Rescheduled storm gigs a $60,000 hit for rockers The Butterfly Effect

When dangerous weather forces concerts to be rescheduled, the cost for touring artists can be significant, as Brisbane band The Butterfly Effect discovered.

From left, Kurt Goedhart, Glenn Esmond, Clint Boge and Ben Hall of The Butterfly Effect. Picture: Kane Hibberd

You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback.

You can now listen to The Australian's articles.

When dangerous weather forces concerts to be rescheduled, the cost for artists can be significant, as Brisbane alternative rock band The Butterfly Effect discovered.

January floods in north Queensland meant their shows ­before about 2000 fans in Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone had to be postponed.

Moving the shows represented a loss of about $60,000 for the four-piece band and a nine-strong touring crew, according to drummer and manager Ben Hall.

“Not an ideal start to the tour. We’re not covered for that kind of insurance, so it did burn a little,” he said.

The band rescheduled the concerts and will this weekend ­return to Townsville (Friday), Mackay (Saturday) and Gladstone (Sunday).

Hall estimates it costs the band about $25,000 to put on each show, once gear, transport costs, flights, accommodation and crew wages are factored in.

By the time it concludes, the 24-date national tour – reprising the band’s 2003 debut album, ­titled Begins Here – will have played to about 12,500 people while grossing about $900,000 in ticket and merchandise sales, with an average ticket price of $75.

That’s small beer when compared to the likes of US band Green Day, which last week cancelled a concert at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium before an ­expected crowd of 30,000 fans. “With Cyclone Alfred bringing some seriously nasty weather, it’s just not possible to go ahead ­safely,” Green Day posted on ­social media.

But for self-managed and self-promoted bands like The Butterfly Effect, having a tour schedule knocked about by severe weather can be the difference between profit and loss, even though playing with the band is now a part-time venture for all four members.

“It works best for us if there’s not that pressure of relying on it for certain financial reasons – but now we’re at a point where we can’t cancel any more shows because otherwise we’ll finish the tour in debt,” said Hall. “That’s not how you want to do it.”

Given the storm troubles of late, Hall is adamant about one thing with regard to forward planning. “I’m never touring summer ever again,” he said with a rueful sigh. He did, however, crack a joke about the effects on his two bald bandmates.

“Kurt’s lost his hair; Glenn’s lost his hair – it’s very stressful,” he said. “When you come home from a tour, it’s nice to be paid for the six weeks that you’re out there – but it’s nice to also know that you’ve got some money in the bank to settle in, rehearse, write and then record.”