The "I'm only in it for the money" club

[MatticusMania]

Can I be in it for the money, too?

I want to form an 80s coverband.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Hankenstein

I was only in it for the money but it got so frustrating that I went back to college and got a degree in English lit.

So now youre making minimum wage as a pizza carrier?

(Im just kidding, of course)

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by fmoore200

When I initially read the OP, I read it as sarcastic, but in a humorous way. I guess that I have a similar sense of humor, so I read it that way. Maybe I was wrong.

Maybe if he would've added some emoticons instead of writing it "straight" it would have come across differently - not saying the outcome would've been different though

I read it as someone who couldn't see the possibility that someone could make money as a musicians and not ONLY be in it for the money. And all these posts later I don't see that has changed. Pretty much a sour grapes vibe.


I have a friend who's an "entertainer" and he does maybe four band shows a year. Every time he puts a group together he complains about freelance musicians, musicians who play with diffferent folks instead of locking in with one project. Finally I asked him what musicians he thought he'd end up with who played with him exclusively for the four gigs he did? That would leave an awful lot of free time in which he didn't want them working with anyone else. Other than offering one hell of a retainer, I didn't see how that would work short of using people who didn't want to gig in the first place. He hadn't looked at it that way.

There's definitely a negative connotation attached to making money as a musician in this thread which started at the title.

[Downunderwonder]

OP clearly has little interest in making money from making music. 12 paying gigs for all time!

I'm not subsidising a bar unless it's for charity or in my interest, eg networking at an open mic.

[capncal]

anyone playing to get laid?

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by capncal

anyone playing to get laid?

Thats why I started playing, only it backfired on me. Every time I get laid I end up making her my girlfriend, for fear that another one may not come along.

[nortonrider]

This thread is still going (and brad still has some ax to grind) I see.
A couple of responses:

Originally Posted by Russell L

Off topic just a moment, if I may, I'd like to ask the OP if he rides a Norton. I'm a Harley rider myownself, but have ridden an old Norton Commando chopper WAY back. I love Nortons, BSAs, and Triumphs.

Ok, back to the grind.

Yes I do. I own a few bikes, There is a pic of my Norton in this thread:
Show your Hot Rod or favorite Ride

Originally Posted by bassbully

I liked the post and support you and it. You know how TB is there are some who want just to cause trouble and others who if they don't agree will at least agree to disagree and discuss.

It's the net and I wont let anyone ruffle my feathers, nothing they say or do I really care about if it is negitive.

Yeah, It seems to be the nature of Talkbass.
I don't let it bother me, how could I?
It's the internet, people can be anything they want to be behind the anonymity of their keyboard - Comedians, Tough Guys, Experts in everything, and even "professional" musicians.

Originally Posted by two fingers

Lighten up. It's just a forum.

No problems here!
I actually find it interesting how people can see the exact same post and read it in so many different ways.

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Can I be in it for the money, too?

I want to form an 80s coverband.

NO!

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

OP clearly has little interest in making money from making music. 12 paying gigs for all time!

I think that goes without saying and I thought that I made it pretty clear in that particular post:

Originally Posted by nortonrider

My history:
I've been playing on and off (mostly on) for the past 30 years.
In that time I have played in 4 organized groups and countless get togethers and jams.
I have played 12 "gigs" in my life, (all paying), but I didn't do them for the money, it was more or less for the experience.

What I learned is that I really don't enjoy playing in front of an audience (for any amount of money) but I Do very much enjoy making music,...........

Well.... that's it,
now back to the flaming and derogatory posting.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

NO!

But... but... what if... what if I think it would be fun?

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by capncal

anyone playing to get laid?

Actually, no. When you look like I do, you have a lot better chance of getting a fat stack of bills after a gig than getting laid........

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

This thread is still going (and brad still has some ax to grind) I see.

Because this whole thread wasn't about an axe you're grinding?


Okay. I did find this funny as heck...

"Yeah, It seems to be the nature of Talkbass.
I don't let it bother me, how could I?
It's the internet, people can be anything they want to be behind the anonymity of their keyboard - Comedians, Tough Guys, Experts in everything, and even "professional" musicians".


My name is Brad Johnson (it's also who I am in front of my keyboard) and I currently play music for a living and have been for the last few years. That's not being anything I want to be in anonymity, it just is.

OTOH unless your name is actually Nortonrider...

too easy. It's a conversation, man. That's all.

[slobake]

I don't make any money but I do get to hang out with my friends and play music that moves me. I get to write songs and we get to play in front of people once a week.

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

But... but... what if... what if I think it would be fun?

Hey Matticus...I spent a week about 10 years ago, spandexed, hairsprayed, bandana'ed and pouting to the max in a one-off 80's glam metal tribute band.

It. Was. A. Riot.

We covered Poison, Ratt, Cinderella, Bullet Boys, Skid Row, Crüe, Warrant, Dokken, Winger, WASP, Enuff Z Nuff, G'N'R and Faster Pussycat....and you know what? I learned an entire set list in 2 nights!

And you know something else? We did it for free. Because it was a sheer joy. Nothing else. Just pure, unadulterated fun.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Hey Matticus...I spent a week about 10 years ago, spandexed, hairsprayed, bandana'ed and pouting to the max in a one-off 80's glam metal tribute band.

It. Was. A. Riot.

We covered Poison, Ratt, Cinderella, Bullet Boys, Skid Row, Crüe, Warrant, Dokken, Winger, WASP, Enuff Z Nuff, G'N'R and Faster Pussycat....and you know what? I learned an entire set list in 2 nights!

And you know something else? We did it for free. Because it was a sheer joy. Nothing else. Just pure, unadulterated fun.

Haha! I couldnt do that, myself. I can't stand hair metal. I was thinking more along the lines of NewWave stuff. Blondie, The Cure, The Smiths, Tears for Fears, Oingo Boingo... more the type of music one would hear in an 80s club.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Hey Matticus...

And you know something else? We did it for free. Because it was a sheer joy. Nothing else. Just pure, unadulterated fun.

well, hopefully you didn't have to lug any pa...

[Tituscrow]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Haha! I couldnt do that, myself. I can't stand hair metal. I was thinking more along the lines of NewWave stuff. Blondie, The Cure, The Smiths, Tears for Fears, Oingo Boingo... more the type of music one would hear in an 80s club.

Funny you should say that. They are some of the bands I cut my teenage teeth on way back when. Still listen to TFF and The Smiths/Morrissey. And 'Rapture' has one of my all time favourite bass lines. I think I was about 12 when I learned that on my old mans acoustic. Debbie Harry in 1981. Mmmmmm....

Sorry for the minor derail. Blame Debbie Harry.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Funny you should say that. They are some of the bands I cut my teenage teeth on way back when. Still listen to TFF and The Smiths/Morrissey. And 'Rapture' has one of my all time favourite bass lines. I think I was about 12 when I learned that on my old mans acoustic. Debbie Harry in 1981. Mmmmmm....

Sorry for the minor derail. Blame Debbie Harry.

Do you think a coverband doing that material would go over well?

Mmmm Debbie Harry...

[Gaolee]

Originally Posted by capncal

anyone playing to get laid?

Yes. I gave up on the money. Hot chicks dig mediocre bass players.

[Russell L]

Gorgeous bike, nortonrider. White looks great!

[mark roberts]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

This sounds like you are wanting to be paid for the "hassle" of playing a gig.
It doesn't sound like you derive much enjoyment out of it.
am I wrong?

Maybe. Depends on how long and if you feel like you have beating your head against the wall doing what you thought might bring you some reward to you and others based upon what you invest over the years. If you're playing covers, then it's straight-forward. If you've got an audience that expects it to be "note-for-note" or if you've got an audience that is predominantly "let's see how you interpret and present" you may or may not get the rewards you seek. If money drives it, good luck....sometimes, just a cover charge sends them away before they even know anything about the band. There are plenty of people that think that way. Right now, it just seems that people expect music to be "free of charge". If you're young, hang on to your hope. Maybe you'll get your time in the spotlight. Otherwise, follow your heart and have a trusty day-job.

[jazzyitalian]

For many of these folks (not myself mind you) it's about money because money buys Food, Clothes, pays for rent and in the case of those guys who are also parents, it's about their kids' well being.

Try not to read too hard between the lines. Few musicians have the luxury of a trust fund to live on while they soul search the internal recesses of their individual musicality. That's why so many of them wind up discussing good paying gigs and how to get more of them.

Personally I'm not bothered by the gig counts and money. I understand that these guys live on a different plane than me. So I can appreciate the need for them to start a string to support one another through the gig discussions. It's not something that I frequent anyway.

Me....It used to be about the money and to a degree, the women that followed. But that was then. This is now... Now, I'm just a part time playa with a full time 9-5 career. So it's neither. I'm not as interested in the money and not in search of any musical soul. I just like to play.

J

Originally Posted by nortonrider

No - not really!
With the amount of post/threads concerning playing and compensation, it got me wondering.........

How many guys here judge their musicianship by the amount of "gigs' they do or the amount of money that they make?
(like a competition or gauging themselves against players that don't play out often.)

Does being up on a stage somehow "validate" your decision to make music?

How many play an instrument for the sole reason of performing in front of others?

How many do it because making music is what moves them?

How many think that it's fun / a hobby?


Really....... why such as strong focus on money?