Success vs Money

[RobTheDrummer]

Are you successful in playing, even though you make no money?

And just because you use a little tits and ass in your videos or know someone in the biz that got you where you are, does that make you successful?

............discuss.

[kayla]

i think we all have our own definition of "success". you can definitely be successful without making tons of money. for instance, some people have goals of only playing locally. if you're doing that every weekend and having fun, i'd call that successful. i don't think it can be measured in a general sense, but more of a personal aspect. if that makes any sense. just my two cents.

- kayla.

[Hawk]

Well said Kayla !


"Success" is based on one's own goals.

The thread should really be: Have you achieved YOUR goal ?

And understand that everyone has a different goal and that goal can change on a regular basis because of ones circumstances and place in life.

One person's goal might be to make money WHILE they are doing something they love doing - playing music. Halestorm comes to mind.

Another person's goal might be to play regardless of how much they make. Like me.

Another person's goal might be to play in a garage just jamming with freinds. And can be very successful doing so. It can be very rewarding too.

You can't define another's "success" unless you know their goal.

[songsmith]

I think money and "success" are unrelated in music. I've dealt with hundreds of known, national acts in all genres over my time as an audio tech and musician, and they tend to make less than most people imagine. In fact, there's a point where you actually make more money as a popular regional act controlling your own business, than you do as a national paying FAR higher overhead. Any time a large corporation is involved, you are an employee, and nothing more.

[sstuckey]

I feel like I had a successful career. I spent way more money than I ever made, but I accomplished basically every single goal I ever set for myself and my band. And actually achieved some that weren't even on my list. Maybe things didn't go exactly as planned, but I certainly believe in the grand scheme of things I did what I set out to do. For that I feel successful. Which goes hand in hand with Kayla's and Hawk's response. Success I guess, is in the eye of the beholder.

[lynch1]

it is too late for me to be worried about making millions, my definition of success would be having other musicians and people locally know me, recognize me and appreciate what I do. I would be absolutely thrilled to death with that.

[Sapo]

Money. I can always buy success.

[Don Hughes]

I prefer respect from my peers than fame from everyone else.

[ToonaRockGuy]

I'd rather have my definition of success: if one person in the room enjoys what I'm doing, it's a good night. And if I happen to make some money doing it, all the better.

[timemoney0]

C'mon now guys......Am I the only one that does it for the CHICKS?

[moxham123]

C'mon now guys......Am I the only one that does it for the CHICKS?

Well, 30-35 years ago that was one aspect of being in a band. However, at almost 56 years old now, 25 year old chicks are not chasing after the guy in the band.

I have always run every band I have been in as a serious business and they have all worked and made money and had different levels of success both finanacially and popularity wise.

In the late 70s and early 80s, I was very fortunate to be in an extremely successful regional band that also had a regional hit record on the radio. We gained a huge following, packed venues, played all the best places, and made more money (as a band) than most groups at the time. The problem that occured eventually was that as the show grew bigger and our price and expenses went up, we started to have less venues that were big enough to perform and that could afford to pay us. Also, we ended up turning down gigs that were not enough money only due to the fact that our expenses for each gig would not be covered and we could make enough money individually. We had 5-6 people in the band, a 3 man road crew, a big truck, lots of equipment and big light show, a rental hall, and numerous other business, travel, and insurance expenses. Our annual expenses were more than most regional bands made in a year. Individually, we were making decent money but not really a lot nor anywhere near what people thought we each made after we paid the expenses first. So, success and money can be related but not necessarily that anybody becomes rich.

Did we have lots of fun - YES!!!!! Would I do it again - YES!!!!!

After that and a few other large bands, I decided to go a different route with smaller groups and equipment and ended up making more money than the big bands, played more, and still had some level of success.

[Jim Price]

ToonaRockGuy wrote:

I'd rather have my definition of success: if one person in the room enjoys what I'm doing, it's a good night. And if I happen to make some money doing it, all the better.

As a newbie in the performing side of music, I know my bandmates and I can echo ToonaRockGuy's words above; this is our definition of success as well.

We just played a gig last weekend where I experienced for the first time the adrenaline rush of having a happy crowd lock in on what we were doing and start dancing and singing along. We fed off of that and seized the moment to keep it going. The happy feeling after having that happen was success for us, and getting paid at the end of the night was the icing on the cake.

Then yesterday, we played a private party outdoor barbecue, in the company of a number of area musicians. Success for us there was experiencing the respect and good words from our peers about what we were doing. A few even told us that what we were doing was unique; which felt good, as we're continuing to explore and define our style and sound. The encouraging words were our success that day.