Elsa Angel Rose
When you’re an artiste in the making, gigs—weekly or monthly—are your proving grounds. You pour your heart into the performance, but often walk away with little more than applause. Not because you weren’t good, but because you weren’t paid fairly.
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Promises like “Food is on us” or “Travel is covered” have become standard in Goa’s live music scene. But free meals and rides don’t cover rent, bills, or everyday expenses. Many young musicians find their struggles unseen, or worse, ignored. Respect and recognition often come only after fame arrives—but who supports artists when they’re still building their craft?
As the demand for independent and regional music rises through streaming platforms, social media virality, and collaborations, a crucial question remains—are we ready to move from “they’ll be happy with applause” to “they deserve fair pay”
Musician Falak Fatima from Dona Paula, who performs live vocals, spends around ₹3,000 on travel and food per show—sometimes more depending on the venue.
“Many venues prefer barter deals, offering food, a portfolio, or exposure instead of payment. Personally, I don’t find that fair. This is our work, not a hobby. Food and drinks we can get anywhere, but payment makes us feel valued,” said Falak.
For her, exposure only makes sense if it’s through a credible platform; otherwise, fair compensation matters more. “Things can improve by supporting artists better, paying them fairly, and giving them creative freedom. You can’t tell an artist exactly what to do—you hire them for their talent, not just for show,” she added.
Adarsh Parashar, a musician who earlier lived in Porvorim and now works in Delhi, shared a similar experience. “Travel for a live musician can cost between ₹3,000 and ₹5,000, and renting equipment can go up to ₹20,000 depending on the setup. These expenses aren’t always covered. Many times, barter deals end up happening, and those aren’t really fair.”
Adarsh, who’s exploring metallic and Hindustani classical sounds, pointed out that while big venues sometimes compensate artists, smaller ones still rely on “exposure” payments. “The focus should be on an artist’s work, not their follower count. There should be a minimum pay of ₹5,000 per performance, depending on hours and location,” he said.
Glossy Valanka Pednekar, a pop and jazz artist from Miramar, shared that barter deals have become common practice. “Most people want to do barter business without understanding that this is our bread and butter,” she said.
While some claim female performers enjoy more opportunities, others believe gender bias still exists in the industry. “Women might get more gigs since they add value to performing bands, but fair pay isn’t always consistent,” noted Adarsh.
Falak, however, disagreed slightly: “I haven’t noticed much gender bias, but I’ve seen that people try to take advantage of those new to the industry.”
Glossy added, “If locals support musicians and give us a chance instead of demotivating us, that can help a lot.”
Love for music and musicians is undeniable—but applause doesn’t pay the bills. As Goa’s independent scene continues to evolve, musicians hope for one simple change: fair pay for fair play.
