How many gigs did you play this year?

[Carl Hillman]

Since the TalkBass community contains everything from hobbyists that don't gig at all, to weekend warriors, to full time professionals (and everything in between)....I started to wonder how many gigs everyone is playing.

Personally, I work with 2 bands on a very regular basis, and 2-3 more regularly, but with a more limited schedule. Throw it all together, and I did 90-something gigs per year the last couple of years. This year I conciously tried to dial it back a bit, but just went thru my calendar and discovered that I will have done 85 gigs this year (if nothing additional comes up in the next few weeks).

So.....I pose the question....how many gigs for you this year? Are you planning to step up the number next year, or dial it back a little?

It will end up being right around 200, but this has beent the slowest year for me in about a decade.

Before 2014 I had been averaging over 290 gigs a year. ("Gigs" includes paid rehearsals & recording sessions, basically anything with bass in hand that brings in income, teaching excluded.)

Far from cutting back, I hope to get the opportunity to add a weekly church gig next year, if I'm lucky.

 

[Rich Terry]

As a retired dude I play about 2 dozen open mic nights and weekend gigs. Not bad for an "Old Dude" I buy more than I play.

 

[Rich Terry]

It will end up being right around 200, but this has beent the slowest year for me in about a decade.

Before 2014 I had been averaging over 290 gigs a year. ("Gigs" includes paid rehearsals & recording sessions, basically anything that brings in income.)

Far from cutting back, I hope to get add a weekly church gig next year, if I'm lucky.

Income? That sounds like work.

You know the old saying? How do you make 2 million dollars as a bass player? Start with 3 Million!

 

[Carl Hillman]

Income? That sounds like work.

You know the old saying? How do you make 2 million dollars as a bass player? Start with 3 Million!

...or, you could luck into buying a house in the right place at the right time.
Like this guy:

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_26850350/modest-bay-area-homes-hit-mind-boggling-prices

 

[Rich Terry]

I know I've seen that, good for him after 300 years of playing. Unrelated to playing music. Point Made.
Thanks

 

[ThatLowEnd]

I at about 105 gigs for this year which is a huge step up for me. Hope next year yields even more.

 

[Ed Goode]

Did 78 paid gigs to date, with 4 to go before the end of the year. Surprisingly, every one of them was a jazz gig and most on upright. Primarily hosting open jams, playing winery gigs and festivals and a reasonable number of corporate dates ....

 

[bassbrad]

Played fewer gigs this year but made more money, cut out the low paying gigs for the most part.

 

[chuck3]

Probably about 30. I feel like a piker compared to some of you guys!

 

[Jughead6]

My band played 2 gigs this year. All members of our band have full-time jobs, and it's really hard trying to coordinate rehearsals let alone gigs. I have infinite admiration for all of you guys who work full-time and also manage to gig 20+ times a year. Hats off.

On the bright side, the Australian economy is going steadily down the proverbial toilet. So with any luck I will be retrenched soon, and then I can spend more time on my music

I also like carrots.

 

[markoc]

I did about 150 this year, would like to be doing more in the 250ish range. I still have to work about 20 hrs a week at a day job and wouldn't mind loosing that gig.

 

[headband]

I've done over 150 shows/year for the past 4 years.

 

[elgecko]

I'll end up with 81 paid gigs by years end. A bit more than last year but probably about all I want as a weekender. I wouldn't mind better paying gigs though!

 

[Marial]

2014? One. One paid gig.

 

[Ender_rpm]

Moved and switched bands mid year. All original stuff, hobby players, so ~9 gigs this year.

 

[Funk$tar]

Hmm Let me see...*carry the 4 multiply by 200*
Oh yeah!
So far 0, i'm working on it though!

 

[hrodbert696]

Just ran through the calendar. As of New Year's Eve this month, it will be 29 paid gigs. The bulk of those are in the last three or four months, so I'm guessing 2015 will be busier, might crack the 50 mark if nothing goes wrong. That's not counting unpaid church services and open mic kinds of things, which probably add another 15-20 times playing in public.

 

[mimaz]

Hmm Let me see...*carry the 4 multiply by 200*
Oh yeah!
So far 0, i'm working on it though!

Look at it this way....1 will be 100% increase!

 

[hrodbert696]

I would comment, I don't know about the labels for the poll categories. Gigging 20 times a year is 1-2 times a month. That's not a full-time pro schedule, maybe, but that's a pretty typical part-time cover band. I wouldn't call it "almost never." Less than 10 gigs a year, sure, but not 20.

 

[drummer5359]

I'm retired from my day job, music is all that I do these days and I have four different groups of musicians that I have current projects with. I gig at least once a week, often twice and occasionally more. I'm likely right at 100 gigs for this past year.

Most have been hand percussion/bass in two different acoustic duos. A classic rock/oldies band that I play drums in is just starting to get busy. And I'm now playing drums in another cover band that will likely play a couple of dates a month. 2015 should be as busy as I want to get.

I teach drum lessons and flip a good bit of gear as well.

Add it all up and I'm doing okay.