Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
How far is too far, how long is too long?
- Thread starter JamesGrant
- Start date
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
Depends on the part of the US. Here in Colorado, you can drive 7 hours to a gig and still be in the same state. I don't do that as much as I did when I was younger, but several times a year, I drive from Boulder to Aspen and then back after the gig. It pays pretty well, although once you calculate the hourly return for the whole day, it's definitely not spectacular.
I wish it was $4. That’s another location related issue. I’m very glad I work from home.
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
When I lived in Los Angeles, where distances are often expressed in hours instead of miles, I would often turn down gigs that involved too much time traveling to and from a gig.
On the other hand, I have been known to drive for eight hours to play for free with dear friends.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
In the last few months, I have moved 350 miles from where I was. I have agreed to do two last gigs. The 6 hour drive each way will be loooong.
I’ve driven 3.5 hours for $500 and 3.5 hours for expenses covered. I don’t enjoy the latter, and thankfully most gigs are within 90 minutes. But the close by ones seem to pay far less. We make more money playing corporate and estate parties, which are typically a bit of a haul. We have one nightclub that books us regularly that is 75 minutes away from me. I don’t like all the driving, but that’s the deal here.
My favorite 1 1/2 hour drive was from Waikiki to Turtle Bay. It was a very scenic drive, and it meant that if I was making that drive, I was getting paid real well 
The IRS standard $0.76/mile rate means one of my most common gigs for the last three decades at a venue just 15 miles away is a reasonable expense of $22.80. Actual gas in my current car is a gallon.
Downtown Cambridge, MA, USA where I play more often than in Boston itself is 28 miles away so an expense of $42.56. The tolls on the Mass Pike add $3.70 for the round trip so total expense is $46.26 and the drive can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic. Guess what, many bar gigs in Cambridge pay $50 or less per person...
One gig I've done for years on Cape Cod is 89 miles away so the travel expense is $135.28!!!!! Most of the time I've carpooled there with three band members in the car, but going solo is expensive. The gas alone is six gallons in my current car.
I prefer to keep the drive to an hour or less, with drives up to about 50 miles away if using the interstate highways.
Downtown Cambridge, MA, USA where I play more often than in Boston itself is 28 miles away so an expense of $42.56. The tolls on the Mass Pike add $3.70 for the round trip so total expense is $46.26 and the drive can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic. Guess what, many bar gigs in Cambridge pay $50 or less per person...
One gig I've done for years on Cape Cod is 89 miles away so the travel expense is $135.28!!!!! Most of the time I've carpooled there with three band members in the car, but going solo is expensive. The gas alone is six gallons in my current car.
I prefer to keep the drive to an hour or less, with drives up to about 50 miles away if using the interstate highways.
It’s probly already been said, but America is huge and traffic is horrible.
I live 38 miles from Wrigley Field, I left my house on a Friday afternoon at 4:25 PM and arrived to my load in spot at 7:15! No accidents, just “rush hour” traffic. Took me 1 hour to get home at midnight.
I got paid $295. I’ll take it, and I had a great gig.
I live 38 miles from Wrigley Field, I left my house on a Friday afternoon at 4:25 PM and arrived to my load in spot at 7:15! No accidents, just “rush hour” traffic. Took me 1 hour to get home at midnight.
I got paid $295. I’ll take it, and I had a great gig.
Lived in and played the clubs in the Boston metro for 10 years. When there is a surplus of talent the clubs have you by the balls. We had to scrap hard to get to Saturday night headlining status, and it still didn’t pay! Even at the big clubs (Paradise). At least the Middle East fed us!The IRS standard $0.76/mile rate means one of my most common gigs for the last three decades at a venue just 15 miles away is a reasonable expense of $22.80. Actual gas in my current car is a gallon.
Downtown Cambridge, MA, USA where I play more often than in Boston itself is 28 miles away so an expense of $42.56. The tolls on the Mass Pike add $3.70 for the round trip so total expense is $46.26 and the drive can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic. Guess what, many bar gigs in Cambridge pay $50 or less per person...
One gig I've done for years on Cape Cod is 89 miles away so the travel expense is $135.28!!!!! Most of the time I've carpooled there with three band members in the car, but going solo is expensive. The gas alone is six gallons in my current car.
I prefer to keep the drive to an hour or less, with drives up to about 50 miles away if using the interstate highways.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I always prefer to drive with another band member if possible if it is a longer drive. Saves money the drive is more pleasant, sometimes parking can be tight, and sometimes someone is pooped by the end of the gig.
Driving in the states is about as far from fun as you can get. I just moved out of LA after 20 years so it's gotten a little better for me getting to gigs, but still, mostly sucks largely due to the way people drive here. I've driven in the UK too. Far fewer a*#h^le drivers there.
I would very much like to answer you on this topic, but everything I come up with has to do with politics, so I will remain silent
The US is big and spread out, especially in the west.
That said I don't play in bands that tour or play out-of-town gigs. I can be anywhere in Portland in less than an hour. Out of town, I'll need a per diem and a hotel, but nobody's beating down my door for that kind of gig!
Way back in the early days we'd string together college town gigs in the Midwest, and it could be upwards of 4-6 hours between towns. We'd be lucky to cover gas and a motel on some of those shows. But the glamor of ash trays, pickled eggs and local drunks made up for it
That said I don't play in bands that tour or play out-of-town gigs. I can be anywhere in Portland in less than an hour. Out of town, I'll need a per diem and a hotel, but nobody's beating down my door for that kind of gig!
Way back in the early days we'd string together college town gigs in the Midwest, and it could be upwards of 4-6 hours between towns. We'd be lucky to cover gas and a motel on some of those shows. But the glamor of ash trays, pickled eggs and local drunks made up for it
An hour drive gets me the local Dayton Metro as well as most of the Columbus Metro, a goodly part of the Cincinnati Metro and dozens of small towns in between. I have no need or desire to drive farther than that no matter how much it pays.
I had my perception of distance recalibrated in Australia so traveling 90 minutes to a gig was no problem - but that was in the early 90s when the money was good and the fuel was cheap. South London gigs were interesting - 2+ hours to get there in daytime traffic but 35 minutes to get home after midnight.
