The Weekend Warrior & The Part Time Job

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I really like that, it's probably the most intelligent perspective I've seen on this topic in a long time.

I never understood posts where guys would say things like;

"I don't care if anyone shows up for our gigs or not"

" I don't care what people think of my playing"

" It's my art, my own self expression "

Blue

people actually say those things? i should pay closer attention.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by the yeti

people actually say those things? i should pay closer attention.

Well, not a lot, but I've seen it.

Blue

[R Upsomegrub]

I have 2 main gigs at the moment: a blues band and a New Country/Classic Rock band.

For the most part, the blues band is still fun (we also do some funk, r&b and Motown) but it doesn't work much.

The New Country/Classic Rock band works more and gets decent paying gigs. I do it for the money. It's a part-time job. The guys in the band are OK to work with, but the drummer isn't very experienced and the material isn't really my thing. But (for now), it beats getting a "real" part-time job!

[modulusman]

I actually make more money per hour playing music than I do at my day job. Last weekend I played 2 gigs. From the time I left home until returned home I had 17 hours total. Made $500.00 and one free meal. It also is a heck of alot more fun than siding houses in knee deep snow which is my day job at the moment.

[Flyingfrets]

No, it's not a bad thing.

Spent 26 years pushing originals (the latter 7 were actually fairly successful in terms of cd sales - the years before that were a real grind at times). Took 3 years off. Did absolutely nothing with music - didn't even touch an instrument.

Current gig was offered in 2010. Figured "what the Hell...why not?"

Didn't realize how much I missed playing till I started again. Guys I'm with are very driven, exceedingly professional, always prepared and when it started paying off with the self satisfaction of nailing almost perfect, note-for-note covers and the moolah started flowing, it occurred to me that it might be a job, but it's the best damned job I've ever had. And it sure as Hell beats that 8 - 6 drudgery I show up for 6 days a week during the day.

[bluewine]

[quote=R Upsomegrub;1

The New Country/Classic Rock band works more and gets decent paying gigs. I do it for the money. It's a part-time job. The guys in the band are OK to work with, but the drummer isn't very experienced and the material isn't really my thing. But (for now), it beats getting a "real" part-time job![/QUOTE]

You bet it does!

Blue

[hsech]

I'm an older guy. I'm retired and SS just doesn't go very far. I would like to start turning a little talent into a little cash. I don't expect to get rich, but it would be nice to supplement retirement. If I had my way I would play five nights a week, but I don't think that will happen in the Des Moines area.

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by hsech

I'm an older guy. I'm retired and SS just doesn't go very far. I would like to start turning a little talent into a little cash. I don't expect to get rich, but it would be nice to supplement retirement. If I had my way I would play five nights a week, but I don't think that will happen in the Des Moines area.

We've got a retired teacher in our band and he's doing the same thing (supplementing his pension with gigs). Between our band and a side project he's gigging anywhere from 3 to 5 nights a week steady and I wouldn't be surprised if that translates to as much if not more than his pension (teachers have never gotten paid much in this state).

[bluewine]

Seems like so far many of us like this job.

Blue

[EvanF1322]

I play bass in a "punk rock n roll band" and dont make a dime doing it, all the money we get, we put back into the band and I'm totally fine with that. It would be great to make money and be able to do nothing but play my music, but that's not feasible for me right now. I just really love playing music, working on starting another side project here soon and maybe do more touring with that, than i do currently. And of course i have my acoustic sets i do, but if i ever get cash from that it's just to cover some beer and gas, which keeps me happy haha.

[BayStateBass]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Seems like so far many of us like this job.

Blue

Well, it certainly beats working Mall Security, bagging groceries, or peddling faucets at the local Home Depot.

[jweber76]

I am in almost the same exact boat as baystatebass, wife, two little boys, very demanding job, and agree that while I don't love many of the songs we play for our cover gigs it's the rush of performing on stage and watching people enjoy themselves that motivates me (as well as the cash, of course)
We are actually two bands in one, we play covers but we also play all original gigs... They don't pay nearly as much but are extremely gratifying for me as I am the primary songwriter and singer for our original material.
We sprinkle a few originals in our cover sets on most nights, they sit well in our set list and give my brother a break(he sings most of the covers)
To blue's question : yes, it is a job. Yes, it is the best job in the world, And I always treat it as such.
John

[bluewine]

Amazing, the word "job" use to be a bad word.

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by EvanF1322

I play bass in a "punk rock n roll band" and dont make a dime doing it, all the money we get, we put back into the band and I'm totally fine with that. It would be great to make money and be able to do nothing but play my music, but that's not feasible for me right now. I just really love playing music, working on starting another side project here soon and maybe do more touring with that, than i do currently. And of course i have my acoustic sets i do, but if i ever get cash from that it's just to cover some beer and gas, which keeps me happy haha.

It's interesting, many of us even with another career still like the money.

At first I thought it was the older guys that had a different appreciation or validation from being paid and keeping your pay. But now I'm not sure. I think it's just more of an individual preference regardless of age.

Blue

[Depth_Charge]

Originally Posted by bluewine

My question, is it a bad thing when playing bass in a Rock Band becomes a job? If yes, why?

Nope. Only bad aspect IMO is a bad hang. Everything else pales in comparison to that.

[tycobb73]

Define job. As my only source of income? Yes. It is not my first love. Way back when in the late 90s I was presenting my research (psych student at the time) and in my time off got to talking to this female at the bar. She found out I was a musician and asked me if I wanted to be a rock star. I said no. I love music. But ling in hotels where every city looks the same because all you see are the hotels and the bus or plane, never seeing your true feineds or family, it wasn't for me. I never tried it and never had a desire to. She asked me what it would take. I said 5 mil a year and after 5 years I'm out. I know this is wierd but I love my day job mure than music. Musicc is a release to me. It is my haobby not my passion. My day job: accountant.

Now if you mean job as in you behave resposniby when you are performing, then it being a job is a good thing.

[BayStateBass]

Originally Posted by bluewine

It's interesting, many of us even with another career still like the money.

At first I thought it was the older guys that had a different appreciation or validation from being paid and keeping your pay. But now I'm not sure. I think it's just more of an individual preference regardless of age.

Blue

You know, I wondered about this myself; is the attitude a reflection of the person's age and other experiences, that is. My first thought was much like yours, actually. But in thinking it over I know some young guys who have their head on straight, and just as many older guys who are still floundering around like high-school kids.

I guess it does come down to the individual person.

[Flyingfrets]

Originally Posted by bluewine

It's interesting, many of us even with another career still like the money.

At first I thought it was the older guys that had a different appreciation or validation from being paid and keeping your pay. But now I'm not sure. I think it's just more of an individual preference regardless of age.

Blue

Yeah, I agree.

I work for the state (and I actually like what I do), and while the money isn't bad, you'll never get rich doing it, so the extra income doesn't hurt. For me, here's where the preference comes into play...

Day job - bosses are complete dicks.

Music - I'm my own boss. We're only answerable to each other. We're democratic enough to realize if we start in-fighting, the band suffers, the music suffers and eventually the the money will too.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Flyingfrets

Yeah, I agree.

I work for the state (and I actually like what I do), and while the money isn't bad, you'll never get rich doing it, so the extra income doesn't hurt. For me, here's where the preference comes into play...

Day job - bosses are complete dicks.

Music - I'm my own boss. We're only answerable to each other. We're democratic enough to realize if we start in-fighting, the band suffers, the music suffers and eventually the the money will too.

When I walk into the office anything can happen, anyone can be blamed 4 anything that goes wrong. And there's very little you can do about it.

When I walk into a gig I feel like I have alot of control and my ideas are well respected.

Blue

[Ric5]

The band thing for me becomes a low paying 2nd job ... I have a good career, but I have to get up at 5:15, and I get home from work at 5PM. So a 2nd job that pays low wages and keeps me up to 4am gets old really fast.