Clubs that W9 the band

[sylvanshine]

Had a very fun roof top gig Saturday night in a historic area of Dallas looking up at the skyline. At the end of the night, the manager asks us to fill out a W9 so they can 1099 us. It was totally deflating to know that we just played for half the money.

So you know, 99% of the clubs in Dallas don't do this.

Here is what I need to learn...

What is the upside for the club? Is it just the legal part?

As a band, we have decided not to play the clubs in town that do this. Is that short-sided?

Does your band get 1099'd?

Should we ask for more money that usual so we net the same?

[Babow2]

My band plays a lot of corporate events and probably 50% of them give us 1099's as they write off these expenses as business expenses. i have never had a club do it, but since most of our work is for private parties, we deal with it every year.

Here is how we deal with it. i have/had a small consulting business on the side. So, I traditionally have had a couple 1099's of miscellaneous income. I also generate business expenses- cell phone, internet ISP, office equipment (computer, fax, supplies), some vehicle usage, etc.... Since I do all the marketing for the band, as well, I continue to lump all 1099's as my miscellaneous business and I generate expenses towards that income to offset the income. The net effect is that I am able to legitimately write off some of my household expenses that I would have no matter what, but which I use for generating income, and thereby offset the income so there is no additional tax on that income. My prior and current CPA's have blessed this.

To be clear, I am not claiming music as a business or a hobby, and trying to write off my gear. That is an entirely separate challenge and I/we don't meet the test. I am "generating" miscellaneous income and have expenses in generating that income, which offset the income.

Anyway, that is how my band does it. Otherwise, the one person who got the 1099 on their social security number would have to give 1099's to each band member for their share, or the one person pays the whole tax bill, assuming your band isn't incorporated with its own Tax ID number.

Good luck,
Brent

[Suriel Zayas]

i get 1099's from churches, however, i've learned to accept it and deal with it.

[guitarzan]

i get 1099's from churches, however, i've learned to accept it and deal with it.


fer sure. I just played a new place in Pasadena last Friday and they W9'd me before I walked out the door.