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Money or love?
- Thread starter Bass Motifs
- Start date
So Anyway, for me gigs are a little bit of fun, a little bit of money.
There are exceptions, but there's usually not enough of one to do it without the other. I've been very fortunate in my corporate career, so we don't depend on the music money at all.
But I would never play anywhere for free or 'exposure' regardless of the situation. I expect the venue to be at least as serious about live music as I am.
There are exceptions, but there's usually not enough of one to do it without the other. I've been very fortunate in my corporate career, so we don't depend on the music money at all.
But I would never play anywhere for free or 'exposure' regardless of the situation. I expect the venue to be at least as serious about live music as I am.
What!!! You can make money from playing bass?
The most money I've ever made from playing in bands was about $150. The worst event I made $4. I quickly left that band and their next gig nobody turned up costing the band $400...
The most money I've ever made from playing in bands was about $150. The worst event I made $4. I quickly left that band and their next gig nobody turned up costing the band $400...
I voted "carrots."
I used to play for the love of it. Bar or restaurants gigs where you barely break even.
My love of playing eventually led me to become a military band member. Made a decent living with benefits and retirement. I had a blast for a long time. Eventually the love of playing left me, so I cross-trained to audio tech and had a blast for a a few more years.
I don't hate playing bass and I could still be convinced to gig for the right offer
. Nobody is going to pay me that much.
I used to play for the love of it. Bar or restaurants gigs where you barely break even.
My love of playing eventually led me to become a military band member. Made a decent living with benefits and retirement. I had a blast for a long time. Eventually the love of playing left me, so I cross-trained to audio tech and had a blast for a a few more years.
I don't hate playing bass and I could still be convinced to gig for the right offer
. Nobody is going to pay me that much.
I play because I love to play, but that doesn’t mean that I allow myself to be taken advantage of.
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
I voted 'Carrots'. Depends on the gig. Depends on what else is happening in life. Time is a depreciating and limited resource, so I am now more choosy about the gigs I take versus 10-15 years ago. The music always has to be first, and has to be something I dig (along with the people playing it), for me to consider getting involved. So I guess that means the LOVE is the priority. That said, after having made my living with music primarily for a long time, but no longer relying on it at this point in my life, I still maintain that if you are playing music out in areas where others who ARE professionals full time also play, you owe it to yourself and them to uphold the pay scale and performance standards of all professionals on the scene. In other words - be ready to gig with solid prep and equipment, be prepared, and don't undercut others just to get a gig, just to be heard. The money doesn't always matter, but it does always matter on some level in terms of supporting the scene.
I am a full-time professional musician (with a little bartending side hustle). That involves gigging, teaching, and recording, so I definitely do a lot of it for money. But, it’s much more nuanced than that.
I got into music because I love it, so it’s not like I’m a mercenary who only pulls out his bass once money has been wired to my private account! It’s the “golden triangle” rule for me; between the Music, the Money, and the Good Times, at least two out of three always have to be there. And there’s times where I will prioritize a “money” gig over a “love” gig when scheduling conflicts arise, sure. But I’m also very lucky, because my main band/gig (I am in about 6-8, but not all are active simultaneously) is one of those rare birds which is both for love AND money. It’s given me crazy cool touring opportunities, and pays anywhere between good to amazing on a per-gig basis. But then, I have another band where I’ve yet to make more than $20, despite the gigs we have played. It’s great music and great people, but any money earned goes back into funding recordings, merch, promo, etc.
Long winded way of saying I voted “Carrots”! Lol.
I got into music because I love it, so it’s not like I’m a mercenary who only pulls out his bass once money has been wired to my private account! It’s the “golden triangle” rule for me; between the Music, the Money, and the Good Times, at least two out of three always have to be there. And there’s times where I will prioritize a “money” gig over a “love” gig when scheduling conflicts arise, sure. But I’m also very lucky, because my main band/gig (I am in about 6-8, but not all are active simultaneously) is one of those rare birds which is both for love AND money. It’s given me crazy cool touring opportunities, and pays anywhere between good to amazing on a per-gig basis. But then, I have another band where I’ve yet to make more than $20, despite the gigs we have played. It’s great music and great people, but any money earned goes back into funding recordings, merch, promo, etc.
Long winded way of saying I voted “Carrots”! Lol.
“Give me a gig, you know”I love the bass. I do almost anything to get to play with others. There's no substitute for that. Just give me a gig, man!
I've never done that. But a band my son did sound for did that a few times. The selling tickets thing. For them, it worked out because they had a big following from their house party scene. So they made money and more people came out because it was a bigger space to party in. 
I answered "Money" but the poll is too narrow, IMO. I started playing out of love, but started getting paid after honing my craft. I expect remuneration for the time and effort I've devoted to it. This is not unreasonable. Although there are exceptions, I rarely hear of people in other professions working simply out of love for their work. Also, the vast majority of places I play at operate for profit. I see no reason why I should offer them my services for free. We get paid little enough as it is.
BBB
BBB
I’ll record for free. The creative work is more than payment for me. Getting me to play other’s creations requires payment, band jams excepted.
please add "money for nothing and carrots for free" as a poll option
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,796
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- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
Definitely rely on the income (building a decent little career) but of course I love to play!
I'm nowhere near good enough to make a living off playing music. Getting paid for my time is always great but I've played shows for free and walked away happy, because it was fun. I wouldn't keep playing if it stopped being fun.
If it were just about the money, I'd moonlight as a coder.
But I've learned that even when it's not my main source of income, maintaining some professional expectations on venues and other players improves my enjoyment of playing.
But I've learned that even when it's not my main source of income, maintaining some professional expectations on venues and other players improves my enjoyment of playing.
I love to play music. I love to be in a band and perform in front of a crowd. That said, I have an investment in gear and time to perfect my craft, plus the expenses involved in going to and from the gig. Gas isn't free, motels aren't free, my gear wasn't free so why should I work for free. Entertainment is a business and someone is making money off your efforts. You are entitled to compensation. Why bear the expenses while someone else profits from it? Therefore my feeling is: No pay, No Play. Very simple. 
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No option to vote Love and Money
Back in the day, I was a full time working pro. Gigging/touring, teaching and sessions. Made a decent living, but after years of it, I realized it would not get me very far in life, I was kind of aging out of the "getting famous" thing, and it was a pretty demanding life.
I went off in an entirely different professional direction and, luckily, did quite well at it. I never stopped playing during that time.
I'm now retired from my other professional life and these days music is a serious focus for me; gigging and sessions mostly, little touring. All projects are original music oriented (any where from 90% original to 60%ish). I definitely get paid or I'm not going out (other than a few charity events each year).
I've loved playing and performing since I was quite young (started at 6, first paid gig at 12). I also strongly believe that its a skill and an art, and musicians should get paid. period!
Back in the day, I was a full time working pro. Gigging/touring, teaching and sessions. Made a decent living, but after years of it, I realized it would not get me very far in life, I was kind of aging out of the "getting famous" thing, and it was a pretty demanding life.
I went off in an entirely different professional direction and, luckily, did quite well at it. I never stopped playing during that time.
I'm now retired from my other professional life and these days music is a serious focus for me; gigging and sessions mostly, little touring. All projects are original music oriented (any where from 90% original to 60%ish). I definitely get paid or I'm not going out (other than a few charity events each year).
I've loved playing and performing since I was quite young (started at 6, first paid gig at 12). I also strongly believe that its a skill and an art, and musicians should get paid. period!
Definitely love. No one in the band takes home any money. That said, the band does gig for money. We just donate the proceeds.
Our guitarist has a son with a very rare disease. It is an orphan disease with no federal funding, so we donate our proceeds (minus some minor band expenses) to the national charitable foundation for that disease. We also have played for free to raise money for a scholarship fund that we support.
This year we sold the band at charitable auctions for our two main causes. By the end of the year we'll have raised over $15K for charity in 2024. It is a small drop in a huge bucket, but we feel very good about it.
95% of my musical journey has been in original music settings. So, obviously I'm not in it for money!
My old health insurance would partially reimburse me for a gym membership IF I logged 150 or so 45 minute visits annually. I wasn't sweating for those sweet, sweet reimbursement checks, but they helped.
Reality is: there's more music than listeners. Paradoxically, there exists a greater need for the spirit of music in people's lives today.
And random thought: larger venues could hire someone to run drone camera coverage of the event. Ticket buyers could pay a fee to access the premium footage afterwards. Like how we'd buy a DVD of a concert tour we attended the year before. Now put your phone away and pay attention to those nice people on stage
Reality is: there's more music than listeners. Paradoxically, there exists a greater need for the spirit of music in people's lives today.
And random thought: larger venues could hire someone to run drone camera coverage of the event. Ticket buyers could pay a fee to access the premium footage afterwards. Like how we'd buy a DVD of a concert tour we attended the year before. Now put your phone away and pay attention to those nice people on stage
