Job or Hobby?

[marmadaddy]

Now now, don't go usin' no high faluttin' words on us here now. We's just simple folks...


I wonder what the IRS would think about that hobby money that you save up for family vacations? Just a hobby?

The primary difference between a hobby and a business in the United States, according to the IRS, is that a business actively tries to earn a profit while a hobby does not.

For tax purposes, it's a business and I account for it as such. Personally, it's still basically a hobby. The two are not incompatible.

 

[CanaDave]

I'm a lawyer for money, and I'm not rich. If I'm playing live especially at a private event I expect the host to pay, though I don't necessarily care about the money, live music should not be free any more than catered food or flowers should be.

If "lawyering" ever became fun and accessible for anyone who could practice for a year or two, and clients and judges couldn't really tell the difference between hobbyist-lawyers and the pros, I'd be out of a job pretty damn quickly. Thank goodness it's mostly sheer monotony.

 

[ChrisB2]

I'm a lawyer for money, and I'm not rich. If I'm playing live especially at a private event I expect the host to pay, though I don't necessarily care about the money, live music should not be free any more than catered food or flowers should be.

If "lawyering" ever became fun and accessible for anyone who could practice for a year or two, and clients and judges couldn't really tell the difference between hobbyist-lawyers and the pros, I'd be out of a job pretty damn quickly. Thank goodness it's mostly sheer monotony.

That's the thing. Playing music live is super fun and can be done as a hobby. I personally only play in bands that hold the line on price, but you're not gonna shame the freebie-ers off the stage.

 

[LBS-bass]

That's the thing. Playing music live is super fun and can be done as a hobby. I personally only play in bands that hold the line on price, but you're not gonna shame the freebie-ers off the stage.

Not unless the general public starts demanding something that looks like quality. And they don't appear to care, so the value of what we offer is what it is.

 

[ChrisB2]

Not unless the general public starts demanding something that looks like quality. And they don't appear to care, so the value of what we offer is what it is.

Yes however... I've seen some really crappy bands tear the house down and thrill the patrons. And we all know most bar/club owners are only interested in alcohol and food sales. A venue owner I know personally told me he doesn't care what a band sounds like if they ring the till. Cheap/free bands are here to stay. All you can do is offer reasons it's better to pay you than give them a platform, and if you're competing in the small bar/club circuit, that's gonna be really hard. Freebie-ers don't get the corporate/wedding/big festival gigs, so maybe adjust your targets.

 

[LBS-bass]

Yes however... I've seen some really crappy bands tear the house down and thrill the patrons. And we all know most bar/club owners are only interested in alcohol and food sales. A venue owner I know personally told me he doesn't care what a band sounds like if they ring the till. Cheap/free bands are here to stay. All you can do is offer reasons it's better to pay you than give them a platform, and if you're competing in the small bar/club circuit, that's gonna be really hard. Freebie-ers don't get the corporate/wedding/big festival gigs, so maybe adjust your targets.

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. The general public has become accustomed to the bar being pretty low when it comes to local bands; they are mainly out to drink these days and having a really good band isn't the draw it used to be.

However, one band I am in really works hard to present a quality show, and we get a lot of repeaters coming out to hear us again and again. So it's possible to develop a following, still, and a reputation. It's just a little harder to do. The owners may not care, but music-lovers still do.

With that band, the way I sell it is to show them screenshots of our social media events with a high level of interest. They know, and I know, that 300 people interested in a show doesn't mean 300 people come out, but it does mean that there will be a respectable showing. The room holds 70 people and there aren't any seats left - That's really all they care about.

If I can show them videos of a decent-sized audience in a well-known club enjoying the show, they like that, and they're more willing to take a chance on it.

 

[Robert Mossack]

I've never been good enough at playing any instrument to make a living at it. So playing for fun with the occasional payday is ok with me.

 

[3Liter]

However, one band I am in really works hard to present a quality show, and we get a lot of repeaters coming out to hear us again and again. So it's possible to develop a following, still, and a reputation. It's just a little harder to do. The owners may not care, but music-lovers still do.

Do you mix up your music? Like throw in new songs all the time?
Everyone is different, my wife likes to listen to the same CD for hours on a loop. I like a lot of different stuff.


With regards to quality...with everything these days being as expensive as it is, 10% sales tax on food in my county in this economy for instance, I talk myself out of a lot of going out. There's a certain demographic that always has to be out, but I think as discussed in this thread, there's so many other options of things to do. The local outdoor brewpub near me has "axe throwing". The tool or the instrument?

 

[LBS-bass]

Do you mix up your music? Like throw in new songs all the time?

Yes. We never play a show without adding several songs we haven't played before. We usually play about once a month, and we'll add four or five new songs each time.

But we choose songs that the audience will be familiar with. It's tricky; we try not to choose the typical cliches, though occasionally we toss one in just out of laziness (if it's one everyone already knows). Mostly we work pretty hard so it's ok to be lazy on one or two.

I feel like it hurts us to have a repertoire that's too similar to everyone else. But even avoiding most of those songs, there's a long list of decent songs out there that a large chunk of our audience should be familiar with.

 

[Kevorargh]

For me, it depends on how you define fun - for me fun is working with a group of musicians who gel and play whatever music we play tightly and creatively. But I also have been doing this for 35+ years now and I want some money for what I do because gigs, concerts, whatever, they're a hassle to some degree, be it the space you play, the weather, the volume, etc. and I want some compensation for the hassle.

 

[3toes]

I consider myself semi-professional... I don't make my living strictly off of music, but it supplements my annual income at about the 10% level.

For hired-gun work, it's probably 75%-80% about the money. But I've got to enjoy the music at least a LITTLE bit... same with being able to hang and get along with the other band members.

 

[superheavyfunk]

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?

Pandemic made it a hobby but we’re slowly getting back to the point where it’s a job again, which I’m grateful for.

I’ll play music with anybody who will pay me. I don’t have to enjoy the music necessarily but it is definitely a nice bonus!

Regardless, I enjoy playing so I’m almost always having fun! For the times when it’s less fun, the money makes up the difference.

 

[panzerfaust]

it is okay to have a dream to bein a member of band as big as dream theather or rush,....

but for me myself,...i am ordinary person,...come out from nowhere,.....buyin a premium line ibanez and some pedals,....rent a studio and also spent cash for transport,....make an album.....it's cashburner project and only done by mad person in bussinessman perspective,....

there is small chance in this world you become famous and respected by the world,....so small to the atomic level,....face the fact and have some fun,.,...that's all matter,..and thankfully ,...my band member has the same idea with me so far,....so we play without burden,...and all band members is not real musician in professional context where we dont do this for living,....plus,...we are not as good as others,....even when we launch an EP,....we got a lot of critique,.....to the point i ask this forum should i launch the EP or not,..thankfully this forum lit our spirit.....
so in return let me lit up your spirit,....shag the money,...if you feel fun....you do it,...you dont always get chance in every life to become bassist,...do it now,...but off course prepare for another source of income

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

I'm between 3 and 4, but voted 4.

I'm in this for being happy and just two things (girlfriend, daughters) make me happier than making music with great people.

I try to earn money whenever I play, but it doesn't bother me too much if it's not always the case, if there are other rewards (a great day out with the band, good contacts, whatever).