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$75-100 gigs in 2023

#201
If I check back on the bands and gigs from around 1990..which is when people think was a great unmatched time... there are way more gigs now.
The pay has doubled at least, and the amount of gigs way way more. The number of bands is so much more.
The standards of the bands relates to this.
The top two bands from the 90's were decent but couldn't stand up in the top 5 now.
(there are bands now getting gigs who would never get them back then though)

Just a few observations ime.
 
#202
pepj said:
If I check back on the bands and gigs from around 1990..which is when people think was a great unmatched time... there are way more gigs now.
The pay has doubled at least, and the amount of gigs way way more. The number of bands is so much more.
The standards of the bands relates to this.
The top two bands from the 90's were decent but couldn't stand up in the top 5 now.
(there are bands now getting gigs who would never get them back then though)

Just a few observations ime.
Click to expand...
Who are these "people" who think 1990 was a "great unmatched time" for semi-professional bands playing for entertainment?

Maybe 1950.

I'll just point out that $100 in 1990 is worth $235 today. Bands that were getting $100 a man in 1990, do you think the same caliber of bands are getting $235 today? I don't think so.
 
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#203
turf3 said:
Who are these "people" who think 1990 was a "great unmatched time" for semi-professional bands playing for entertainment?

Maybe 1950.

I'll just point out that $100 in 1990 is worth $235 today. Bands that were getting $100 a man in 1990, do you think the same caliber of bands are getting $235 today? I don't think so.
Click to expand...

So so many people i know who have 30 plus years or gigs in them think today is not like the old days.
They lament its not like the old days.
I'm still gigging and I think it is so much better.

No, I dont think bar venues are paying $235 per man today.
But I do play with a far higher calibre of player today collectively, imv
 
#204
I play in a 6-piece Tex-Mex band around the east bay area here in northern CA. I get $100 minimum for 3 sets of music. The band leader doesn't take a cut but takes the tip jar and if he makes the $100, then we get tips as well. The 3-piece blues band I'm in I get $250 -$300. Sometimes to just play 5 songs at the Art gallery opening or some other function. But he's kind of famous, so he gets paid well.
 
#205
pepj said:
So so many people i know who have 30 plus years or gigs in them think today is not like the old days.
They lament its not like the old days.
I'm still gigging and I think it is so much better.
Click to expand...

Have you adapted in music as time has gone on? It seems like a lot of people want to play 50+ year old songs only and are perplexed when it's not the primary market. It exists but you have to find the right spots.
 
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#206
poppunk said:
Have you adapted in music as time has gone on? It seems like a lot of people want to play 50+ year old songs only and are perplexed when it's not the primary market. It exists but you have to find the right spots.
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This is a very interesting dynamic, imv.
All sorts of things come into play but the first and most critical is to know who you are playing for.
That might be determined by the venue the date and time. For instance the friday night gig can be miles away from the sunday afternoon.

If I only could pick one element that can transcend many types of gigs it would be to make it dancey over the material you play.

The Breeze isn't the go to number for a young friday night crowd but I guarantee a few numbers in, will get toes tapping... if you play it right.

We call on numbers from the 60's which isn't always my thing, right through to the noughties, but our best gig, event permitting is an Americana Rock set, imv.

Basically we are interested in good songs..
 
#207
g4string said:
Answered a call for a working “pro” 5 piece country band in the DFW area who needs a bass player. Band is made up of older players who have some time under their belt (guess at 46 yo, I have some time under mine as well). He said they play out 2-3xs per month, 3 one hour sets, and take home 75-100 a man. That’s when I said thank you for your time. I’m not your guy.

I mean seriously, are cover bands still working for 400-500 per show/ 75-100 per man? I can understand the pay disparity for original acts trying to find their way and build and a following. But a cover band, especially for a full nights worth of music. No way. Maybe it’s cause I’m older and my time is worth more than that. I dunno. I also know what bands make in this circuit as I’ve played in several before. 200+ in a man in DFW for a good cover band (county, rock, variety, or top 40) is becoming more of the standard pay at clubs now. I just couldn’t believe a band of supposed seasoned guys working for less than a 100. Obviously, they’re not that pro and or seasoned as they led me to believe. Lol.

But this made me wonder, what’s y’all’s bare minimum for gigs in your market?
Click to expand...

The country band I retired from is now booking in the $1000 to $2000 per night range. They don’t play bars anymore. Local-ish fairs festivals, weddings with the odd corporate event here and there. They’re killing it.

It’s still not enough to get me back into the gigging life, though.
 
#209
One of the issues I see locally is bands, especially young bands, who want to play the music they want to play rather than the music that people want to hear. Thats great but you have to be aware of the commercial status of your choices. In the local area, if you want to gig steady, you play Beach Music and Vintage Rock. Country and Classic Rock does okay, but the harder you go the less you gig and so many of the young people I run across these days want to do Death/Power/Speed/Black Metal. The ZZ Top-style Cover Band I was playing with did well enough
 
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#211
Egg250 said:
This one, right here. How much do you respect your practice, dedication and work? It may be a labor of love but it is still work.


It is nice to have that audience appreciation, but an empty band bank account is a stark reminder of how much you really are appreciated.


Sure, $20 an hour is better than nothing. After you factor in strings, equipment maintenance/replacement, drum heads, gas (for rehearsals too), and practice/rehearsal time.....is it really $20 per hour?
Click to expand...

If you're gonna take that route you could dissect anything down to you losing money, but it's intellectually dishonest
 
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#213
James Flowers said:
One of the issues I see locally is bands, especially young bands, who want to play the music they want to play rather than the music that people want to hear. Thats great but you have to be aware of the commercial status of your choices. In the local area, if you want to gig steady, you play Beach Music and Vintage Rock. Country and Classic Rock does okay, but the harder you go the less you gig and so many of the young people I run across these days want to do Death/Power/Speed/Black Metal. The ZZ Top-style Cover Band I was playing with did well enough
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you mention vintage and classic rock. Can I ask how you are differentiating this? Is vintage rock older than classic or newer or?
 
#215
richntiff said:
you mention vintage and classic rock. Can I ask how you are differentiating this? Is vintage rock older than classic or newer or?
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I'd guess Vintage encompasses acts like Beatles, Elvis, Cream etc, and Classic would be BTO, Seger, Skynyrd and the like. If you notice he included vintage with beach, and classic with country. Those are two pretty well defined, popular band recipes. My band is definitively classic rock and country, and the classic rock is 70s-80s, not earlier.
 
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#218
ChrisB2 said:
I'd guess Vintage encompasses acts like Beatles, Elvis, Cream etc, and Classic would be BTO, Seger, Skynyrd and the like. If you notice he included vintage with beach, and classic with country. Those are two pretty well defined, popular band recipes. My band is definitively classic rock and country, and the classic rock is 70s-80s, not earlier.
Click to expand...

That is kind of my guess as well. I hadn't really heard the term vintage rock before - but I like it.
 
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#219
poppunk said:
It really isn't.
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I agree, music, and new music alive and well...just not covering 70's,80's 90's and new roc
lark_z said:
In Georgetown, our venue (large retirement community) is paying $1800 - $2500 for a three hour gig (Classic Country dance).
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see the good gigs out there:) But I understand the OP is asking if there is less gigs,... than someone said the population is 50% more now, so then the question is gigs per capita...lol..Im like...well gig if you want/can, dont gig if its not worth your time. I believe if you are motivated and trying to improve, there are PLENTY of good gigs out there still here in the future of 2023....Hey anyone got a wire tie or two, seems my flux capacitor is acting up again. Anyways stay low my friends, and I hope you are compensated how you feel you should be.
 

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