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Got a Big Mac Attack?

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1. Oh Mc God !

   Are you kidding me… burgers for talent. Ive seen it all now.

   Here’s a thought….Get Ronald McDonald and the Hamburgler to jam after all they have a corporate obligation.

   – What a Ra Tard

   — Elvis Presley · Jan 29, 12:44 PM · #

2. Um….

   We can just open our guitar cases at the corner on the 16th street mall and make cash.

   Besides if im playin for food. It’s gonna be Subway Baby !

   — Shasta · Jan 29, 12:50 PM · #

3. Just the smell of McDonalds makes me sick to my stomach. I haven’t set foot in one in over 15 years. I would not take my horn out of the case in one if my life depended on it. Foul, health destroying crap is all they sell.

   — Peter Olstad · Jan 29, 04:34 PM · #

4. I like McDonald’s I’ll play.

   — Haylar Garcia · Jan 29, 06:27 PM · #

5. I wish I had a real answer to this. There are many points of view and it just makes me hungry to decide…can I get that to go?

   — Stu Miller · Jan 29, 08:07 PM · #

6. Burgers for talent thats more than fare most of the ass holes in this town can’t play worth a shit anyway!!!

   — Cry Babys · Jan 29, 08:24 PM · #

7. Dear Cry Babys;
   I think your points are well taken, but it would be a lot more effective without the vitriol. Believe it or don’t, it’s only going to happen if we get together. And I’ve got 35+ years under my belt as well, and am sick of my own collegues undermining all of us. So educate, educate, educate. It’s painful to do, and it takes patience, and I get pissed off too (a lot). And I know: David Byrne – “They say patience is a virtue but I haven’t got the time.” But you have the time to vent, so you have the time and energy to do something positive.

   — Thomas Blomster · Jan 29, 11:03 PM · #

8. Lets all get on the BANDwagon and drive like Hell to get to the bottom! Music has to be the only profession on Earth within which a person practices their craft for 30 years for the priviledge of performing it in a McDonalds. And for LESS than minimum wage? How’re ya gonna pay the 4% into the Pension plan – a side order of stale fries? If you fall and slip on the greasy floor there, will it be covered under Workers’ Compensation? After all, you’re working, right? Oh, the list of Workers Wrongs are immense in this scenario! Lets get back to Workers’ Rights!

   — Ed Knox · Jan 30, 06:49 AM · #

9. But I’m going to be a big McStar, and this is my big McBreak. I’d better take it before some other musician does, because I’m so much better than they are! Ed has it right: “Let’s get back to Workers’ Rights!”

   — Thomas Blomster · Jan 30, 11:54 AM · #

10. I’m with the Craigs List guy.

    A venue is a venue if I’m gonna play your gonna pay, that’s the way the Biz works. Drinks and food are perks that come with the gig.

    McDonalds has a chance here to set the bar…the guy is right with all that money they have ( franchise) they could help the musicians economy out by making a decent offer based on the market value of the band.

    Just like Wesley Willis say’s “ Rock and Roll McDonalds “

    Rock over London Rock Over Denver Folgers good to the last drop.

    - Out

    — Willy B and The G kids · Jan 30, 11:52 PM · #

11. Better to be paid in food than get stiffed by some of these LOW LIFE bar owners who paid you absolutely nothing AFTER you played and entertained their customers for 3+ hours! WE AS MUSICIANS AND ENTERTAINERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A FOLLOWING TO BOOST THEIR BOTTOM LINE. WE ARE THEIR TO PROVIDE LISTENING ENJOYMENT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS WHETHER THEIR CUSTOMERS ENJOYED THE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT OR NOT! DO NOT PLAY VENUES THAT REQUIRE US TO PROVIDE THE PEOPLE TO BRING IN MONEY THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ON THEIR OWN!! MUSICIANS UNITE ALONG WITH ESTABLISHED BANDS AND BOYCOTT THOSE VENUES THAT HAVE THIS POLICY!! Do not allow them copyright use of your music even on their jukeboxes!! I know one place that is not allowed to turn up the volume on the TV he is to cheap to pay for the license that allows him to do it!!! NO MORE GETTING STIFFED!! PERIOD!! WE PLAY WE GET PAID! TERMS UP FRONT WITH AN AGREED UPON AMOUNT FOR COMPENSATION! SAME GOES FOR OPEN MICS!! FREE ENTERTAINMENT NO MORE!!!! THEY HAVE MONEY TO OPEN THEIR ESTABLISHMENT AND OUR EQUIPMENT IS NOT FREE OR CHEAP!!! SO SOMEONE PLEASE CREATE A SITE WHERE WE AS MUSICIANS CAN GO AND BLACKLIST ALL THOSE CHEAPSKATE VENUES!! FOOD AND DRINKS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PERKS FROM THE VENUE,SINCE WE ARE NOW WORKING FOR WHOEVER DECIDED TO HIRE US, RIGHT?!?!?

    — Larry G! · Jan 31, 10:11 AM · #

12. YES ! AMEN TO BAN OPEN MIC NIGHTS !

    If i hear one more little emo girl with her 40 min life story intro about her depressing little tune on her parent payed for $7,000 dollar Martin guitar I’M GOING TO HAVE A BIG MAC ATTACK !.

    I WANT TO BE PAYED 100% OF THE DOOR 50% OF THE DRINKS & FOOD, I WANT 50% OF PARKING, I WANT GROUPIES AND GREEN M&M’S IN MY GREEN ROOM ! I WANT A SOUND GUY WHO UNDERSTAND SOUND……I WANT YOU TO KISS MY ROYAL MUSIC PLAYIN ASS !.

    - Don’t forget to spay and neuter your animals.

    — Bob Barker · Jan 31, 11:55 AM · #

13. It’s fascinating how angry many of the musicians who have posted here and on craigslist are. Clearly, being a working (pop,rock etc) musician in Denver is frustrating. So how about harnessing all that energy, coming down to the Denver Musicians Association at 1165 Delaware, and talking to me about ways that we could all help each other to improve this business. I am always in the office on Fridays from 9:00 – 4:00 and ready to hear from you. Call ahead if you like, 303-573-1717, leave a message if I don’t answer and I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can (I’m the only person manning the phones on Fridays. Thanks! -Thomas Blomster

    — Thomas Blomster · Jan 31, 10:40 PM · #

14. Denvers not such a bad place to do a gig. I do it for the love of music the rest comes later or not no biggie.

    I do think it is a little insulting for someone to run an add exchanging burgers for professional musicians ( unless your doing a charity event and they offer )

    Hell today in Colorado all you need is Facebook,YouTube,MySpace,EPK and simple self promoting skills and you can make a decent living here as a musician, you just have to put yourself out their and work hard at it like any other job.

    That was kinda MCstupid though if you ask me.

    - Tip toe through the tulips and may God Bless Everyone.

    — Tiny Tim · Feb 1, 01:35 PM · #

15. Thomas Blomster just wanted to let you know every thing is cool “Looks fine” i know why you’re using this it brings up good topic that musicians in Colorado are not appreciated enough and getting payed with food is silly! So i do understand the repost on here and craigslist and really I’m glad you care enough about musicians that you’d run my add again! yet on the other hand the kids in this state need somewhere to be able to market there stuff too and to be able to play there music and hey if I was 16 again I might just play Mc Donalds for the food alone, I guess it was the way the add was posted thinking he might get some of Colorado’s better talent on his stage? i guess it’s really posted for the kids and hey that’s cool if they want to do that and play Mc Donalds to be able to get up in front of people play there music and market there stuff I think that’s great!!! So again thanks for the reposting and all is very cool!!!

    — Ron Waters · Feb 1, 02:14 PM · #

16. I know the individual that posted this add and the treatment he has received is exactly the reason why musicians get a bad name. Most of the musicians that posted negative responses to this don’t live in the real world. In the real world, you get paid once you produce. I am sorry but walking into an office building and demanding a salaray of $100,000 a year without proving yourself or a resume just doesn’t cut it. You would get laughed out the door and probably arrested. The Denver musicians need wake up. Having said that, there are a lot of excellent musicians that love to play out live and Mr. McDonald’s has received quite a few responses to play. Far more than the negative reactions. If these musicians could harness their energies behind playing better music, they might actually make some money. FYI: musicians representing themselves as the Denver Musicians Association are writing serious threats to Mr. McDonald’s. I would caution them that the Denver Police is involved and may be contacting the organization soon.

    — John · Feb 3, 07:32 AM · #

17. Who is asking for a salary of $100,000, and who is ignoring “real world” business? Negative responses above simply remind that musicians can get a better deal by performing on any streetcorner in town. And besides, the food at the neighboring hot dog cart is clearly better.

    I’m glad to hear that the police are now involved. This will be an opportunity to review whether or not “Mr. McDonalds” is violating the Fair Labor Standards Act?

    Pete Vriesenga
    President, Denver Musicians Association

    — Pete Vriesenga · Feb 3, 03:57 PM · #

18. Dear John (Mr. McDonalds?),

    I assume you are manager of the McDonalds in question. Which ad (notice the spelling: ad not add) are you responding to in your Feb. 3 post? If it is mine, you should know that I am a successful, paid professional musician for 35+ years, and that my career is not the result of playing free gigs! Quite the opposite, any free gig I ever did led to more free gigs…I learned that lesson FAST!

    You contradict yourself in your recent blog:
    1. “you get paid once you produce.”
    2. “there are a lot of excellent musicians that love to play out live and Mr. McDonald’s has received quite a few responses to play.”
    So which is it John? By your standards excellent musicians would get paid. Therefore the musicians you are looking for must suck?

    As to involving the Denver Police: who is threatening whom? Careful what you wish for!

    In this forum I have offered to discuss via phone or in person. That offer is still open to everyone including you, McJohn. Here is the info: Vice President Thomas A. Blomster is available in person or by phone at the DMA offices on Fridays from 9-4 PM. Phone is 303-573-1717. Perhaps we can come up with a positive solution for all.

    — Thomas Blomster · Feb 3, 05:10 PM · #

19. Musicians may not want to play at Mickey D’s but where does the ad ask for “professional” musicians? Why is the DMA so upset? Does this guy want an orchestra, don’t think so. Everyone just needs to relax. Let the DMA do their thing, and let the up and coming artists play McDonald’s. What’s the big deal people?

    — Jeremy Davis · Feb 4, 11:07 AM · #

20. OK –

    To proactively move forward here is my offer.

    Dear McDonald’s,

    I will perform two 1 hour set’s a week for $100.00 an hour with 1 – 15 minuet break between set’s, plus free drinks/refills. I would also like 10 free $5:00 McDonald’s gift cards to promote my performance.

    Your move –

    — FOR HIRE · Feb 4, 11:26 AM · #

21. Jeremy writes: “where does the ad ask for “professional” musicians? Why is the DMA so upset?”

    Whether or not the ad cites “professional” makes no difference whatsoever. McDonald’s is a very large corporation with a moral and legal obligation to pay for services rendered. Does McDonald’s ask its employees if they are professionals before issuing their weekly paychecks?

    Many Wal-Mart employees are seasoned professionals, and many are at their first day on the job. In either example they expect payment, which is a protected legal right. The fact that somebody is standing in the wings who is willing to work for food, beer, exposure or whatever, doesn’t hold water in a Dept. of Labor review. Even still, Wal-Mart is frequently in the news because of wage & hour violations, and the company falls hard and far whenever that happens.

    The offer as stated in this McDonald’s ad is far more irresponsible than anything that Wal-Mart has done. McDonald’s is now seeking a specialized entertainment service for the expressed purpose of drawing business to the restaurant, and away from competing area restaurants and businesses that do pay for these services. McDonald’s has no respect for the talent they now seek. They’re offering burgers in exchange.

    Such a sorry and shallow mindset.

    Pete Vriesenga

    — Pete Vriesenga · Feb 4, 03:36 PM · #

22. FYI: That McDonald’s is not owened by McDonald’s Corporation, it is an individual owner. Also, Herman’s H. on Broadway always has free music and bands play for free all the time. Based on the above logic, are they violating the Labor Laws? I don’t think the DMA gets it.

    — Philip Pierce · Feb 4, 04:07 PM · #

23. http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/fun/entertainment/arts/x853530244

    I think this McDonald’s should do something like this. One comment I have is that these students played for free and were given donations.

    — Nancy Duenas · Feb 4, 04:18 PM · #

24. Students playing for “donations” is no different than students working for food (burgers?) in Indonesia. Both smell of child labor abuse.

    Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted.

    Frederick Douglass

    — Pete Vriesenga · Feb 4, 04:59 PM · #

25. Unfortunately, the DMA “gets it” just fine. An awful lot of you are willing to play for free. The DMA isn’t happy about many of the clubs in Denver, and there is very little we can do about it until the MUSICIANS stop letting themselves be taken advantage of. The case of McDonald’s is glaring because it is an enormous corporation that CAN afford to pay. Are you willing to clean toilets or shovel burgers for free? Or for food? But music is “play”. I know, it’s fun to play music, and I play music all the time, but its also how I pay my bills, so it is work. We think musicians should be paid when they work. And being paid is what defines being a professional. As long as so many musicians are willing to play for free, it will remain difficult to make a living as a musician. We get it just fine, thank you!

    — Thomas Blomster · Feb 5, 01:38 PM · #

26. Now that I’ve heard so many points of view, I would like to say, I personally wouldn’t want to play McDonald’s greatest commercial hits for the baby mommas and the Head bobbin clown. I have played Elitch’s, though, and started my “public” career playing in the backup at a strip joint, keeping it as funky as possible. “Two all beef patties special sauce…” it’s been so long since I’ve been there I forgot the song, but it still makes me want to puke. You realize the fries never never ever decompose…and I’m going to eat how many of those fish sandwiches????

    — Stu Miller · Feb 5, 06:25 PM · #

27. This race to the bottom is so determined that it whizzed beyond zero (previously understood to be “the bottom”) and deeply into negative numbers. Here’s a local example that is accomplished through YOUR tax support:

    http://www.dmamusic.org/news/873/lone-tree-symphonys-taking-much-giving-little-by-pete-vriesenga

    The $2/day minimum wage in Indonesia is looking more attractive all the time.

    — Pete Vriesenga · Feb 5, 08:12 PM · #

28. I just played for over 12,000 people this weekend FOR FREE!!! OMG, how horrible am I? You people are a joke. There are two different worlds here; those that never want to be pro musicians, and those that are. Those that make a living by playing music should make money and should not play for free. They also should be subject to the demands of the free market; if they aren’t good, they shouldn’t demand excess funds. The non-pro musicians that want to play for hobby…let them and stop complaining about it.

    — Ethan Davis · Feb 9, 11:40 AM · #

29. It’s highly unlikely that a hobbyist will draw a crowd or generate great publicity, which is what McDonald’s is looking for. Professional musicians will accomplish that, and they should be paid accordingly.

    However, this can be accomplished for less (but at least minimum wage) and can be done right at the same time. Pay these aspiring professionals fairly and design this project as a genuine effort that is seeking out talented youth who are on track to becoming career professionals. The Denver Musicians Association (AFM) will get behind such an effort, offer assistance to management, and help to ensure that this becomes a massive PR success.

    Anyone following this thread who also recognizes the great possibilities here, CALL ME if you have a connection with management. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll follow-up to contact McDonald’s with the same proposal.

    Pete Vriesenga, President
    Denver Musicians Association
    (303) 573-1717

    — Pete Vriesenga · Feb 9, 10:52 PM · #

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