what are your gigs paying

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RICK FITZPATRICK said:
Hey VOXVENDER, one of my bass players was from Canada. He kept trying to get me up there. Kind of sorry I never went. Are you in a band
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Yeah...2 Bands.. I'm a Duh-rummer :D
 
However, now I have a day job and I play most my gigs for cheap
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Hello Lopp, thats cool too, but I have to tell you something. I loved what I did, and substituted practice 8 hrs a day in leu of a job, to play with all my might at night. I sacrificed a lot of normal things people receive by having a day gig. But those people couldn't play at my level if they had to, because of their choice. All I was saying is the pay isn't much better today than it was for a musician whos playing a standard week long engagement then. Special one night gigs for holidays, or places where they really like you and want you back, or weddings etc., are another ball game and I had my share of those. But you can't count on that when your sole income is music. At least then. It must be much harder now, for a musican who has a family, wants to devote his life to music and play the best that he can possibly do, and progress to the point where you can play with ANYBODY. ANYWHERE. ANYTIME. With none or very little rehearsal. The level I was aiming for you ONLY get by shacking up with your instrument for years, while someone who loves ya slips your dinner under the door. Any level below that, and you CAN'T get on stage with the musicians who think the same thing. Or your foolin yourself. Period.
But as you said, "and now I have a day job". Me too. But I still hold my own under difficult circumstances. Just don't want to anymore. Especially CHEAP. Been there, done that. Good luck with your music. I wish you the best. And BTW, thanks for the view. Its ok.
fitz:)
 
Haven't played live since 1990

But after reading this thread......................






Some things never change !!!
:D

Nice stories Rick, I appreciate the humor!
 
Howdy JCMM, thanks alot. You know, I only played live one time in the last 10 yrs too.
I was asked to cover for a guitarist who got ill after the first rehearsal, at a local music store promotional venue called Weekend Warriors. Well, it was a fucking ball. We were picked at random as the last act. Thank god. I was so damn nervous from not playing in so long that I almost puked! Ha! How stupid. Just like the first time I played memorial auditorium here in SAC. The Ventures were the headliner, and we were the winner of some damn battle of the bands shit or somethin.(Boy, does that tell you how old I am or what:D ) Anyway, I was so fucking nervous, I had to go in the bathroom and throw up. Sheeeeezus, I was shaking all over and couldn't hardly keep my fingers on the right strings. Crap, it was bad enough playing before one of my idols of the time. Ha! Imagine that. The Ventures. But I dug them at the time. I mean what were the alternatives. GOOFY top 40 stuff and I mean GOOFY. Didn't know nothin about nothin. Just a 16 yr old kid from sac with a guitar and a desire to play, and enough balls to get on stage and show how much he didn't know! Anyway, we did our shit, but I'm one of those type of guys who are dumb enough to try things that NO ONE would dare do, cause you JUST DON"T DO IT. Like play the latest hit of the headliner playing AFTER you. Well thats exactly what we did for our last song. What a bunch of showbiz dunces. Of all the nerve:D well let me tell you something. We played the Ventures latest hit, and sounded just as good as they did(well, in my mind anyway!), and you know what. They loved it. Cause we played it GOOD! They didn't mind at all. Some other band would have kicked our little asses. But these Guys were cool. Gentleman, all of them. But naturally, they played it too! Man, I was in seventh heaven after that gig. :D
fitz
 
RICK FITZPATRICK said:
It must be much harder now, for a musican who has a family, wants to devote his life to music and play the best that he can possibly do, and progress to the point where you can play with ANYBODY. ANYWHERE. ANYTIME.
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Yeah. And that's the key. The musician wants to devote his life to music. And that's great and noble. Especially because the musician realizes there's not much pay in the profession (if not, he's only fooling himself).

Too bad about the supply/demand factor. There's a huge supply of talented people who want to be professional musicians because that's what they love. However, there isn't the demand for all of those musicians. And because of the supply/demand, the gigs pay less.

It sounds like you had some good success stories. Hell, I'm personally happy I can look back at clubs packed with people just to see us. And I even got money and free beer for having so much fun.
 
In rural Iowa we play college towns and usually get aroung $250-$300 for a weekend night. We just booked an $800 gig with an inexperienced bar owner. We asked for $1000. Gotta ask for what you want. Learn how to say NO.
 
Wicked Pissah

pchorman said:
the situation in my cow town.....


http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/312/nation/Packing_them_in_no_longer+.shtml
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Not too much has changed since my old friend and I started The Rock Block in Bahsten.

It was a pay-to-play city then for originals, and it still is now in many ways. My buddy John is one of the few that gets paidbut does 3 set cover gigs- but even when I go up and sit in with him, it seems like the club owners are trying to f^&* him. Makes me remember why I knew I couldn't live like that.

Down here in the vast musical wasteland known as Virginia Beach, a good cover band might make 3-5 bills/night if they are established (which around here may qualify if they just haven't had their equipment smashed over their heads yet). Only ONE band in this area makes the 2-3k, and they are good- but I grew up in Brooklyn, NY- so it's all relative (sorry- had to pull the snob card on this one :) ) Problem is that there are so few bands here worth the 3 hundred, it makes you see the club owners point. Then again, as the Soft Parade guy has so clearly explained (loved you guys), eventually you have to give up so much for what in the long run isn't very rewarding.

Truth is, though, that there isn't a 'scene' like there used to be in most places. When I grew up in NY, there was the Jersey club scene, the Long Island club scene, the upstate club scene, and all these bands drew major crowds, had major shows, and people were living around these scenes. It just isn't that way anymore. More solo and changes in the media don't force people out to see music like they used to, and the clubs can't pay to support that.

In 1991, my friend John and I were at a club in Orlando called The Station. He gets up and sings a few songs with the band, and within 5 minutes the manager had us in the back. "I can only offer you $3200/week to start, but it's a 4 night gig and you don't have to break down your equipment every night". I'd LOVE to see that kind of thing happen now.

Beingthe local Rock Doc in my area I get to see and hear a few things from backstage and you would be surprised at how little some 'legendary' acts or even hairbands get in their contracts for arena gigs. With travel, gas, hotel, food and vigs for the tour crew, I can 't believe some of them can even afford to be on the road. Even the shmaltzy Kenny G sold less than 1000 tickets at the arena here. The Black Crowes didn't sell out a 1500 seat theatre, and some of these events they probably give away 10,000 tickets "not kidding" through local media just to have warm bodies to buy watered down beer.

It's just the way things change, and the way consumers want their music delivered. If they start to hit clubs again, supply and demand will change it again. With video, downloads, 'reality TV'- there's just not the same 'star' factor that drives people to the live experience.

Just my opinion...and I've got a million of 'em :)
 
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in my old metalcore band we used to get about 200 dollars a show.
we were all 16 or so, so we didnt care.
 
:cool: Here in the heart of Ohio places to play are ranked A Class, B Class, and C Class. The C Class level is your basic bar and there a band can make anywhere depending on how much the bar makes off you(double what your asking for a night) anywhere from $250-$800+ Weekends you can make at this level anywhere from $800-$1200. At the B Class Level it's your big bars and Clubs. You sell Tickets and you get the take from that plus the door. I've been with a band that cleared $300 each but it ranges. Usually the show whould be three or more bands and the Head-liner would make the decision to give a portion to the take to the second band or whatever they wanted. A great way to get noticed. Finally at the A Class these are the Biggest Clubs, Pavillions, Arenas and Concert Halls. Same as the B Class for the Money but you can clear a lot of cash I've only seen three local bands headline these usually they house The national acts, the "Biggest Bands", with ticket prices from $20-$150+. Columbus has a very healthy music scene that alot of people over look but I've been on the scene now for 9 years and there has been people on the scene here for over 20+years. The great thing going on now is places are starting to battle one another to have these great bands. I heard from a long time friend last week his band had three places in the C Class level wanting them for a weekend and the price was over $1200. There are a lot of secrets I've learned over the years to get more money on the night. Have wild girls, have loads of drinking contests and always party till you hit the floor. As long as you don't trash the club or create a riot go for broke and it will pay off big time.
 
bongolation said:
Dang.

I gotta move to the sticks, I guess. It seems like it's hard to get anything in California. In SF and LA, bands frequently have to PAY to use the club, then try to make back their investment with the gate. This is an incredible racket.

I am currently spooling up to get a band together again after a few decades layoff. I'd like to hear more about what people are getting here in California. I wasn't expecting to get gas money out of it.

Still, I know of a guy's dumb old geezer band ("Midlife Crisis") in SF who's getting like $3500 to play corporate parties and soforth. I was freaking speechless about that one. It's all a matter of marketing, I guess. What isn't?
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Being a dumb old geezer of 60 who was playing when your father was still jerking off behind the garden shed, it's about having decades of experience, a huge song list to call on and the ability to play what the people with money want to hear
 
My bands chrage gas money, sometimes. We'd rather not make the pomoter bust their ass to give us money. On tour.. we obviously get something.. but local shows we don't ask for anything. We also don't refuse it if it's handed to us. :)
 
In Boston, a 5 piece gb act at a private function can make upwards of $2000. An unsigned, original, local rock act in a club $50-$300 depending on the turnout.
 
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