Wednesday evenings every week for about four years and we've only played out a few times for parties. We booked a wedding but the bride and groom split before the date. The five of us are birds of a feather: middle-class 60-something married hetero cisgendered white guys who just love a lot of different kinds of music. We play mostly not-overly-popular covers of classic country, folk-rock, Americana, alt-country, rockabilly tunes. I think we could play 50 or so without struggling too much. We hang out, play some songs, chat about politics and such. Some guys play poker or sports, we have a band. It's very low key and a lot of fun.
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Just For Fun
- Thread starter Resonance129
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- just for fun no pay
Of course we're out here. But the "I only play when I get paid" guys tend to rule the roost around TB. It's kind of like the cover bands vs. originals bands war that always seems to pop up around here.
I'll only play paid gigs if it is music I enjoy and it's tight and professional. The time taken to pull apart half my studio set-up, pack the car, set up PA and lights, play for 3-4 hours, pull it down and reset the studio is not worth it to me unless it is good music played well.
Most of the time i'd prefer to have people come to my studio and play music for no money, just the enjoyment of playing music.
I'm also happy to play friends backyard BBQ's with minimal PA just because I enjoy it..... and it means I spend less time trying to make conversation with people and less drinks I consume.
The most enjoyable playing I've had in quite some time was at my 50th in February. I had three musician friends visit from overseas and invited three locals (vocals, guitar, percussion) I've been jamming with irregularly over the last 6 months or so who in turn brought another vocalist/keys and a violinist. Along with my two musical daughters there was 11 musicians and 8 or so non-musicians in my studio playing for over 5 hours. There were a few rough songs, but no complete train-wrecks, and the most appreciative audience you could hope for.
Most of the time i'd prefer to have people come to my studio and play music for no money, just the enjoyment of playing music.
I'm also happy to play friends backyard BBQ's with minimal PA just because I enjoy it..... and it means I spend less time trying to make conversation with people and less drinks I consume.
The most enjoyable playing I've had in quite some time was at my 50th in February. I had three musician friends visit from overseas and invited three locals (vocals, guitar, percussion) I've been jamming with irregularly over the last 6 months or so who in turn brought another vocalist/keys and a violinist. Along with my two musical daughters there was 11 musicians and 8 or so non-musicians in my studio playing for over 5 hours. There were a few rough songs, but no complete train-wrecks, and the most appreciative audience you could hope for.
I think what the OP is describing is called an originals band (or at least an originals band without a ridiculously attractive/charismatic front person).
And yeah I'm in one, goal is not money just writing songs we like and getting them heard by folks. I love it.
And yeah I'm in one, goal is not money just writing songs we like and getting them heard by folks. I love it.
That sounds like a lovely weekend to me (either the playing or the wine)
Eh, I'm not even picky about whether the music played is original or covered. I'd just love to have musician friends who loved to play as much as I do. Guess I missed that boat. The only people to "find" these days, whether via BandMix or Craigslist or randomly in a big box store, are fairly serious and looking to get big, gain exposure, become famous/rich. I don't knock the notion at all. I respect it, actually. I just love to play. Music is my self-prescribed "therapy", and adding the social aspect to it, along with low expectations (lol) and common musical interests sounds like nirvana.
I personally dig the situation. I have a "real" job so it really is about the music. It's enjoyable, social (lots of oxytocin getting released in the camraderie), means you are less restricted in expression of personal taste. Basically you get the music and the hang but never the pay.
I think that's the risk with adds (gumtree is our nation's equivalent of Craig's list) is that you might end up meeting some people where either the hang or the music or both are not good. I've seen those ads where people are clearly hoping to "make it" e.g will say something like they plan a national tour in the future. Maybe they will make it but I don't like their chances, especially if they are posting ads rather than being hooked into their local music school network.
In our band, we are all retired. We usually play for groups that could not afford to hire a band, such as senior centers or a soup kitchen. We're just doing it for fun.
Me too. My daily release after work is to go into the studio and jam along to a few songs. It literally stops me thinking about anything except the next musical passage. Work problems disappear.... at least for an hour or so.
Same.
It's how I got into doing YT covers. Something to focus on and get lost in, plus fun. I love doing those, but there's no comparison to playing along with other people. Preferably people on the same wavelength. Even better, people who also like the same music you're into. Just hard to come across.
lol Back to YT, it is.
Stoked to see so many sentiments like my own. like many, I just want to play out in order to experience this one I the intensity of the act of doing so. And while I’d definitely do gigs without any upay on a personal level, I worry that to do so is, in the long run, akin to taking money out of the system and stealing it from from the truly dedicated pro’s.
I’ll never play covers for free in a bar or club. My reason is the club owner can then say why should I pay a band when I can get guys to play for free. It’s not good for the working musicians in town.
Original music and singer songwriter stuff is usually very low or no pay.
Original music and singer songwriter stuff is usually very low or no pay.
Hadn't really considered that. Makes sense. And it's a quick way to end up getting taken advantage of in the end. Which would suck for everybody.
At the same time, I guess my thoughts weren't directed at venues that normally would pay the entertainers. Just thoughts about playing for the love of playing, and the lack (in my personal limited experience) of people in that canoe with me.
This is something I should look into.
Or busking. Never done that before, but I could see that being pretty fun. Especially with a few other people. Just playing to play.
Somebody throw a $5'r in the tip jar? Cool.
Not a dime in the tip jar? Cool.
Just havin a good time playing out
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We usually busk once or twice every summer at a local farmers' market. Never make much money. But the people there applaud and sometimes dance. It's fun. (But mornings only!)
D
The folks I play with is kind of unique. A mix of work folks and CL. We rotate hosts at different homes every Sunday, there's always snacks and socializing involved- no heavy drinking and NO egos. No thoughts of gigging- though we were almost at a place of getting a solid set list together when Covid reared its ugly head- but only to do open mic or senior center. We are finally getting together the weekend after Memorial Day at a park near my house. We play for the Zen and camaraderie...
Yes, I still feel the way you do...DEPENDING!!!
An original or an eclectic style is one of those that I’m inclined to on the fun side of it. Or just your friendly neighborhood jam or a few guys getting together. House parties for friends! Busking. The old days , yes! Key thing is FUN. Absolutely!
Where I start thinking more mercenary is when it starts hitting my wallet with no equitable fun as compensation. Or worse, an establishment wants you to play for nothing or nearly so but want you to invite all your friends to come see you (I.e.: patronize the place).
I do think you can have both worlds, in the right situation though.
I'd play for free only for a charity or a very close friend's affair. As others have written, if someone's making a profit off of my efforts, I get a cut.
The thing is, not many venues want a band to come in and play whatever the band feels like for as long as the band feels like playing it. They want you to start at nine and go past midnight, bring a crowd and/or keep the crowd that's there entertained with the songs THEY want to hear so they buy drinks. And if you don't do that, they don't want you back because you're driving business away rather than bringing it. So if you want to play a gig in an actual venue, it's a business proposition and the band ought to be paid. I've often said that I'll gladly play for free, but if I'm doing it for fun, then I'll play what I feel like playing for as long as I feel like playing it and leave when I don't feel like playing any more.
You could, of course, hire a venue yourself just to put on a show for whoever wants to come hear you. But that raises a lot of potential headaches.
Or, there are some casual non-paying gigs one can take where there isn't the business dimension. You can play the side stage at a county fair or the town's Old Home Days (lots of those around NH in the summer) for an hour. There are benefits and charities. My church has a week-long day camp for local kids and throws a BBQ on the Thursday for families, and one of my music projects will usually play a set or two. You can throw something together for a backyard party for friends. I've done things like that, and enjoy them. But they're irregular. If you want to be playing in front of audiences on a frequent basis, you pretty much have to start looking at the business angle.
You could, of course, hire a venue yourself just to put on a show for whoever wants to come hear you. But that raises a lot of potential headaches.
Or, there are some casual non-paying gigs one can take where there isn't the business dimension. You can play the side stage at a county fair or the town's Old Home Days (lots of those around NH in the summer) for an hour. There are benefits and charities. My church has a week-long day camp for local kids and throws a BBQ on the Thursday for families, and one of my music projects will usually play a set or two. You can throw something together for a backyard party for friends. I've done things like that, and enjoy them. But they're irregular. If you want to be playing in front of audiences on a frequent basis, you pretty much have to start looking at the business angle.
I play because I like to. But, I also like to get paid for the effort. We'll slide the scale.
No problem doing a charity any time any where, for beer or food.
And depending on the stage, the crowd etc I might be a fan of more or less.
I have seen way too many guys get caught up in "How much they are worth" bs to argue. Those guys either need to be pros working their @$$ off, or plan on not playing much, or booking the gigs.
As I said - every decade there are more and more bands. And there are less and less places to play. And while the people in my band are not "pros" we have all played for 40+ years. How good can you actual be (or bad) at playing an AC/DC song? The market is brutal.
No problem doing a charity any time any where, for beer or food.
And depending on the stage, the crowd etc I might be a fan of more or less.
I have seen way too many guys get caught up in "How much they are worth" bs to argue. Those guys either need to be pros working their @$$ off, or plan on not playing much, or booking the gigs.
As I said - every decade there are more and more bands. And there are less and less places to play. And while the people in my band are not "pros" we have all played for 40+ years. How good can you actual be (or bad) at playing an AC/DC song? The market is brutal.
