Would You take the gig

phippsyg · #1 10-02-2007, 07:48 AM

Been asked to play in a band and am unsure whether to take it or not. Have decided to make a decent go at a musical career and not sure if this is the way in.
The band is made up of good musos, with well above average contacts. Excellent contacts as a matter of fact. However some of the songwriting is questionable and I am not sure how marketable it is. Rehearsals are a bit of a drive and gigs that are booked at the moment don't pay well. But they are a nice bunch of people with good abilities. I am already in one band that I'm not fully comitted to, do I take up another for the sake of making contacts?

jerome_oneil · #2 10-02-2007, 12:06 PM

Pro's get paid to play, so go play.

It's us amatures that get to be all artsy and finicky about our muse.

jwl · #3 10-02-2007, 04:20 PM

take the gig, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

peace, jeff

Siegy · #4 10-02-2007, 04:33 PM

If you're more worried about how much you're going to get paid than the music, you should question your choice of career.

phippsyg · #5 10-02-2007, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siegy

If you're more worried about how much you're going to get paid than the music, you should question your choice of career.

I understand what your saying however bills need to be paid. I figure most musos at some point take a gig they are not passionate about for money/opportunity.
My concern with the gig I'm looking at is that at the moment the money isn't great and I don't overly dig the music, however there are some well known people surrounding the band and I would only be doing it as an opportunity to make contacts.
Is that enough of a reason to drive to rehearsals etc.

DrayMiles · #6 10-02-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phippsyg

I am already in one band that I'm not fully comitted to, do I take up another for the sake of making contacts?

Yes.

Jeb · #7 10-02-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siegy

If you're more worried about how much you're going to get paid than the music, you should question your choice of career.

How much your going to get paid is certainly a valid consideration when considering a career. There's more to it than just "having the music touch you inside" and all that nonsense. Is the music any good? Usually it isn't and only appeals to those who are being "touched inside" by it all.

I don't mean to be harsh and I know I've harped on this before but most bands with stars in their eyes don't have a clue as to anything except the music. Sad thing is that most of the time it isn't any good. You have to look at this stuff from multiple perspectives and you have to be lucky, if not talented. But you still have to have good songs!

If I was phippsyg, I'd play every opportunity I got.

basswave · #8 10-02-2007, 08:54 PM

Questions to ask yourself.

Are you getting paid enough to get by ok?

Do you like the folks your playing with?

Do you see potential growth musically?

If you answer yes to all these questions then go for it.
There is always going to be a uncertainty factor.

As long as the above is cool...then you will be.

Cheers

Cannonball · #9 10-29-2007, 02:01 PM

i ve never regretted taking a gig although i was in doubt about it beeing fun or musically and/or financially intersting. something good always comes from it. even if the project doesnt carry on, you might meet musicians through this that you ll do other things with later.

BillMason · #10 10-29-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siegy

If you're more worried about how much you're going to get paid than the music, you should question your choice of career.

Sorry, I've never understood this dogmatic approach to making music - I feel that attitude may make sense from an all-original band's perspective or from a songwriter's perspective, where the old romantic notion of "staying true to your heart no matter the obstacles and rejection" has paid off for a small number of lucky artists, but for an individual, freelancer musician? No, IMHO. The bottom line is that you have a skill - if you are a professional, you can use your skill in any situation. A professional plumber will fix anyone's plumbing if they can pay the bill, not just the ones who subscribe to a certain school of architecture. A professional lawyer will address anyone's legal issues, provided they are not breaking any ethics codes, regardless of whether or not they think the client is a tool, or wrong.

Wesley R · #11 10-29-2007, 02:33 PM

with your exact sittuation, Age, income needs, family, geographical stuff, political issues, what the music scene is like etc.
When I was younger and making my living gigging, I took every gig! Some worked out great, most worked out well, a few were not as good. I learned and earned from each one.

Best of Luck,
Wesley R.

punkbassistfc · #12 10-30-2007, 06:44 AM

Go for it mate, you will never know until you try it. Regret sucks way more then failing

Dave Muscato · #13 10-30-2007, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siegy

If you're more worried about how much you're going to get paid than the music, you should question your choice of career.

Spoken like a true 19-year-old

edited to add: I'm 23, and not trying to knock you, Siegy... but when you have bills to pay, you'll realize that, in the words of TB's own JimmyM, "Being an 'artiste' is the province of the rich and the poor."

It's okay to love your job, but that doesn't mean it's not still a job... and if it's a job, you need to worry about how much you're getting paid. Otherwise, it's a hobby - and remember, the nature of hobbies is that somebody *else* is getting rich so you can lose money. It's not black-and-white... you can (and should) pay care to both the money & the music.

The key is to keep it in balance. Funny things happen when you combine business and art. Just keep it in perspective.

One could argue that if you are paying more attention to the music than how much you're getting paid, *then* you should examine your choice of career! You're the one who said "career" (a.k.a. job), after all!

JohnH2H · #14 11-01-2007, 04:20 PM

If you dig the music and the dudes you're playing with, go for it. Unless it's a cover gig or something, why would it matter how much the band is going to be getting paid?? If I was offering a spot in my band to someone and they started complaining about money right off the bat, I'm gonna tell them that it's probably not gonna work out.

I have a 9-5er when I'm not on the road to pay the bills. On tour, it's hand sandwiches and 99-cent value meals for now.

Unless you're trying to be a session player, I'm telling you right now: you're in the wrong business if money>music. In the long run, yeah, I hope to be able to pay the bills and do it full time in a rock band. In the meantime, have fun and make contacts and learn as much as you can.

But hey that's just one dirty rocker dude's opinion.