How Many Live Gigs Did You Play in 2024?

[hrodbert696]

It's that time of year again. I'll use the same language as last year:

"There's always some ambiguity around what counts as a "gig," so I'll suggest some parameters (but feel free to ignore me if you think you had important live events that should count).

"For my purposes, let's say a "gig" means that you were booked to play music in front of an audience.

""Booked" implies "paid" but we'll allow performances that could have been paid but weren't (e.g. benefits, pay-to-play that didn't net out for you). I wouldn't count open mic nights (unless you were a host band) or playing in a house of worship unless said house of worship really treats the musicians as performers they "book" - I'll leave that to your discretion. "Audience" means you performed to entertain a crowd, so this poll isn't for booked recording/writing sessions (if someone wants to start a separate poll for that, I'd love to see it). Yes, include what you have on the calendar for the next few weeks down to NYE."

Past threads on the topic:

2023: How many gigs did YOU play last year?

2022: How Many Gigs Did You Play In 2018?

2019: How many gigs did you play in 2017?

2018: How many gigs did you play in 2016?

2017: How many gigs did you play in 2015?

2016: How many gigs did you play this year?

2015: How many gigs did you play in 2009?

2014: How Many Gigs

2009: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/how-many-live-gigs-did-you-play-in-2023.1632824/

2006: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/how-many-live-gigs-did-you-play-in-2022.1587496/

 

[hrodbert696]

For myself, if I'm reading the calendar right, the total (including booked through NYE) is 41, including a handful of unpaid benefit gigs. Add playing in church to that and it would be in the 60s. Last year was 28, the year before 37, so things are looking good so far as Covid recedes in the rear-view mirror.

 

[Wyrdlow]

Once a month-ish. Local pubs, a couple of private parties, two festivals, a charity do and a barbecue! Some really good gigs this year and much fun had. Sad to say due to other commitments we've nothing now 'til March. ☹
Half a dozen booked in after that though, and plenty more expected. Onwards, ever onwards!

 

[BaltBass5]

67. We purposely cut back after 85 last year.

 

[Elk]

somewhere around 100. next up 7:30 and a 10:30 tonight. pit rehearsal tomorrow.

i am getting too old for this. i even bought a quilter and a dolly this year. put a fork in me.

 

[pepj]

Into the 30's. A few very nice gigs..a few I wont repeat.

 

[DWBass]

Steady twice a month thing up until November and December.

 

[Hot Rats]

56. All I have booked until the end of the year is Monday and 2 on new years.

 

[JC BASS 91]

2023 we had 13

This year, we only had 7 (8 counting our booked New Years Eve gig). Still think that's pretty good, considering we spent a long time looking for a replacement lead vocalist and drummer and getting them trained up to play live. The first 2 were done with sub vocalist. The next 3 were done with sub drummers and sub vocalist. Then there was a long break of about 4 months where we were training new drummer and new vocalist. Our New Years Eve gig will use a sub drummer because our drummer is on a business trip or something.

Now that we are getting the new vocalist and drummer broken in, I'm hoping to get back on track to our goal of at least one gig a month in 2025.

 

[Altitude]

Just a couple.

I’m at the end of the period in my life when gig time overlaps with prime family time. This time next year both of our daughters will be in college and my wife will be looking for ways to get rid of me. So I hope to get out a little more.

Sadly my network has degraded in the last five or eight years and I get way fewer incoming calls than I used to.

 

[Parzival]

I think it was between 20-25. I’d like to be around 30. That’s a good spot for me. 2-3 per month.

 

[Pacman]

Looks like I'll finish out the year at 77. Less than years past, but my pay was higher on average for 2024, and I'm very happy with that arrangement.

 

[bassfran]

I don’t have the log book with me (out of town on gigs) and I only started back up in June. Been abt. 4-10 per month since. Glad to be back after being dormant a few years.

 

[kcducttaper]

I was on a pretty consistent 'every other week' rotation plus another 'once a month or so' rotation, so I'm going with 24-51. Surprised to see that I play more frequently than a lot of folks on TB (or at least ones that respond to the polls).

 

[Dincrest]

My two gigs of 2024 were playing with a "teacher band" at the school talent show and a "Music Motivation & Movement" presentation I did for our special ed summer program.

 

[tothemax]

In 2024 played a few benefits, a couple community gigs, an annual community beach party, and a out of state beach festival. Plus put together a few pick up bands for private events, including an assisted living center. So while not a "full" schedule there was enough to keep the band interested, and from the benefit performances a few more opportunities have opened for next year. So no complaints...

Cheers

 

[Jefenator]

147 gigs & 42 rehearsals with 30 different groups. Up from last year, which is good because my day job fizzled out in February.
The pay ranged from $37.50 to $1140.
Of the rehearsals, 2 were paid, a few others were just for kicks with no shows pending, and the rest I sometimes think of as "pay cuts".
It's fun to be a "gig bum" again, but the budget gets pretty tight...

 

[Pdaddy1978]

2... count em...2
But hey, that's 2 more than 2023

 

[Nedmundo]

I voted 1-11, but it could have been a little more. These gigs are through an adult band camp, which is operated by a guitar shop/music school. So they're real shows on a real stage with an audience, but they aren't paid. Most nights involve multiple bands, so the place can get fairly crowded, as it was Thursday night. I hope it will be even more crowded tonight.

I also play in a Grateful Dead cover band that was formed by the shop's owner. We play regular camp shows as the "house band" of sorts, but we might play a full-on 1.5 hour show on our own soon. We're looking to play elsewhere too, probably for pay. One of my camp bands did play an "outside" show over the summer as part of a neighborhood music festival in West Philly. That was awesome. If my current camp band continues, I expect to play that festival again.

 

[BioDriver]

Between work travel, having broken leg, starting an MBA program, and having a few other procedures I haven't had time to practice, let alone find a band and/or gig.