Job or Hobby?

[Harper]

I haven't played for money in years, mainly because I hate bars. Like, it would about take a blank check offer for me to play a New Year's Eve gig. I can't speak for others and I'm sure a lot of people are getting some supplemental income, but unless you're literally paying your mortgage, car payment, etc. with your bass playing, you're a hobbyist.

 

[alex1fly]

Hi guys,



In fact, at TB, my impression is that there seem to be a lot of pros and a lot of hobbyists who are nevertheless looking to make some money.

Not to "well actually" but FWIW I don't think there are many pros on here. Far more hobbyists/day-jobbers/enthusiasts.

But to answer the question my gigging band from 2017-2020 was ran as a business and we made around $13,000. For less professional ventures if I'm doing it to entertain others, I want to get paid. If I'm doing it to stretch my legs, I'll do it for free (or minimal pay)

The big differentiation on Talkbass that I see is players versus collectors. The former seeks the experience of creating and playing music, the latter seeks the experience of discovery through gear acquisition. Of course everyone is a mix of the two but I think this is a more even split than pros vs amateurs & semi-pros.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

pro player, making money. lots and lots of gigs with various artists- local regional and national

 

[Micha84]

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far! There are loads of different takes on how to approach music and performing, really interesting!

I just wanted to clarify something: I don't mean the term "hobbyist" to be in any way devaluating. I chose that word to differentiate from someone who has the clear goal of earning money. A hobbyist can of course be passionate about his music, take it seriously and be very demanding of himself and others.
(By the way, I was thinking of using the word "amateur", which actually would be the contrary to a working professional, but it is so connected to someone being bad at something that I chose not to, because I wanted to avoid giving that impression)

I call myself a hobbyist partly to keep myself in check I love making music, I love gear and I could easily spent my life just sitting in my little home studio and I would die a happy man. But, I also have a wife and a son that I love and for which I have responsabilities. I have a career that I really like and where I still want to make some progress. So I have to prioritize time and money and remind myself that music is "just" a hobby.
Still, I take my bands and projects seriously. First of all, it is a matter of respect for the other guys who are putting time and effort in. But mostly, I want to spend the little time I have doing something that is meaningful to me and that I can present with pride.

 

[marchone]

I was a hobbiest before I turned pro. Now that I’m retired I’m a hobbiest again. (In a different industry.)

 

[Nebadon2000]

Not sure who said this Posted by Major Seven a response to Micha86 but post is all Italicized

"Saw this coming in 1975. I was in a bar rock band. Disco was happening. The work was dwindling.
We didn't want to go near that stuff."

Yes this happened to my Band when we had been making a decent living Gigging Clubs on Long Island;

Disco dried up the Club Rock Band scene eventually.

Was offered a $400 a week Gig wearing a Tux and Playing Disco in a Top Club 3 nights a week but quit after first week; wasn't me I was in my early 20's and had principal back then

I took a job and prioritized Family [had a Wife and Toddler] took 5 year hiatus of no playing;

Eventually got back into 'weekend warrior' Club scene in Virginia Beach Area for mostly fun money was a bonus
[went through 14 year stretch 4/5 Gigs a week]

I identify as a 'Bass Player'[not my Job/Career] I am much happier and a nicer person when out playing.

Haven't played much since Covid and now Identify as a 'Grumpy Old Man'

 

[dave64o]

I spend more on gas getting to and from rehearsals and gigs than I make from gigs. So it sure isn't about the money!

I do it for the fun and the music and am grateful that my pay reimburses me for most of my costs. Though, ALL of my costs would be better.

It's definitely a hobby for me.

 

[buldog5151bass]

For 99.5% of the people here, if you figure in rehearsal, practice, and gear transporting time, you would make more money flipping burgers for McDonald's. Be honest.

I play because I enjoy playing.

 

[vindibona1]

If you get paid after you gig then you are playing for money, i.e. professional.

Having earned a full time living off of photography for at least half of my adult life, I have a different definition of "professional"... To me..
Being a professional is being able to do a good, consistent job on your worst day.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

I used to do it for a living. Now it's a hobby because nobody makes a living at it anymore, and I don't need the music income.

However, doing it for fun doesn't mean I don't want it to be done well, and that is the problem I face in the hobby world. The number of times "it's just a hobby" has been used to excuse sloppy playing and trainwreck performances is mind boggling, and finding other players who still want to do a good job within the time constraints that are placed on us when we don't perform often is almost impossible.

That being said, I understand that nobody's playing five nights a week anymore and the option to tighten up to that level isn't there. But there has to be a place where we can meet somewhere in the middle and do a decent job while still having fun, right?

I am currently "between bands" and my last one was just ... Mediocre at best. We started out really well, doing cover songs that fit us and we opened them up to jam and improvise. People liked what we did and dug our sound. We did two or three gigs and got compliments and praise.

Then the singer decided we should do (mainly his) original material. Which 1) sucked and 2) was stylistically 180 degrees from what we'd been doing up to that point.

It all devolved from there, cos we didn't get gigs (basically, no one bothered looking - I used to do it quite actively but I just didn't stomach the material) and before long we were back to half-assed cover material. Ever play Louie Louie wrong? I have had to. It is not a place I want to go back to.

So right now, I am riffing on Sabbath and playing the ukulele a lot. All by myself. At some point I'll go out and find a better band again. If the music isn't tight and grooving, I die a little inside. So I'd rather not play, than play in such a setting...

 

[bucephylus]

Choosing between the categories, I’d have to bin into the 3rd - fun but make some bucks.

But, that isn’t exactly accurate for me. I suppose I play for fun; but, mainly I play because I always have; at least for 55 years now. Yes it’s “fun,” or I wouldn’t do it. But, it is really more of a passion.

When I do gig, which is presently just shy of 30 times per year, it is absolutely all about being professional. I am hired to provide entertainment for pay; and that’s what I do to the best of my ability, playing material designed to please the audience. I don’t consider myself much different from any other trade, which provides services for a fee. If I were not paid, I would only show up for charitable causes; which I will do. Also, I would play what I want to play, not what I think the customer wants to hear.

OTOH, I do not support myself with these meager earnings. If I tried to do that, I would starve to death. Or at least lose quite a few pounds, which could be a good thing.

I think a hobbyist mostly dabbles at an activity, with virtually no concern for income.

IMO, a LOT of musicians fall into what I would call the “semi-professional” category, which falls solidly between professionals, who earn a living with the craft, and hobbyists, who dabble. Forcing the fit into one of the two extremes is a dis-service to those working the trenches. We are semi-professional, not hobbyists.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I'm in it for the carrots. And because Jeannie likes to dance while I play.

 

[grocker]

I have always felt when I played live that I'm doing what I'm supposed to, I play to pay the bills which is crazy when I really think about it, I do my taxes, pay my taxes, it's a job but it's all I know and it's in me like a disease or a blessing it depends on the day of the week. I love it, hate it sometimes when im traveling but i am drawn to it and think about music all the time. I've been like this since I picked up my first bass.

 

[Jimmy4string]

I had some assumptions when i put that old cover band together. We would have quality and girls and bookings and $$
Reality is a kicking kangaroo of ..weell reality. LOL
Talking to old drunks and trying to locate the bar manager to pay the band and just all the shenanigans -well i just rather sing and play at home by myself now.

 

[Dirk Rockbottom]

My experience exactly. Playing for drunks is no fun.

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

I think it's a blend of the middle two options.

There are groups I'll play with for just a share of the tips, or to do a buddy a solid.

There are people I wouldn't play with for less than $200.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Hi guys,

a lot of times, when discussions come up, I find myself thinking "Well, that depends if I am playing music professionally or just for fun". But I find that fact gets overlooked quite often.

In fact, at TB, my impression is that there seem to be a lot of pros and a lot of hobbyists who are nevertheless looking to make some money. So discussions where a distinction between hobbyists and pros might make sense, more often than not lean in a certain direction. Myself, after I had finished school, was looking to make a career as a recording engineer. However, I was not only disillusioned about the job as such, but after a while discovered that I was about to lose my passion for music because of it. So I decided that I would look elsewhere for a career and do music purely as a hobby. But, I feel I am very much an outsider with that point of view.

So, fellow TBers, let's see some numbers in the polls! Who is doing their thing for the money, who is in it for the fun?

More so for fun than for money. I could easily put together a band and play the weddings of most of the kids of the doctors i work with. They typically are paying 5-10k but you gotta dress the part and play cheesy music I don’t get excited about. I’ve done stuff like that in the past. When I was playing big band and jazz we even played a ball for the governor in a tux.

I choose to look at music as more of an art form than just a skill. A way to express myself in a way that’s not harmful to anyone. So I only play music that I like and do it mostly just for fun. With the majority of the gigging bands I’ve played it the money aspect is not really about making money, more so just breaking even. I want to get paid something just so I don’t have to come out of pocket. I haven’t played gigs since before Covid. Partially because a lot of my favorite venues closed, but also because these days there’s so many new bands in my state that not only will play for free, they’ll pay to play, they’ll sell tickets for shows for money they don’t even get a cut of. It’s pretty wild. So now I’m just writing and recording music at home. Occasionally posting stuff online. I’m definitely not a YouTube star or anything like that but some of the videos I’ve posted get more views than the number of people who go to local band shows. Especially considering around here it’s mostly the same people going to show after show. I don’t feel like playing gigs in my area at this point is really reaching anyone new.

 

[Mr.Ace]

Used to be for the money. Now it’s strictly for fun.

 

[Dirk Rockbottom]

I am currently "between bands" and my last one was just ... Mediocre at best. We started out really well, doing cover songs that fit us and we opened them up to jam and improvise. People liked what we did and dug our sound. We did two or three gigs and got compliments and praise.

Then the singer decided we should do (mainly his) original material. Which 1) sucked and 2) was stylistically 180 degrees from what we'd been doing up to that point.

It all devolved from there, cos we didn't get gigs (basically, no one bothered looking - I used to do it quite actively but I just didn't stomach the material) and before long we were back to half-assed cover material. Ever play Louie Louie wrong? I have had to. It is not a place I want to go back to.

So right now, I am riffing on Sabbath and playing the ukulele a lot. All by myself. At some point I'll go out and find a better band again. If the music isn't tight and grooving, I die a little inside. So I'd rather not play, than play in such a setting...

I've had similar experiences. My last band, the drummer played everything too fast. Couldn't get him to slow down. The groove was seriously lacking. (I had to laugh at your Louie Louie comment!)

 

[Five or Six]

It's a hobby, but if the band is being paid, I want to be paid. Not because I need the money, just out of principle. I would play the Super Bowl Halftime for exposure. Heh.

I'd play the "Red Rocks" for a little exposure.
If this was a money thing for me I wouldn't play 2 or 3 benefits a year. We give back every year. Some bands wouldn't touch a benefit. My cousin is in one.