2,025.00
Total commissions: $26,025.00Crew Expenses: (weekly salary per week for 4 weeks)
TM/FOH $1,000.00 per week = -$4000.00
Merch seller $650.00 per week= -$2600.00
Driver $600.00 per week = -$2400.00
Stage tech $450.00 per week= -$1800.00
Total crew cost: $10,800.00Vehicle and Travel expenses:
Estimated cost for 32 days van rent w/ trailer= -$5200.00
Estimated cost of fuel for full US tour at 12,660 miles ($2.50 gallon/10MPG) = -$3150.00
Estimated cost of tolls/parking= -$500.00
Hotels (25 nights x $100.00 per night [double bed, cots, band brings air mattress]) = -$2500.00
Total vehicle/travel cost= $11,350.00Production Expenses:
Small light rig/fog machine/strobe rental = -$2,000.00
Misc. costs (gear, taxis, uber, incidentals) = -$1,500.00
Total Production cost s= $3,500.00Band/Crew Per Diems:
$10.00 per day for 5 members/4 crew/ $90.00 per day total for 32 days = -$2,880.00
Total per diem cost= $2,880.00TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF EXPENSES: $52,060.00
GROSS INCOME = $82,500.00
Subtract EXPENSES- $54,555.00Remaining Profit = $27,945.00
Amount that each of the five band members receives: $5,589.00 for the month-long tour.”
If you’re a touring metal band or interested in getting into one, the article gives some valuable insight into what you can expect your financial situation to be, should you be able to garner a considerable amount of success. Read on over at MetalSucks.
