All of our money goes to the band fund for merch and touring purposes.

Ask yourself would you make that money without the other band members? Then ask yourself if it's so much money that it's worth possibly sowing the seeds of discontent?

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

Merch sales of any kind be it digital or physical go into our band bank acount which we use to pay band bills. Gas, supplies, merch, etc can all be written off you know! SO far The Pyronauts have had about $40 worth of digital income. I don't know how that compares to everyone else, but it's not filling up the vaults very fast!

Paul The Pyronaut

This is a good post because it leads into band politics, which is an under-discussed subject. Being a songwriter and arranger for my band The TomorrowMen and contributing to my other, I've had occasion to think about this, usually in the irrational dream state of contemplating financial success. Inevitably the realization that I'm in an instro surf band occurs and lays such thoughts to rest, but what remains is the perspective of how you relate to the other band members.

What I've decided for myself is that the band is not in my debt for allowing them to play my music, rather vise versa. They're donating their time, energy, ideas and money to help me in my artistic pursuits. They can play in almost any other type of band which I believe would prove more lucrative than surf.

My responsibility is to give my band-mates great music to play, an enjoyable atmosphere and respect. I may not succeed all the time but I try. Their responsibility is to maintain their commitment to the band and to be open with their own thoughts and contributions.

I don't really foresee a time when we'll be earning more than we're spending, but if it happens it'd be my pleasure to share equally amongst them.I'm referring here to live performances, recording sales and merch. However if a song gets recorded by another group or a TV show or film, the mechanisms are already in place to reward the writer and recording musicians accordingly.

PS I credit Mel Waldorf with being a great role model in this regard. Thanks Mel.

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

Money distribution issues can be devastating to a band. A band I used to play in lost a long-time original member over this issue. It is a long, complicated story that I won't go into here, but I believe the situation could have been resolved had inter-band communication been better and if everyone had been on the same page philosophically. Unfortunately that was not the case.

It is highly doubtful if any substantial profit can be made from playing in a surf band. Most of us do it for the preservation of the genre. When one or more band members start looking at it as a money making enterprise, watch out!

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

I am simply proud to say that The Lava Rats are self-sufficient monetarily. It seemed a bit cold, but when we started out, each member of the band put in $100 a piece. Since then (almost 5 years back), we have never had to put another dollar in. Even when Kenan left, we were able to give him his $100 back along with other going away gifts, and we've been able to keep a $100 change fund for CD sales at our shows.

~B~

I do it because I like the music and for the enjoyment of playing guitar in a group, not for the $

The Pyronauts do it for the chicks!

Let’s put it this way:
I am a drummer.
I just suggest a drum fill here and there.
Then I expect to get the same composer credit as the guy who comes up with all the tunes.
What kind of personality do I have?
If it was all guys like me, we were a cover band, with interesting drum rolls (at best).

I think writer royalties should be handled by an organisation like BMI, ASCAP (or GEMA in Germany). Performance royalties I would devide equally.

KK

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

We always shared sales equally. And I would do it again. Nevertheless, as long as my composer credits are registered with GEMA I will get those (broadcast, manufacturing, performance by the Boston Pops etc.) to my personal account.

KK

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

IronMaiden
I heard that Chumbawumba (sp?) split all thier moneys dead even, and Im talking the roadies got the same as the musicians. I think they were Socialist or something though.

===>Weren't Chumbawumba an off-shoot of Crass, the anarchist
punk band from the UK? Yeah, they probably did split everything
evenly--in the true pirate fashion.

Yarrrrr!

Vincent

Is this something you can share with the rest of us, Amazing Larry?!?