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Double Bass Day Jobs/Making a Living (DB forum thread)

#43
I suppose I'm rather lucky. I spent 30 years slugging it out as a database engineer/designer/architect for a big multi-national finance/reinsurance company, and trying to play on the side. My company forced me to retire in April ... but they were very generous about it. So at 55 I'm out of work (and not looking), collecting a reasonable pension, have medical benefits, a decent 401K that's still makin' money (yeah, I know!), no debt (not even a mortgage or car loan), and a wife who is a nurse and wants to work a few more years.

I have a room full of acoustic instruments, and nothing but time on my hands. I'm playing in a couple of different projects (acoustic guitar and bass), filling in and subbing when I can get the work. I'm giggin' 4-6 times a month, and playing every day. It was worth the wait!

I'm not sure I'd want to be 25 again and trying to make music pay. With all the entertainment options available today it's even harder to get a gig than it was back in 1975. I play with a guy who is about that age and trying to do it, and it's a struggle. Sometimes he'll miss a rehearsal because he hasn't got gas enough to make the 40 mile round trip. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes, but brother, I sure could use a dose of his eternal optimism, and a shot of his love for the music.
 
#45
I work Full-time at a local Community College. I teach Music Appreciation, Music History, and World Music. I oversee the Jazz prgram, the recording studio, and hire/recruit/train all of our adjuncts.

It's a lot of work. I made my peace with teaching MA a long time ago as it provides me with a reasonable income, pension, company matched 401, and more... like a steady supply of high-end Macs, software, sweet microphones, geez, just about anything I want or need with respect to recording or sound reinforcement, plus company paid travel to conferences (ISB, IAJE, etc...).

Oh yeah, I met my wife here. I arranged for her office to be in our new building next door to mine.

Most days I'm outa' around 3, so on the weekends I can nap and make my gigs.

Last year I made $50K at the school and $10K playing gigs. Do the math.
 
#46
I work as a purchasing agent/shipping/receiving/lock builder/av tech all at the same job. The pay sucks and the boss has a bit of a Napoleon complex. Otherwise I don't mind the job. I never could settle on a career outside of music. And never could afford to be as broke as a musician. So I have been working full time and playing part time. I have a wife a kid also. I am looking to change jobs in the next few years. I would do music or live sound but then joining a cover band would conflict with my originals and doing sound would also conflict. So right now I just play the originals and do a sound gig for some extra cash. My plan is to see what happens after we release this EP. If we get signed then bye bye 9-5. I will find ways to supplement my income. But if nothing happens in a year or so after the EP is done then I will consider other job fields or doing something similar just at a better wage.
 
#54
RustyAxe is living the dream! He gives me hope that I can retire in 24 short more years and still keep playing!! Nice work;)

I'm 31, and work as a Consumer Auto loan underwirtter for a large bank. Been with the company about 10 years. Pretty easy job really, but don't tell my boss:ninja: But I do have a Jazz studies degree.

I suppliment my GAS from a church gig that I have. All that $$ goes into my "music stuff" fund for gear or whatever. I bought most of my current gear when i was in a pop cover band from 2001-2006, gigging 12-15 times a month. ALL that money went to buy my current setup and then some. Now, with two kids, the new gear comes less often. But I still gig about twice a month with an original group (The Brian David Band-come check us out!!) and play 2 church services every Sunday morning. I also play a "jobbers" gigs and DJ events once in a while.

RustyAxe said:
I suppose I'm rather lucky. I spent 30 years slugging it out as a database engineer/designer/architect for a big multi-national finance/reinsurance company, and trying to play on the side. My company forced me to retire in April ... but they were very generous about it. So at 55 I'm out of work (and not looking), collecting a reasonable pension, have medical benefits, a decent 401K that's still makin' money (yeah, I know!), no debt (not even a mortgage or car loan), and a wife who is a nurse and wants to work a few more years.

I have a room full of acoustic instruments, and nothing but time on my hands. I'm playing in a couple of different projects (acoustic guitar and bass), filling in and subbing when I can get the work. I'm giggin' 4-6 times a month, and playing every day. It was worth the wait!

I'm not sure I'd want to be 25 again and trying to make music pay. With all the entertainment options available today it's even harder to get a gig than it was back in 1975. I play with a guy who is about that age and trying to do it, and it's a struggle. Sometimes he'll miss a rehearsal because he hasn't got gas enough to make the 40 mile round trip. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes, but brother, I sure could use a dose of his eternal optimism, and a shot of his love for the music.
Click to expand...
 
#55
I finished school in May 2009 and I've been making a go of the "music life" since. I perform and teach private and group lessons. I find teaching to be extremely rewarding, and thankfully, I live in a town where there are plenty of playing opportunities. Some are obviously better than others. I've definitely had to get wise (and quickly) to the business side of things. "No, I'm sorry, I'm not willing to have six 3 hour rehearsals for your 30 minute showcase of original music that you refuse to write charts for when I'm only going to be paid in tips."

Some gigs are awesome, some are service industry jobs. I find the best/most artistically satisfying gigs are the ones that I play for free (by my own choosing).
 
#56
Been working for the State of NC for 28+ years at this point.
Began this career as a health care technician in a State mental hospital. Fun times. Worked there for 3 years.

Transferred to a vocational rehabilitation facility (same town, same zip code where I have lived all my life, so far) began driving a truck, delivering goods produced at the facility by folks with documented disabilities. Moved up to an instructor position in early 1987 and supervised clients/consumers, in a work area, producing shipment goods for the local funiture industry. Ever hear of Henredon Furniture or Drexel-Heritage Furniture? Built and originated here in my hometown. Lots of 100 foot long conference tables sent to the Saudi Arabian king's facilities back in the day. Well, I think some of it still exists, but it comes from China now.

Now, since late 2005, I have been a supervisor over a couple of instructors, working in the same facility, trying to find contract work where we take these folks out into the community and work alongside other "normal" folks (is there such a thing as "normal?").

My 30 years will be in in December of 2011. Get out, get gone, though it's been rewarding work, it is NOT my life.

Then I get to supplement my full retirement in whatever way I choose, hopefully with something related to music. Whether it be promo work, continuing to produce the bluegrass fest in town, playing gigs, hanging with my wifey (she retires at the end of the 2013 school year), sleeping in, watercolor painting, etc., etc.

Vocational rehabilitation is my job. My life begins at quitting time (for the job) everyday. :smug:
 
#57
I work at a custom print & mail shop to pay for my school/car/rent.

I made a 5-year plan for myself, though, and December 14, 2012, I'll be submitting my 2-week's notice. From there, if all goes to plan, I'll have paid off my car and I'll be getting a hefty student loan to start up in the Master's Program at Arizona State University.

From there, who knows what I'll be doing and where I'll be living.
 
#58
right now i'm taking advantage of being in school and shedding my ass off. i'm hoping in the next year i'll be able to start gigging out in a trio with two other students. hopefully by the time i get out of school i'll be able to have a place and pay rent with gig/lesson/session money. food, utilities and gas ... i don't know about that.

i've been thinking about applying at highland cleaners (dry cleaning/laundry place). given the general layer of filth on most of the hipsters on Bardstown Rd., i can't imagine there's much of a workload there ...

Chris Fitzgerald said:
I teach full time at the local university. It ends up being about 1/4 to 1/3 "legit" theory and the rest miscellaneous jazz duties, including jazz bass. It's nice to be immersed in music during the day, but it's a day gig just the same. :)
Click to expand...

if i were THEORETICALLY thinking about grad school at U of L, would i be able to THEORETICALLY study with you there for bass?
 

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