How Flexible Are You?

[bluewine]

If a band is working a lot then I will pass. I don't want my hobby to become a job. That takes the fun out of it.

Interesting how we're all different ;

" I want my hobby to become my job, it puts more fun into it for me."

I think when you come into music at an early age, for me it was 11 or 12. Music and playing music opened my eyes to the world and my life has never been the same. I think that's why even when it's a job its fun.

Playing music can be a job, however it never seems like a job to me.

Blue

 

[MatticusMania]

I am quite flexible in that I will play almost anything except..
I will not play with a crappy drummer.

Which is why I might be leaving my band soon. Its not that the drummer is a crappy player, hes not bad, but he overplays trying to make the songs sound too technical. His attitude is really crappy as well, like when our band tried to have a discussion on image & branding, and rather than having a productive 10 minute conversation we had a 30 minute argument trying to explain to him why its important.

 

[bluewine]

Which is why I might be leaving my band soon. Its not that the drummer is a crappy player, hes not bad, but he overplays trying to make the songs sound too technical. His attitude is really crappy as well, like when our band tried to have a discussion on image & branding, and rather than having a productive 10 minute conversation we had a 30 minute argument trying to explain to him why its important.

Matt,

That is small time unprofessional nonsense.

Your better than that.

Blue

 

[MatticusMania]

Matt,

That is small time unprofessional nonsense.

Your better than that.

Blue

I absolutely agree with you. Im not interested in wasting my time arguing. If youre not on board with an idea, and the rest of the band is, it doesnt bode well to take a stand against them without having sound reasoning. I dont even think that he disagrees, but would rather have focused on a different topic; one that we couldnt get to because he wasted everyones time arguing.

 

[kevteop]

I'll play anything I like.

If I don't like the music I don't play it, which has ruled out cover bands, but I've done baggy indie bands, funk, punk/reggae, hip-hop, gypsy jazz, folk, loads of different stuff.

My only criterion is that I have to like it.

 

[zachoff]

1) I will only play music I like. Music I like spans many genres, but is usually not pop or found on the radio.

2) Yup, pretty much will only play originals but I'll do an obscure cover for fun.

3) I dislike playing covers unless it's an obscure cover for fun. I will, however, play in a tribute band if I like the band's music.

4) I want to gig once or twice a month, tops.

5) I don't care about age.

6) I rarely make money playing music and don't really care about making money playing music. I'll play as long as I like the people and the music.

 

[bassinplace]

Until very recently, the only place I would play was at home on my own. I've started jamming with a few people here and there and it's been an eye opener. Shows me just how much I still need to learn. It's fun. I don't care about genre or money, just wanna play some music.

 

[groovaholic]

I think this has been posted or alluded to before, but gigs are pretty much always graded on the following:

1. - The music: how you feel about what you're playing
2. - The hang: how you feel about those you play it with
3. - The fringes: non-musical benefits derived from the situation

If a gig has one of them, it's tolerable.
Two, it's a good gig.
Three, you're living in the promised land.

I think my best bands have been like 2.75...I've never been in a band that made "quit your day job" money, but I have been in bands that were moderately successful playing awesome music, with great people.

I was happy and considered myself fortunate.

 

[bluewine]

Seems to be a consensus .

Those who will only play music they like also don't have much interest in serious gigging or making money.

Blue

 

[dukeisdog]

For the right money, I'll play Lady of Spain on accordion in a chicken suit.

Made me laugh..

I'll +1 this.

 

[MatticusMania]

Seems to be a consensus .

Those who will only play music they like also don't have much interest in serious gigging or making money.

Blue

These days I think I fall into both categories.
After 10+ years creating original music Ive still not tired of it, its my favorite creative outlet, but Ive also grown to the point where Id like to make some money playing music.
For that reason I'll likely always have an original project going, but Im starting to focus my efforts more on playing in a coverband in order to make some cash.

I do want to play music that I like, so I chose to form my own coverband in order to have a bit more say on the music the band plays.

 

[SteveC]

It's not all about the money, but at this stage in my life, it has to be worth my time to leave the house. On the other hand, I would play for nothing in the right situation.

 

[bluewine]

Ive also grown to the point where Id like to make some money playing music.

That happens to all of us at some point in time. It's nothing to be ashamed of.

Blue

 

[MatticusMania]

Im not ashamed of it at all.

 

[SquierJazz72]

It's not all about the money, but at this stage in my life, it has to be worth my time to leave the house.

Outside of everything else, this counts for me too. I'm at that stage where, even though it's not my main income, if I am going to start going out and doing it for money again, it needs to be worth my time, and bring some extra income as well. Otherwise, if all I want is to play for free, I can stay home and do that.

And I definitely don't think bands should devalue what they do, even if money isn't their main thing. I don't expect to make a bomb, but I do expect fair pay, which goes back to my thought on the other threads.
Working it out in advance, and making sure BOTH SIDES deliver whatever is agreed upon.

 

[zachoff]

It's not all about the money, but at this stage in my life, it has to be worth my time to leave the house. On the other hand, I would play for nothing in the right situation.

That's funny. Music is my weekly excuse to leave the house.

 

[JumboJack]

Seems to be a consensus .

Those who will only play music they like also don't have much interest in serious gigging or making money.

Blue

I think it's a matter of making serious money.
For serious money I'm sure most would loosen up their standards.

Why play music you truly hate for 100.00 or less for a nights work? Add in practice time and what not and to many it's not worth the effort.

Personally I don't need money that bad. I would rather play music I love with great musicians for free than music I can't stand for some extra walking around money.

 

[bassinplace]

Seems to be a consensus .

Those who will only play music they like also don't have much interest in serious gigging or making money.

Blue

Guess I'm an exception, then. I'll try and play whatever you can throw at me. Whether or not I can do it successfully, well that's my motivation. I'll try it and see.

 

[Kryptos]

I have played for 15 years or so with a group of 10 or 12 musicians, traditional, old time, Celtic and some bluegrass. I am flexible about who I am playing with, not very flexible about music genre, inflexible about drug/alcohol use while performing.

An ever changing group plays twice weekly May - Oct @ the Blue Ridge Music Center, we are paid an honorarium but have always donated that back to the Center. On weekends we play @ festivals in VA, TN, NC and the last few years at Telluride and Bonnaroo, for most of these we are compensated (on occasion quite well mostly due I suspect to our famous ((by traditional music standards)) guitarist).

The past three years we have also toured (2 weeks) in the fall overseas under the auspices of the US State Department as a part of a cultural exchange program. Thus far we have visited 7 countries in Asia, four in South America, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France, Holland and Ireland. Modest compensation/expenses.

For a decade we have also played concerts @ various heritage gatherings under a National Endowment for the Arts grant program, normally these take place in a National Park venue or other Federal property, Colonial Williamsburg, the Smithsonian and once at Carnegie Hall. Honorarium and expenses.

We also play a lot of free shows at various VFW, DAV, Elks, Moose, Rotary & Eagles events around SW Virginia.

Many opportunities exist for musicians, many go unrealized.

 

[JumboJack]

I have played for 15 years or so with a group of 10 or 12 musicians, traditional, old time, Celtic and some bluegrass. I am flexible about who I am playing with, not very flexible about music genre, inflexible about drug/alcohol use while performing.

An ever changing group plays twice weekly May - Oct @ the Blue Ridge Music Center, we are paid an honorarium but have always donated that back to the Center. On weekends we play @ festivals in VA, TN, NC and the last few years at Telluride and Bonnaroo, for most of these we are compensated (on occasion quite well mostly due I suspect to our famous ((by traditional music standards)) guitarist).

The past three years we have also toured (2 weeks) in the fall overseas under the auspices of the US State Department as a part of a cultural exchange program. Thus far we have visited 7 countries in Asia, four in South America, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France, Holland and Ireland. Modest compensation/expenses.

For a decade we have also played concerts @ various heritage gatherings under a National Endowment for the Arts grant program, normally these take place in a National Park venue or other Federal property, Colonial Williamsburg, the Smithsonian and once at Carnegie Hall. Honorarium and expenses.

We also play a lot of free shows at various VFW, DAV, Elks, Moose, Rotary & Eagles events around SW Virginia.

Many opportunities exist for musicians, many go unrealized.

Awesome post!