L
Lukesteele
New member
Well you can pretty much say the same for EVERY independent new music site on the planet right? So where are the non-band occupied music lover sites? LOL
Well you can pretty much say the same for EVERY independent new music site on the planet right? So where are the non-band occupied music lover sites? LOL
VomitHatSteve
Hat STYLE. Not contents.
Whoo! Big money!
Well... except for the bit where the guys who gig 5 times a week doing covers still make way more money from their music than what I did.
P
psappha
New member
I've made some money from royalties but that's rare. When gigging we usually end up even.
I've been doing this "seriously" for only four years though, I love it and gives meaning to my life.
I know I won't be able to support myself only with music though, I can't even pay for the equipment with it.
I guess there's just too much music available for a confused and fragmented culture.
Anyway, here's my spit in the river: nagoba
Cheers
I've been doing this "seriously" for only four years though, I love it and gives meaning to my life.
I know I won't be able to support myself only with music though, I can't even pay for the equipment with it.
I guess there's just too much music available for a confused and fragmented culture.
Anyway, here's my spit in the river: nagoba
Cheers
CrowsofFritz
Flamingo!
I've done every single one of my gigs for free.
Not because I'm unable to persuade people to give me their money (as much as I would like it), but mostly because I feel I'm already making out in playing. It's usually local. I almost always play at these nice gatherings (one time I played in a stupid event. I made a post about that). People get to hear my guitar playing! And after I am done, I can eat the cheese and hor devours, and have some somewhat decent wine (depending on how many people are at the event. Less = better wine, sometimes).
Not because I'm unable to persuade people to give me their money (as much as I would like it), but mostly because I feel I'm already making out in playing. It's usually local. I almost always play at these nice gatherings (one time I played in a stupid event. I made a post about that
). People get to hear my guitar playing! And after I am done, I can eat the cheese and hor devours, and have some somewhat decent wine (depending on how many people are at the event. Less = better wine, sometimes).
S
Spazhands
'ere mate
Some gigs we are paid for, other we are not, have sold a few albums 
Paid gigs usually see £200, we play originals... mostly.
Paid gigs usually see £200, we play originals... mostly.
B
bluzmannn
New member
Independent A&R Firm
Had a little time this afternoon taking a break from recording. Got the weekly email, and clicked on the first thread.
I'm going to suggest another vehicle to make money with your music. The subset of folks on this thread are already about 2/3s there: expertise with playing music, as well as recording and (presumably) some producing. The remaining part is writing to order very specific musical requests.
Im talking about Taxi. I think it was this forum that I posted a Newbie Introduction post last year, and mentioned that one of the reasons i wanted to spend time was for recording and submitting to Taxi. I was told that Taxi was a scam, and to run away.
Well, I have been involved with Taxi, and although I have not yet made any money, I KNOW that it is a very very valid way to make money and even quit your day job, if you're good enough. There are folks on the Taxi forum boards from all different genres and backgrounds, and it is really a very supportive community.
The issue is that, at least for me, I'm not nearly as good as I thought I might have been, in all the the 3 segments mentioned above. The bar is very high. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a bar, or that if you get over it there is no reward. On the Taxi forums you can find in posters signatures to their websites, and some of these dudes and dudettes are incredibly high powered, with very sophisticated websites showcasing songs they have placed in a whole slew of places. One guy posted suggestions on my thread (where I asked for feedback on on of my songs), and I followed the link in his signature to his home page, and the guys creds (among others) were spending 5 years as a music transcriber for Frank Zappa. How cool is that! We know that Frank hired a whole slew of such people over the years, as apparently he WROTE the music but couldn't notate it. Steve Vai got his start as a transcriber for Zappa.
A recent score for a Taxi person was the co-writer of one of the biggest songs of 2012, Call Me Maybe (the hit song for that Jepson girl). There are many others.
One big need is Film and Television soundtrack stuff. There are more and more tv shows, and movie opportunities than ever, all of them need background music. It might not be sexy, but its original music and it pays.
Taxi is not for everyone, and its not easy. But in the roughly year I have been a member, my skills in recording,producing, and writing have improved probably more than all the other years of my life combined (and Im not that young). There are so so so many developmental tools at Taxi, if one takes advantage of them, you cant help but progress. I am excited about the future, and hope one day to be full time in music, and expect that Taxi will be front and center in helping me do that.
Had a little time this afternoon taking a break from recording. Got the weekly email, and clicked on the first thread.
I'm going to suggest another vehicle to make money with your music. The subset of folks on this thread are already about 2/3s there: expertise with playing music, as well as recording and (presumably) some producing. The remaining part is writing to order very specific musical requests.
Im talking about Taxi. I think it was this forum that I posted a Newbie Introduction post last year, and mentioned that one of the reasons i wanted to spend time was for recording and submitting to Taxi. I was told that Taxi was a scam, and to run away.
Well, I have been involved with Taxi, and although I have not yet made any money, I KNOW that it is a very very valid way to make money and even quit your day job, if you're good enough. There are folks on the Taxi forum boards from all different genres and backgrounds, and it is really a very supportive community.
The issue is that, at least for me, I'm not nearly as good as I thought I might have been, in all the the 3 segments mentioned above. The bar is very high. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a bar, or that if you get over it there is no reward. On the Taxi forums you can find in posters signatures to their websites, and some of these dudes and dudettes are incredibly high powered, with very sophisticated websites showcasing songs they have placed in a whole slew of places. One guy posted suggestions on my thread (where I asked for feedback on on of my songs), and I followed the link in his signature to his home page, and the guys creds (among others) were spending 5 years as a music transcriber for Frank Zappa. How cool is that! We know that Frank hired a whole slew of such people over the years, as apparently he WROTE the music but couldn't notate it. Steve Vai got his start as a transcriber for Zappa.
A recent score for a Taxi person was the co-writer of one of the biggest songs of 2012, Call Me Maybe (the hit song for that Jepson girl). There are many others.
One big need is Film and Television soundtrack stuff. There are more and more tv shows, and movie opportunities than ever, all of them need background music. It might not be sexy, but its original music and it pays.
Taxi is not for everyone, and its not easy. But in the roughly year I have been a member, my skills in recording,producing, and writing have improved probably more than all the other years of my life combined (and Im not that young). There are so so so many developmental tools at Taxi, if one takes advantage of them, you cant help but progress. I am excited about the future, and hope one day to be full time in music, and expect that Taxi will be front and center in helping me do that.
B
bluzmannn
New member
Well crap, it wasnt this forum that I posted about Taxi last year, as I see now I just posted my first post here, and this one I am typing is my second. LOL, sorry for my mistake. Nonetheless, Taxi is a valid avenue for those interested.
R
Rod Norman
New member
There's an old joke: How do you make a million dollars was a jazz musician? Start with two million.
There are a lot of us making money. The question was about serious money. I assume you mean making a living. Yes, I do and did. I started as a young drummer of 16 and was playing in bars and strip clubs before I was 18. I made my main money playing every night, six nights a week. The work was hard but I learned a lot about the power of a beat. I did accents with each movement of the dancer. Most of today's band's and musicians couldn't do what I had to do at 16. They would play their song list and make no adjustments at all. They wouldn't last the night. In college I made 100% of my money and worked my way through college playing. I played in a railroad bar seven nights a week. In the service, I got to play but not for money. That was three years without earning money as a musician. Once out, I enrolled in art school and played regularly. I made more playing than I got from my GI bill for school. I then moved to NYC. I made money but not as much as I made in advertising. But now I make a lot, surprisingly teaching and recording tracks for others. I do a lot of sampling and sell the samples, I also do tracks for animation and for film. Most of my work now is over the internet. The key is to be able to play almost everything. The more things you know how to do the more gigs you will get for money. Today, we are lucky to get one gig a month, let alone one a week. Good luck, but focus more on improving and broadening your skills. The money will come. Even if it doesn't you will have a skill every one else will admire.
W
warpdriveprod
New member
Starving Artists - LOL!
I used to gig a lot as a union drummer in Chicago (1978 – 1988). Recorded some records, did some touring but one thing always remained constant – home recording since 1979. Began with a portastudio and kept upgrading over the years to keep up with the latest technology. I’m also a dealer for SE Electronics and Clearsonic (partition systems).
The following has always been the typical scenario:
1.Talent arrives at my studio to check it out.
2.They boast about their friend’s studio that has much more and better gear than mine.
3.They boast about how their friend will record them for FREE!
4.I ask them, then why are you here? And then tell them to go record at their friend’s studio!
This is the little game they play. They want me to provide them access to all my fine gear, and put in all the hours & expertise but they want it all for FREE! This is because they are starving artists. Artists usually have no money, period. I know this because I was once in their shoes.
My attitude is that I charge the industry standard rate and I know I’m worth every penny of it. If they don’t like it they can go somewhere else! Perhaps to their friend’s studio? LOL!
Making money in this business? LOL!
Warp Drive Productions, warpdriveprod dot com
Tascam DM4800 & IF-FW/DM MK2, Sonar Producer X2, Izotope Ozone 5
I used to gig a lot as a union drummer in Chicago (1978 – 1988). Recorded some records, did some touring but one thing always remained constant – home recording since 1979. Began with a portastudio and kept upgrading over the years to keep up with the latest technology. I’m also a dealer for SE Electronics and Clearsonic (partition systems).
The following has always been the typical scenario:
1.Talent arrives at my studio to check it out.
2.They boast about their friend’s studio that has much more and better gear than mine.
3.They boast about how their friend will record them for FREE!
4.I ask them, then why are you here? And then tell them to go record at their friend’s studio!
This is the little game they play. They want me to provide them access to all my fine gear, and put in all the hours & expertise but they want it all for FREE! This is because they are starving artists. Artists usually have no money, period. I know this because I was once in their shoes.
My attitude is that I charge the industry standard rate and I know I’m worth every penny of it. If they don’t like it they can go somewhere else! Perhaps to their friend’s studio? LOL!
Making money in this business? LOL!
Warp Drive Productions, warpdriveprod dot com
Tascam DM4800 & IF-FW/DM MK2, Sonar Producer X2, Izotope Ozone 5
Chili
Site Moderator
Hey, welcome to the site (one year later
) I've always been interested in Taxi and someday will sign up. I don't think my work is up to par yet, but I'm getting close.A few years ago, I met a woman online who had some success from Taxi. She had landed a contract to provide music for a cable channel. I think it's a viable outlet for folks like me. But yeah, I hear ya when you say the competition is tough.
G
Greg_L
Banned
Taxi sounds interesting. Is there any market for not-so-cleverly offensive punk music?
G
Greg_L
Banned
$300/yr. 
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
for doing what?$300/yr.
G
Greg_L
Banned
That's Taxi's sign up fee. Then you pay again to submit songs. Then you sit and hope for a miracle.
Chili
Site Moderator
CrowsofFritz
Flamingo!
$300/yr.
This terse comment had me bellowing laughter.
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
Hm, thought it was $150. Haven't looked at it in quite awhile.
I've been thinking about giving them a try...just need to get a decent catalog of tunes together that might interest them. I think for anyone to have some success with companies like Taxi, you need songs that are somewhat sell-able and songs that can work in more than one style so that the "buyers" can do with them as they please.
For prolific songwriters, I don't think companies like Taxi are a bad option. I mean....for you to promote your own music, it might cost you as much if not more per year/song, and who are you going to shop them to?
The Interwebs is pretty much a dead end...there's no easy way to cut through all that competition.
I got a buddy who worked in radio for many years, and he said he knew people who could peddle my music...but it was going to cost some $$$. So it's the same thing with Taxi....and yeah, I've heard of folks who did well, or at least got a couple of songs out with a little $$$ in return.
There's just no simple/easy way...and the made-for-TV scenario where some big shot record company exec walks into the small bar your band is playing at or stumbles across your Interweb offerings and then gives you your big break....is just a nice story that rarely happens.
P
philbo
New member
I made some good money at it in the 70's in a Prog Rock cover band. Enough to live comfortably, but at the cost of being on the road a lot. All that went to hell when disco took off... Easy come, easy go.
If money's your primary motivation, MAKING music is the wrong business - - you should look into investment banking or something.... or maybe become a booking agent. They can do pretty well if they have some marketing hustle.
If money's your primary motivation, MAKING music is the wrong business - - you should look into investment banking or something.... or maybe become a booking agent. They can do pretty well if they have some marketing hustle.
G
Greg_L
Banned
After reading their site and their FAQ's, the way I see it, and this is just my opinion, a service like Taxi is no different than pay-for-play gigs. Money is made, but not by the artists. The promotion company makes the money. Taxi boasts a whopping 6% success rate. Wowee. Taxi gets paid, by you, whether you succeed or not, and there's a 94% chance you won't. They still made 100% of their money, while only 6% of their users even got a call back. Taxi has no skin in the game. No thanks.
VomitHatSteve
Hat STYLE. Not contents.
Of course they don't. If they were risking money backing unknown songwriters, their business would collapse!
I like to describe music as a gold rush economy. The only people who consistently make money are the guys selling shovels. (Who wants to buy a website from me?
)