I gig 2-3 times a month and my 3 piece band makes $300-450 per gig. So $100-150 to me. I am definately in the Gig occasionally or regularly, but don't make much money from it category.
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Gigging Poll
- Thread starter NoFrets4Me
- Start date
I'm some where between playing regularly and making OK money. I'm not giving up my day job, but I play and do session work on a regular basis. It probably could pay bills, but it definitely pays my gear habit
Right now I'm playing 4 gigs a month at $100 a gig. Not a significant portion of my income, but still nice.
I'm playing 2 to 3 times a week, sometimes 4. I use the money to pay all my bills (water, electricity, telephone, etc) and part of the mortgage. I have a day job but music does contribute significantly to my income and makes my day-job income last furthur.
I could possibly do it full time but my music commitments do not impede my day job so there is no reason to give either one up.
I could possibly do it full time but my music commitments do not impede my day job so there is no reason to give either one up.
I get decently paid at gigs (usually €150-200 per gig, 1-3 gigs a month). The extra money is a nice addition to the income my day job gives me, but I don't rely on it to pay my bills. I voted the third option, but after a closer thought I think €150 - €500 can't really be called insignificant extra money. I should perhaps have voted the second option, but it's on the limit between those two.
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
Gradually sliding down the scale from category 1 to category 3. It's mostly a fun hobby now, and I enjoy it more that way.
We play 3-6 times a month. It was my wife's clothes money. I'd get paid, we'd go to Ann Taylor. But then I decided to start a 1 man consulting company in the midst of a financial crisis. Don't get me wrong, I've done better than I've expected to at this point. But I lost half of my clients the week the stock market crashed so now it is a small part of our regular income used to pay bills.
I'm not getting ready to quit my day job for gigging any time soon. Maybe after I'm drawing on Social Security/retirement and hopefully playing in some geezer blues band I could consider it a full time gig.
My band is all original. We occasionally make some dough, but the members don't see a penny. All cash stays with the band to pay for band expenses like studio time, promo, swag, etc.
Music income is about 25-30% of my gross receipts, maybe just slightly less this year. But it's an important part of my income, since it lets me increase my investment/retirement contributions without impacting my normal "day job" money.
I played music for a living for a very long time, but I have no desire to try to go back to full-time music again .... that's a very hard road and I have huge respect for anyone who can make ends meet through music income only ....
I played music for a living for a very long time, but I have no desire to try to go back to full-time music again .... that's a very hard road and I have huge respect for anyone who can make ends meet through music income only ....
I gig from 0 to 5 times a month depending on my bands bookings. We average 2-3 a month for most of the year. The money is about $100.00 or a bit less a show and goes to the kids or family fund. I play for fun and the extra money is nice but not my reason to play. I have a day job and dream to only have music as an income but again its a dream 
None of the above. Last band broke up during a severe drummer shortage (thanks to #!$^@#$% guitard).
The only gigs available these days are either hardcore metal bands, country cover, or Nickleback/3 Doors down cover bands. Feh, it was time I took a break to get through some of my theory books.
The only gigs available these days are either hardcore metal bands, country cover, or Nickleback/3 Doors down cover bands. Feh, it was time I took a break to get through some of my theory books.
I only keep gigging so I can afford to keep blowing glass. Hence the tag line. When someone comes up to me on a gig and says "don't quite your day job" I can say buddy, this is my day job! 
Seriously though, I do blow glass during the day and it pays even less than the gigs (if such a thing were possible). I'm not complaining, though - I'd rather have two full time jobs that are creative with variety than one that's not.
Seriously though, I do blow glass during the day and it pays even less than the gigs (if such a thing were possible
). I'm not complaining, though - I'd rather have two full time jobs that are creative with variety than one that's not.
I really did not have a catagory for my status as a musician. My band plays 40+ shows a year. We own a sound company, we sponsor shows (24 per year) we have income from rentals, playing and our sound company. As a player, I take no money from the band. All goes back to the band and our company. So, I make a bunch of money with the band and it's company, I have another 2 jobs, and I don't get paid to play??? So, I think I fit in every catagory except the just begining one.
I gig regularly and get paid, though not that much. About 6-8 shows per month.
Fortunately, the money is not crucial for me. I'm a stay-at-home dad for a special needs child, so gigging is more about getting out of the house and having fun than getting paid. OTOH, it is nice to get paid, and I just figured out that since I started with the band in July, I have managed to pay off my Genz Shuttle 6.0/Bergantino AE410 lightweight rig that I bought for gigging. Now I can start saving up for more bass gear!
Fortunately, the money is not crucial for me. I'm a stay-at-home dad for a special needs child, so gigging is more about getting out of the house and having fun than getting paid. OTOH, it is nice to get paid, and I just figured out that since I started with the band in July, I have managed to pay off my Genz Shuttle 6.0/Bergantino AE410 lightweight rig that I bought for gigging. Now I can start saving up for more bass gear!
I gig 1-3 times a month, but most of my $ comes from my day gig. I rarely get as much as $200 for a gig (my cut).
