TESSERACT drummer Jay Postones has expressed concern over the money distribution in the live music industry, specifically pointing towards merch sellers. According to Postones, these sellers often make more money in tips than the band members earn for their performances. He believes this could be due to a misunderstanding from fans, who may think their tips are going directly to the band.
To address this, Postones suggests that merch table tips should be shared among the band and its crew. As a solution, TESSERACT has implemented a system whereby concertgoers can scan a QR code to directly “Tip the Band” at the merch table. The introduction of this system has sparked a debate within the industry, and it remains to be seen whether other bands will adopt similar measures.
Despite the controversy, the band has clarified that they don’t take issue with fans tipping the merch sellers, a common practice in the U.S, but they hope the digital tip jar will allow fans to donate to their intended recipients.
You can read his full statement below.
On this US tour, we’ve discovered an imbalance that I wish to shed light on.
As a touring musician, we put a huge amount of energy into bringing our music to our fans. It’s our pleasure and it’s our passion – but believe me when I say it costs us everything to do this. Touring at our level breaks even. Everything goes toward production, crew, and travel costs.
When you purchase merch from a band at a US show and leave a tip – as is customary – you’re not tipping the band. This tip goes to the merch seller.
From speaking with fans, we know some of you thought you were tipping the band. Firstly – thank you. Secondly, we apologise that your tip hasn’t reached us – we didn’t have vision of this system/ culture until now.
From speaking to peers, we have discovered that some merch sellers are generating in excess of $30k in tips over the course of a 5-6-week tour – which is insane. No one else on a tour at our level makes anything close to this. The band members certainly do not. The other crew members are on agreed fees, nowhere close to this.
We understand that in the US service industry, tipping culture is normal. It brings low-paid jobs up to a, hopefully, liveable level. The job we’re hiring though is not a low-paid job.
While it goes against the grain, our suggestion is that all tips taken at the merch desk should be shared across the entourage – band, and crew. We’re all here, working hard all day to bring the show to you. It seems unfair for one person to own the monopoly on tips for the entire package.
While it’s too late to make this change mid tour, we have set up a digital tip jar that will be shared between the band and crew at the end of the tour. Scan the ‘tip the band’ QR code at our merch desk if you’d like your tip to reach all of us.
As always, thank you for your continued support. We can’t wait to see you out there ♥
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.