Musician's Paycheck

[songsmith]

I've often said I'd rather play a free show than a $200 show. When you play for free, it's usually to benefit someone who deserves it. When you play for $200, somebody is bending you over a stump. I ain't a hooker, and if I was, I'd be a high-priced Vegas callgirl, not a meth-head giving handy-jammers behind Sheetz's for MTO coupons.

[bassist_25]

I've often said I'd rather play a free show than a $200 show. When you play for free, it's usually to benefit someone who deserves it. When you play for $200, somebody is bending you over a stump. I ain't a hooker, and if I was, I'd be a high-priced Vegas callgirl, not a meth-head giving handy-jammers behind Sheetz's for MTO coupons.

Meh...I've accepted that we're all whores. I'm pretty comfortable with that.

[funkmeister]

[quote="facingwest"]It seems like the cost of everything else in this world goes up, except what a musician makes in a night of playing (An average of $80/night+-). At least that's what I've experienced since I've been playing. I'm also wondering what bands were making 15+ years ago.[/quote] I'll roll back to 1975 - I played in a 4 pc. band in Clearfield Area - we were averaging $400.00/night but most gigs were weddings (now the dwelling place of DJ's)and Company parties (unhead -of these days). No giant PA systems, just load the station wagon and go - set up in 20 minutes. Ahh, I miss those days......

[funkmeister]

[quote="songsmith"]I've often said I'd rather play a free show than a $200 show. When you play for free, it's usually to benefit someone who deserves it. When you play for $200, somebody is bending you over a stump. I ain't a hooker, and if I was, I'd be a high-priced Vegas callgirl, not a meth-head giving handy-jammers behind Sheetz's for MTO coupons. [/quote] I have the opposite reaction - free gigs tend to be the most demanding. Not sure why, maybe it's me....

[slackin@dabass]

For my band, we get $100-150 per person guaranteed + booze/food per show on weekends.. 175 if we're lucky. You just have to set the owner straight and let him know your not playing for a hobby. Your bringing people in who wouldn't normally come to their bar and your providing a professional service.... Most important thing is knowing which bar to play and where not to play.

We are? Wow.

[onegunguitar]

For my band, we get $100-150 per person guaranteed + booze/food per show on weekends.. 175 if we're lucky. You just have to set the owner straight and let him know your not playing for a hobby. Your bringing people in who wouldn't normally come to their bar and your providing a professional service.... Most important thing is knowing which bar to play and where not to play.

We are? Wow.

Haha,well all but you Ryan!!

[slackin@dabass]

For my band, we get $100-150 per person guaranteed + booze/food per show on weekends.. 175 if we're lucky. You just have to set the owner straight and let him know your not playing for a hobby. Your bringing people in who wouldn't normally come to their bar and your providing a professional service.... Most important thing is knowing which bar to play and where not to play.

We are? Wow.

Haha,well all but you Ryan!!

We call it "fuck up tax"

[Jasaoke]

A bandmate of mine has put it like this:

"I love playing music. I do it for free. I get paid to haul all of this equipment, set it up, tear it down, start at this time, play until then, deal with Drunk Guy, stay up waaaay too late, and play the music that someone else wants me to."

If you're OK playing for free, that's great. But when you take up a weekend slot, you're not even whoring for MTO coupons, you're just a filthy slut who's making it difficult for the callgirl to make a living.

[slackin@dabass]

A bandmate of mine has put it like this:

"I love playing music. I do it for free. I get paid to haul all of this equipment, set it up, tear it down, start at this time, play until then, deal with Drunk Guy, stay up waaaay too late, and play the music that someone else wants me to."

If you're OK playing for free, that's great. But when you take up a weekend slot, you're not even whoring for MTO coupons, you're just a filthy slut who's making it difficult for the callgirl to make a living.

Your bandmate sums up my feelings on the issue.

[KeithReynolds]

Here's a question...How many of you would want nothing to do with music if you werent making any money??

How many can answer that honestly??

[Merge]

I haven't made a dime from music in years, and when I did it wasn't much. All the money my old band made went back into the band, and I was ok with that. I enjoy writing and recording, and I'm sure a lot of you know that there isn't much money in that. I've been doing it for free, and I'll continue to do so.

[songsmith]

Yup, all told, the first 10 years I played, I didn't make $500 total. After the rockstar daydream-bubble popped, I joined a country band, and cleared that in 5 shows.
Of course, it went downhill from there....
No, actually, I'm not complaining. I got paid in free drinks & stuff, chicks that wouldn't otherwise give me the time of day doing crazy things I never dreamed of, front-row seats to places like the William Penn Inn and Hill Valley Hotel (worth it, right there), radio airtime for my little songs, and lifelong friendships with people I admire tremendously.
But some MTO coupons really would have helped out...

[Atomic Jim]

In the mid-70's, we were on the road with a trio and making between $800 and $1,500/week plus rooms and usually a discount on food, and occasionally free food.

In the early 80s, with Heartbreaker, we were making between $300 and $1,000/ night for a 4-piece group with a soundman. BTW, our sound man got a for share. He was the late, great Jack Carlson from State College the best sound man I have ever worked with. I still miss his magic.

In the late 80's, I was playing with a 6-piece group, 219, and we were doing mostly weddings, from $750 to $1,000/ night.

[orangekick]

Here's a question...How many of you would want nothing to do with music if you werent making any money??

How many can answer that honestly??

That's me. I play because it's what I do, it's who I am. If there's payment, I always give it back to the band fund, unless the band decides otherwise.

Sure, I'd love to make money at this, but I still want to play.

[sstuckey]

Here's a question...How many of you would want nothing to do with music if you werent making any money??

How many can answer that honestly??

That's me. I play because it's what I do, it's who I am. If there's payment, I always give it back to the band fund, unless the band decides otherwise.

Sure, I'd love to make money at this, but I still want to play.

That's all well and good, but it's a loaded question. Does that mean if you enjoy what you do, you shouldn't get paid for it? I kinda thought the concept was to find something you enjoy doing, or are good at, (or both) and making a career of it. Again walk into a doctor's office, tell him you intend to pay him in free beer and a couple of tacos, and tell me where it gets ya.