Roll call

[SixStringJoe]

How many of you are professional musicians? do you think music pays better than a desk job? I'm sure it differs from country to country. Well back in India, it just doesn't pay so guys need to do it after work.

 

[Spudman]

Pretty much the same here. Unless you are in a band who's name is a household word then you'll probably have a day job.

I've been fortunate enough to have been able to make a living playing music for many years in the 1980's and some in the late 1990's too. Those times are getting harder to recreate these days. It's probably easier in larger metropolitan areas but I don't live in one and can't move right now.

 

[warren0728]

i'm just a home player...i have never been in a band...

ww

 

[Tim]

I am only Mr. Guitar at the home. I think jamming would be great. Hopefully when I relocated I will find someone.

 

[duhvoodooman]

I'm a "play-at-home dad", too.

Sometimes my wife pays me to stop playing--does that count??

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I'm a "play-at-home dad", too.

Sometimes my wife pays me to stop playing--does that count??

Me too. You guys are my band!

 

[Plank_Spanker]

I'm no pro.....it's more like a part time job.

But I'm out of one band and getting another together. Hopefully, we'll be ready to roll by spring.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

I'm no pro.....it's more like a part time job.

But I'm out of one band and getting another together. Hopefully, we'll be ready to roll by spring.

Hey Spanky!! Has your new band got a name yet?

I'm assuming that it's not "Planky & the Spankers".

 

[Plank_Spanker]

Hey Spanky!! Has your new band got a name yet?

I'm assuming that it's not "Planky & the Spankers".

It's not.

I'm going to wait until we have the lineup settled before we select a name. I've already found the other guitar player. We'll see if this singer works out soon enough. I'm also adding keys if I can get ahold of the guy I know.

 

[Ro3b]

About a third of my income is from teaching private lessons (mainly Irish flute, not guitar) and gigging. Weddings, parties, sessions, etc. It's fun, but it's definitely work.

 

[r_a_smith3530]

Years back, I played numerous open mic nights at blues clubs around Chicago. I've played some folk festivals and played a few coffee houses as well. For a while, I was playing in coffee houses on a regular basis. I also used to play out on the streets of Chicago for tips. As a bass player, I am part of a duo called the Crispy Noodle Band. We play out occasionally.

That said, although I've made money playing guitar, and even at one point made my entire wage with a Chicago Street Musician's permit, I would have starved to death if I'd had to rely on music for my sustenance all these years. My hat is off to those of you that have been able to attain that goal.

 

[Tone2TheBone]

I remember fantastic times playing out and meeting people. Playing great music and so so music in clubs around the state and in town and making "some" money. I remember breaking down after gigs and loading up, the late night scarfs at all night eateries ...the drive home. It was fun but since we didn't have our own roadies...it was work. BUT IT WAS GREAT. I've had to turn down offers lately to play again from guys I'd played with years before because I can't commit to the time it takes to gig and practice. Some of the bands I've been asked to play with again play the indian casino circuits around here which is pretty good business. I'd love to play live again but it's not fair to commit to the time involved. I don't want to have to quit later on down the road. This is ironic too because now I have some better tools to do the job...I just don't have the time. I couldn't make a living doing it but it could be a really cool and fun hobby...if only I had more time.....

 

[t_ross33]

This is ironic too because now I have some better tools to do the job...I just don't have the time. I couldn't make a living doing it but it could be a really cool and fun hobby...if only I had more time.....

It's a great hobby! We approach it as if we played hockey, softball or had weekly/monthly poker nights. I think as musicians we tend to sell ourselves short for indulging in such a guilty pleasure. It's tough to find or make the time, but trust me it's well worth the effort. I'm having the time of my life! Not only am I getting better as a player, I'm old enough not to have the illusions of grandeur that we are plagued with in our younger years. No desire to hit the road (in any big way), record a hit, be famous, have lots of groupies etc. I'm a happy camper, which enhances my relationships with friends and family! Remember, we all have the same amount of time in a day - it's how we choose to spend it that makes the difference.

Well, maybe groupies would be OK

Actually, I'd settle for roadies (they didn't make gear this heavy "back in the day", did they? )

Trev

 

[Tone2TheBone]

If I could play in a group that met only once a week for practice and played maybe one night on a weekend...even if it was every weekend I would do it. I can learn the tunes on my own...I always have. As it is all the guys that want me to play practice 2 times a week or more and play from Thursday night through Saturday night every week. Can't do it. Those guys don't have a sound steady job like I do, nor are their kids still in school....they play for a living and their kids are grown. See the conflict? The only way I could do it is to start my own band with people that have similar time restraints as I do.

 

[t_ross33]

The only way I could do it is to start my own band with people that have similar time restraints as I do.

That's exactly why it has worked out so well for me. We are all at a similar stage in our lives/families/careers, similar responsibilities outside the band etc. It took 20 years to find, but am I ever glad the opportunity came my way! A year ago we were four strangers, now it's like having another extended family! We practice 3 or 4 times a month, and play out once or twice a month on average. I make almost enough money to cover my GAS attacks

Good luck Tone! Maybe it's time to start calling around and seeing who's out there that would share your vision? Ya never know, and the world could be a better place for it :R

KEEP ON ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD!

Trev

 

[Tone2TheBone]

haha I share in your enthusiasm and am inspired by your encouragement. R

I have an old friend who just called me today. Used to be in a band with him long time ago. He works. He's married, has kids. We've talked about music before but I never brought up the subject of playing together again. I think it's probably cause we used to rock out back in those days and well I don't want to do the same kind of material. I want to explore other things. Who knows maybe he could learn a few Freddie King songs or something.

Ideally...I want to be in a band where I can switch off between the guitar and bass. I love playing bass. I love spanking guitar. I'd like to be in a trio. Or a 4 piece with a vocalist. A female vocalist would get us more gigs. Something along these lines. In keeping with the context of this thread I couldn't care whether we made money or not. I'd just love using all my new cool stuff live. Although I must say it's nice to have the looper at home....he don't argue about nothin'. He just plays what I want him to.

 

[t_ross33]

Ideally...I want to be in a band where I can switch off between the guitar and bass. I love playing bass. I love spanking guitar. I'd like to be in a trio. Or a 4 piece with a vocalist. A female vocalist would get us more gigs. Something along these lines. In keeping with the context of this thread I couldn't care whether we made money or not. I'd just love using all my new cool stuff live. Although I must say it's nice to have the looper at home....he don't argue about nothin'. He just plays what I want him to.

LOL! I'm looking at exploring some other avenues as well. Our band is a country-rock (crock) band, covering everything from Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash to Kenny Chesney and Green Day. That's great fun, but I do want to explore a little duo/trio semi-acoustic combo - more singer-songwriter based for the coffee house circuit (for the one coffee house in my little burg ) as well.

I think not having the pressure to "be a star" or "conform to perform" makes it easier to explore the music I want to do, rather than play to the tastes of a "certain demographic". It's nice to put a little jingle in the jeans, but at the end of the day, I play for the joy of playing and the challenge to constantly improve (and I have lots of room for improvement!).

Again, good luck! I expect to hear all about it in the near future.

Trev

 

[Tone2TheBone]

Thanks man. Glad you gave me a nudge.

 

[snarph]

Why ruin a perfectly good happy place by doing it for a living

 

[oldguy]

Why ruin a perfectly good happy place by doing it for a living

Exactly! I played for "extra money" (really GAS money) for years, and tho we did a good mix of country/oldies/and rock, I got really tired of drunks and the bar scene. I've played in church, but here most churches want it "toned down" and stick to pretty much traditional gospel. There's nothing wrong with that, either, but it's not me. I played in a band with female singers, too.
The first was looking for her "big break" to get famous, the second was...how should I put this...well, a coke head, but a great singer. I've seen some fantastic lady singers and musicians, but never seemed to have the good fortune to work with one.
I'd play in a working band again if I could find like-minded people who do it for fun and for the music. I don't think I'd be interested in playing for drunks or with folks who have the ego complex any time soon, tho.

 

[tremoloman]

I play and perform merely for the love of music and the guitar as an instrument. Without it a part of me is missing. Music is my lifeline!

 

[M29]

Hello All,

I am having the time of my life playing at home right now and trying to record a few things with the computer. When I was younger in my late teens early twenties I used to play the typical rock of the late sixties and early seventies. I had a great time with it and did a lot of traveling. It always seemed that I had to play the wrong stuff in order to live off the music though. I wanted to rock but the steady money was in the "top forty" stuff, and I was on my own and had to eat so "top forty" it was most of the time. I left home about a year of out of highschool from my home state of Michigan to Florida with part of our band. We had everything but a bass player. I could not believe how hard it was to find a bass player. We had some fun on the beach and in the clubs, oh I played drums at this time and picked up a little guitar from the players in various bands I played in. We never did find a bass player and the band moved back to MI and I stayed in Florida. I worked a bunch of jobs before I found another band and then I was in and out of bands and various jobs for the 3 or so years I was there. I did get to play in New York and Chicago during this time which was a fun experience. It was tough making a living off of it though. It is hard to get 4 or 5 or more people together as much as needed to keep your music fresh and to play steady gigs. I look back and wonder how it actually happend as consistantly as it did. I guess the love of music kept everyone there when they were supposed to be. There were those times though when you wondered if certain people were going to show up
The thing I loved most though was getting together with some of the guys and just jamming. A couple of us guys used to go to the suburbs of Chicago to meet some friends and one of the guys would rent a small warehouse for the weekend. We would set up our equipment and jam all weekend, leaving the warehouse only for food and beverages. I would come home with ears ringing, blisters on my hands from the drums sticks and just drained, but did we have a great time! This is what I would like to get out of my guitar playing these days. If I could just get together with some friends and jam I would have the time of my life. I would have to tone down the intensity of course, man old age will kick your butt. Oh yeah I do need to get better on the guitar but I am close to at least having some fun with it.

Sorry for the long post, I kind of got carried away.

It is good to hear all your stories, it sure brings back some good memories.

M29

 

[Tone2TheBone]

Hey M29 I'll play bass for ya!

 

[M29]

Hey Tone! Yeah lets dooooooooo it! Na I am too old, too many trips to the bathroom

Florida seemed like a workin place for musicians and bass players were tough to find shoot any players were tough to find they were all workin.

We got a good place to play right here on TheFret.Net, it would be cool to have a live chat/jam session. Maybe someday that will happen.

Thanks for the visit Tone

M29

 

[Tim]

I just wish I could get started in some home recording. If I had the time, I think it could improve my talent. I anmtaking a few days of for the holidays. Since no new toys are on Santa's list, hopefully I get get myself engaged in learning this home hobby.

 

[jpfeifer]

I get a paying gig every now and then but it's not my main income and it's not the main reason that I play music. I play mostly for the love of making music and learning new stuff on the guitar.

I had always dreamed of being a full-time professional player when I was younger but I got a little discouraged about going down that path when I met guys who were actually doing it. Alot of them were either struggling with the money aspect, or playing alot of gigs doing stuff that they really didn't want to play just for the work.

If you can have fun playing music with people that you enjoy, doing the kind of music that makes you happy, there is nothing better. If you also get paid to do this then it's even better. But as long as you're having fun that's the main thing.

-- Jim