Freelancing in London - How is it?

mrkode · #1 08-22-2008, 10:43 AM

Hi there,

I'm considering moving from Quebec to London in order to pursue my career as a pop / rock freelance bass player and would like to know how is the scene there.

Are there a lot of gig opportunities? Or is it like here, lots and lots of good musicians but no jobs?

It doesn't matter how big or well known the artist or act is. The only thing I wanna achieve is to be able to make a decent living playing music and get rid of my dreadful dayjob already.

Forward thanks!

Marco

mrkode · #2 08-25-2008, 08:31 AM

Anyone??????

Deacon_Blues · #3 08-25-2008, 11:45 AM

I know of one jazz/pop drummer from here that is doing well in UK. I don't know him personally, but a friend who does said that he had said the gigs generally pay less than in Finland, but there's a lot more of them. Here's his Myspace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=134991700

Phalex · #4 08-25-2008, 11:49 AM

London Ontario?? Or London England?

mrkode · #5 08-25-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

I know of one jazz/pop drummer from here that is doing well in UK. I don't know him personally, but a friend who does said that he had said the gigs generally pay less than in Finland, but there's a lot more of them. Here's his Myspace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=134991700

Thanks I'll check him out.

mrkode · #6 08-25-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

London Ontario?? Or London England?

London England

Phalex · #7 08-25-2008, 06:14 PM

That's a heck of a drive!

**bassybill** · #8 08-26-2008, 03:15 AM

Lots of opportunites to play - but not really enough opportunities for regular, sustainable, well paid work that will mean you can make a good living without a lot of worry.

Average UK income per household is about £30,0000 pa.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=334

That is by no means rich living, I can assure you. Add about a third on top of that for living in London, and then maybe another 25% on top for being self-employed and having to make your own National Insurance contributions, pension arrangements, not being paid when you take a break, et cetera. That's £50k or so you need to make in a year to be AVERAGE. Forget buying property with a mortgage out of that, you'll be renting unless you have a considerable sum available to invest already.

So, that works out to five nights a week at about £200 (~$400) a night, every week, reliably, for the duration of your London career.

Of course, not everybody needs or wants that sort of income and you could live in London for less if you don't mind having very little money and even less security. Not for me, I'm afraid, but good luck to you if you fancy taking your chances.

Apologies if this sounds harsh or negative, but to me it's just being realistic.

Bruce Lindfield · #9 08-26-2008, 03:21 AM

I didn't want to write and be discouraging but would agree with the above - a lot of musicians in London make ends meet by teaching.

I've met and talked to a lot of musicians from London and they always like to have a good moan!

You might want to post your question in Steve Lawson's forum - as he is a London-based musician!

Deacon_Blues · #10 08-26-2008, 04:10 AM

Just wanted to add that it doesn't only require musical talent, it's about playing with as many musicians you can (i.e. making contacts) - the more the better, but preferably acknowledged, well-known musicians. Being available and a nice person that people enjoy playing and hanging out with is also very important.

mrkode · #11 08-26-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

Lots of opportunites to play - but not really enough opportunities for regular, sustainable, well paid work that will mean you can make a good living without a lot of worry.

Average UK income per household is about £30,0000 pa.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=334

That is by no means rich living, I can assure you. Add about a third on top of that for living in London, and then maybe another 25% on top for being self-employed and having to make your own National Insurance contributions, pension arrangements, not being paid when you take a break, et cetera. That's £50k or so you need to make in a year to be AVERAGE. Forget buying property with a mortgage out of that, you'll be renting unless you have a considerable sum available to invest already.

So, that works out to five nights a week at about £200 (~$400) a night, every week, reliably, for the duration of your London career.

Of course, not everybody needs or wants that sort of income and you could live in London for less if you don't mind having very little money and even less security. Not for me, I'm afraid, but good luck to you if you fancy taking your chances.

Apologies if this sounds harsh or negative, but to me it's just being realistic.

Thank you very much for the info. And you don't have to appologize. The real picture will be far more helpful than anything else.

I'll have to evaluate and compare living costs and needs.

Here, the usual gig rate is anywhere from 75$ for unsigned bar bands to 200$-300$ for established acts and up to 500$ if you have the proper track sheet. Most musicians are either living with their girlfriend or a roomate even when they gig a lot. And you can't play 5 nights a week as people don't go out to see shows much other than on thu-fri-sat nights unless you're with a well known act that plays medium to big venues.

Anyway, thanks a lot again for all the info.

mrkode · #12 08-26-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

Just wanted to add that it doesn't only require musical talent, it's about playing with as many musicians you can (i.e. making contacts) - the more the better, but preferably acknowledged, well-known musicians. Being available and a nice person that people enjoy playing and hanging out with is also very important.

That's for sure. But even if you have all that, if there is not enough work for all the musicians in town like the situation around here, you're still stuck in a rut unless one of your good friends get a good gig and needs a bass player, assuming he doesn't have a better friend than you who's also playing bass lol.

**bassybill** · #13 08-26-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkode

Thank you very much for the info. And you don't have to appologize. The real picture will be far more helpful than anything else.

I'll have to evaluate and compare living costs and needs.

Here, the usual gig rate is anywhere from 75$ for unsigned bar bands to 200$-300$ for established acts and up to 500$ if you have the proper track sheet. Most musicians are either living with their girlfriend or a roomate even when they gig a lot. And you can't play 5 nights a week as people don't go out to see shows much other than on thu-fri-sat nights unless you're with a well known act that plays medium to big venues.

Anyway, thanks a lot again for all the info.

Doesn't sound that different to London.

And yes, you'd find it hard (ie, pretty close to impossible) to gig 5 nights week here, too, on anything like a regular basis, which of course was the point I was trying to make.

Oh well, I'm glad you found this rather gloomy picture helpful, anyway. Coming to London might be a good thing for you to do for other reasons of your own, but don't get up your hopes very high of making anything like a reasonable living wage from gigging as very, very few manage that (if any). It's just the way things are, I'm afraid.