harmonicanick
2343 posts
Jan 14, 2016
3:01 PM
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Personally, I am doing 3 a week locally and it is very hard work.
I play with a very accomplished guitar/vocalist who uses 3 pedals to layer the sound.
The young people love it because they have no frame of reference for live music (dj's)
I use a boss delay but not too much, pedals are hard taskmasters,
So you guys find yourself a guitar/ vocal you can sync with, and you are away.....
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Barley Nectar
1052 posts
Jan 14, 2016
4:27 PM
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Well, I'm leavin for a jam in about 1/2 hr. Doing a benefit for a dieing musician buddy and, a sit in invitational gig this sat. Playing a musician's birthday party on sunday. I'm suppose to be in a country band but don't know what happened to those guys. There has been no practice lately? Not always like this though. I may get a few bucks for the invitational gig. Play every chance I get.
Rock-N-Roll...BN
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Gnarly
1605 posts
Jan 14, 2016
4:43 PM
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Well, truth be told, I get hired as a guitarist/vocalist as a rule, but even that has not been frequent lately.
I AM playing Sunday for a marathon (runners) in Carlsbad, that will pay $100 for a few hours--no drunks, no repartee for the most part, but lots of playing, and I will bring harps.
I used to gig a lot, but probably play 50-60 gigs a year now.
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ridge
648 posts
Jan 14, 2016
5:00 PM
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Zero
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Ridge's YouTube
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BronzeWailer
1845 posts
Jan 14, 2016
5:26 PM
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0-4
A guy who spends all his lunch hours emailing joints has got me as his sideman. I basically turn up and play.
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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kudzurunner
5846 posts
Jan 14, 2016
6:27 PM
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It varies. Ideal for me would be 2 per week, in town, plus road tours where it's back to back for 4-6 days with a day off and then more. I'm a part-timer. Yes.
The Blues Doctors don't work as much as we'd like to in town, but things are picking up a little.
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dougharps
1112 posts
Jan 14, 2016
7:22 PM
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Usually 2 to 4 per month.
I played 3 to 5 per week in a band a few years ago, but that was too much for domestic bliss, and I have only subbed with them occasionally since then.
I would like 4 - 6 per month, but I am OK with 3 or 4.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jan 14, 2016 7:27 PM
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PropMan
80 posts
Jan 14, 2016
8:32 PM
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For the last two and a half years I was in a band that had one regular Saturday night gig a month at a local bar and the boss (who quit and moved to Canada after our NYE gig and left us floundering) would pick up between 1 and 3 other gigs per month. Plus he played guitar in a rock/Americana roots band backing a girl singer and he would ask me to sit in about once a month with them at their 4 hour Sunday afternoon gig. So I was playing 3-5 times a month which is about right for me since I work a 55 hour per week day job. I've still got that Sunday gig if I want it but it pays $25 and a cheeseburger and 3 beers for an entire afternoon. The band gigs were much better - $60 to $100/ man most gigs.
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indigo
209 posts
Jan 14, 2016
9:43 PM
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20 years ago it was around 100$ a band member...it is still around 100$ a....
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Gnarly
1606 posts
Jan 14, 2016
9:51 PM
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I make less money when I play with bands, the more people, usually the less money. But I don't go out for less than $50.
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kudzurunner
5847 posts
Jan 15, 2016
7:35 AM
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In NYC, the basic bread and butter blues gig in the late 1980s was $150 for a trio.
$50 a man then equals $104 a man today.
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=50&year1=1987&year2=2015
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Jan 15, 2016 7:36 AM
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rogonzab
875 posts
Jan 15, 2016
7:59 AM
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1 gig per month. Sometimes more, but most of the times less.
In chile, on a regular show in a regular bar, you are lucky if you hit the $20 per musician.
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Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
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HarpNinja
4184 posts
Jan 15, 2016
8:25 AM
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A few years back it was 4 or 5 times a month with a steady band. Then I cut back to 2-3 with a steady band...then trio. Now, I am playing 1-2x a month jobbing.
I hate it and miss playing with a full band on an at least semi-regular basis.
The local market sucks, and I am just far enough away from the metro to be considered for jobbing, but not for a regular position (is the commute for rehearsal realistic, etc.).
Locally, the scene really sucks, but I can find a band to at least sit in with every weekend should I choose to.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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shakeylee
478 posts
Jan 15, 2016
7:20 PM
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it can really vary for me.usually i do three a week,but sometimes i only do two.sometimes i do eight.
i run into trouble sometimes when i do a two show day.sometimes i can't remember if i did a song in the first show,or already did it in the second show.
does that happen to anybody else?
i could do more shows,but i am absolutely terrible at booking and self promotion :)
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www.shakeylee.com
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robbert
385 posts
Jan 15, 2016
7:30 PM
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Around 70 local gigs, with three different musical configurations and styles. We play cafes, restaurants and wine tasting venues mostly. We also pick up additional parties and events on occasion. The pay is nominal, but there is pay and tips of course and lots of meals, wine, etc. It supplements my day job income and allows me to purchase gear from time to time. Mostly, it keeps me working on music.
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robbert
386 posts
Jan 15, 2016
7:34 PM
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That's 70 gigs per year.
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didjcripey
1010 posts
Jan 15, 2016
10:07 PM
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We rehearse every week without fail, but are very selective when it comes to gigs.
Last year we played three big festivals; 1 hour set, 120 bucks a man.
We did a couple of gigs with other bands, similar deal, taking a split on the door takings.
We'll sometimes do a gig for free if we think its going to be an interesting crowd and gear is supplied, but supplying gear and playing three 1 hour sets in a pub for 100 bucks each: 'tell em they're dreaming'.
None of us need the money and we all agree not to sell ourselves short. The front mans policy is not to chase gigs; they can chase us, and though it seemed crazy, it seems to be working. We knock back one or two gigs a month.
We'd rather play for ourselves and our mates for free, than bust our freckles making money for pubs and playing the wrong venue.
I have friends who go so far as to say that the players who play for peanuts spoil it for others, as it becomes an expectation.
You know, 'play for exposure'. How about a restauranteur comes round to my place, puts on a big feed for me and all my mates, and if we like it we might allow him to make a regular thing of it so that he can promote his cooking.
Just recently we were approached by a venue in a very upmarket tourist town 3 hours travel away who had heard of us and asked us to play three sets, providing all our gear. Because she'd heard such great stuff about us, she was prepared to stretch the budget to 600 bucks... for a days work; packing the van, travelling, setting up, playing, pulling down and travelling back, divided by five members (including sound guy)... we told her she's dreamin'!
talk about lucky? I bet the great bluesmen of the past never had the luxury!
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Lucky Lester
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A440
503 posts
Jan 16, 2016
6:27 AM
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From 2011 to 2014, I played in a 6-piece blues/rock/americana band. We all have demanding day jobs and families, so it was not easy. For awhile we played once a week, usually Thursday evenings at bars/restaurants/clubs, but sometimes Fridays and Saturdays. Often we were paid 600€ (100€ per person) + dinner + beers. Sometimes we just played for tips in a hat passed around. Over the course of the three years, I guess we averaged 3 gigs a month (so about 35 shows a year). We tended to have band rehearsals every Tuesday evening. Our repertoire was 2/3 original material and 1/3 covers.
The pace was not sustainable, due to the demands of work, kids, spouses, etc. I dropped out first, and then a few months later the band lost its momentum, and fizzled out. The pace was not sustainable given life's other responsibilities, for all six guys.
I have not played out in 6-9 months. I practice at home once or twice a week to keep my chops in shape.
I miss the live shows, which were magic. The experience of connecting with an audience and playing as a tight team was an incredible high. We had a free flowing jam-band style, and the songs were played differently each night. We also experimented on stage, and developed many of our songs during the live gigs.
But I don't miss the volume levels of playing out. Generally our level would drift upwards during shows, and sometimes I was standing close to the PA, or a big guitar amp. I suffered from tinnitus, and then experienced hyperacusis (hyper-sensitivity to daily noises, which was a difficult battle). The hyperacusis has now subsided. Tests showed that I have no loss of hearing, thankfully. Resigned to living with the devil tinnitus, as we must.
I would like to play out again, but strictly acoustic shows, in small venues, maybe a duo or trio without drums. Let's see what the new year brings...
Last Edited by A440 on Jan 16, 2016 8:59 AM
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KC69
504 posts
Jan 16, 2016
10:03 AM
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I gig usually 2 times per week. At the Prison, I am amplified and use an ultimate 57 mic. Wed. Bible study and Every other Sunday, I use a Masco tube amp, with 5 Lone Wolf pedals and a custom Shure Chrome Bullet from Greg Hueman. Some weeks were playin 3 to four times. Practice every Monday night with a great chord player (adds 9 chords to a 3 chord song) and an 80s shredder! Givin the Devil the Bluz!!! In Jesus name I play!!!
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And I Thank You !!
KCz
Backwoodz
Bluz
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harmonicanick
2344 posts
Jan 16, 2016
3:07 PM
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@robbert
Is that in Paris?
@HarpNinja
You need to move to the city or you will get bitter as you get older...
That's why I do not move away from the gigs, it's all I have (apart from family of course):) Live music is everything..
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blueswannabe
596 posts
Jan 16, 2016
3:43 PM
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1-2 per month, sometimes more and sometimes less.
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JustFuya
833 posts
Jan 17, 2016
12:20 AM
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I am happy with busking. After a 5 year hiatus from playing loud music that I enjoyed 99% of the time (during practice @ low volume) and 1% of the time on stage, I did a solo bar gig a few weeks ago. I estimated the crowd at 45 heads in a room that allows 120. I later read the fire dept placard which set the limit at 69 and the manager confirmed that at most there were 20 in the crowd at any one time. He may have been being kind.
The venue was desperate and I took the place of a 5 piece country band. I filled a spot and was paid in full for that spot ($375). A ridiculous fee unless the fans of the band also called in sick. So I busked on stage and took requests. It was fun but not habit forming.
I'd rather practice with passers-by then rut.
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robbert
387 posts
Jan 17, 2016
9:28 AM
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@harmonicnick...a small town in Northern Ca. I'm the other half in three different musical duos, and appear at the same places. I can get away with it because they each play a different style of largely original music which I can support with harp and percussion. Two are instrumental and one is a singer/songwriter. I've had to learn to play a little differently in each configuration, depending on what the music calls for.
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harmonicanick
2345 posts
Jan 17, 2016
1:33 PM
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ok robbert got ya home wrong there!
I feel that after a life of playing in bands and I am in my '60's now the way forward for was and is a duo format.
Assuming you can sync with the other as I have found it becomes hugely joyful and easy to get gigs
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robbert
388 posts
Jan 18, 2016
9:55 AM
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The duo format works well because we can fit into more places, control our volume well, arrange our schedules more easily, and take home more $$. These players are also good friends of mine, so it works great.I'm not a front man, and prefer to play a supporting role,which allows me to focus on harp... and having to play differently with each configuration, is a good challenge.
On the other hand, I have played in a larger band, and that is also rewarding, just harder to manage.
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harmonicanick
2347 posts
Jan 18, 2016
2:52 PM
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@robbert
My feelings exactly..if you are in the uk look me up in Bristol, you will be welcome..
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