Money or love?

[spiritbass]

It's always been for love. I never wanted playing music to feel like work. My emphasis is on playing (creative expression). Any financial remuneration has been a bonus. I prefer accumulating treasure in heaven.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Money or love?​

Weed

 

[DJ Bebop]

I've just played music all my life. It isn't an addiction; I think I could go without it. I enjoy watching women dance.

 

[pepj]

I'm less interested in the money if its a great gig...but I still appreciate being paid and just because I may be relaxed about the fee..relatively..I don't assume the other guys are.
But if it is rubbish gig, I don't want to do it at all.
And tbf, they don't need the money that badly to do them either even though they are full time.

 

[rickwebb]

If you're not paying, i'm not playing...

 

[buldog5151bass]

Fact is, the vast majority here would be making more per hour flipping burgers, if you figure in rehearsal and practice time.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I selected money because if you get paid for doing what you love, you'll never work a day in your life! I'm retired and not interested in working...

So, outside of a freebe for a fund raiser at a music festival once a year, I expect to get paid. Starting a new band I'll work for peanuts but I expect to be paid and not in peanuts after the first few times.

 

[4StringDave]

I'm not doing it for the money but I wont do it if there isn't any either.

People are too willing to not get paid so its no wonder people don't want to pay the going rate.

The going rate should be same as a plumber/ contractor pro rata, imv.

Precisely this. I love playing, but why should I give up my Saturday night to make other people money without getting some for myself, to compensate for the hours of practicing, gear investment and unsociable hours.

 

[tiktok@sprintma]

I play for love, but my experience is that a place that offers no pay is not worth playing. Bad room, no audience, difficult staff/management, etc.

 

[pklima]

Considering opportunity costs, it's funny. In theory, playing music makes me no money and really takes time away from the stuff I do to make money from music. In practice, it doesn't seem to actually affect sales much, and I've had a better year this year than last in spite of not having gotten any new product done since the early summer and having done very little promotion of the usual November sales.

But yeah, definitely not playing music for money right now.

 

[Hawk620]

Music was never done to make a living thank God. Then it would've been more like work. But as a member of bands providing a service we expected to be paid and were. Private and corporate events always paid well and clubs not so well but then I got started playing beach parties and high school post game dances. What's frustrating is that today many clubs won't pay more than we made playing those HS dances and teen clubs 60 years ago. That's why I decided long ago that a career in music was not my life's ambition.

Doing it this way was always enjoyable and if it became less so I could always take a break. The money paid for the gear and a few other enjoyments but it never paid the rent or the mortgage. I played at jams for free and hosted others for pay. We'd play some benefits gratis to help raise money for worthy causes. Whether I would perform for nothing now would depend upon the gig. But it's always been fun to get together with others for a jam or to play a summertime block party or something. I love playing music.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Lots of posts on the trials and tribulations of getting paid to play. Curious, how many TBers rely on the money, or really just gig as a reason to play?

Gig money does two things for me. One, it provides me the opportunity to have really nice gear. The second more important aspect is sharing proceeds from gigs with the Mrs eliminates negative reactions to acquiring more gear. lol…

As for love or money proposition, I’ve played enough notes over the last 60+ years, and had more gigs than I can remember. What I really love, what keeps me coming back is the hang. I’ve been involved with my current band since 1970, and it’s been huge part of my life and those relationships go deep.

 

[KenSmithFan]

I love music. I love money. I don’t love threads that try to make things black and white. It’s really just lame.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, for the last 20 years or so I've been able to put all my music income into a S&L account. Whenever someone in the family needs a car downpayment or something, there's cash to help them. I also use it to buy my own 'band cars'.
Like this one.

Yeah, I love to play, but getting paid a little bit is also nice.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

Music was never done to make a living thank God. Then it would've been more like work. But as a member of bands providing a service we expected to be paid and were. Private and corporate events always paid well and clubs not so well but then I got started playing beach parties and high school post game dances. What's frustrating is that today many clubs won't pay more than we made playing those HS dances and teen clubs 60 years ago. That's why I decided long ago that a career in music was not my life's ambition.

Doing it this way was always enjoyable and if it became less so I could always take a break. The money paid for the gear and a few other enjoyments but it never paid the rent or the mortgage. I played at jams for free and hosted others for pay. We'd play some benefits gratis to help raise money for worthy causes. Whether I would perform for nothing now would depend upon the gig. But it's always been fun to get together with others for a jam or to play a summertime block party or something. I love playing music.

A little bit of fun, a little bit of money. Not enough of one to do it without the other.

In the early 70;s I'd been playing out for a couple of years when I saw one of the top local bar bands. Chatted up the guitar player during break and he talked about playing 5/6 nights a week and making less than I made at my entry level day job.
I realized that if a band several steps up the music ladder were just scraping by, then at my skill set I'd never make a decent living with local music.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Did not cast a vote - poll only allows one choice and there's no "both" selection.

I'm guessing that would be a popular one to include.

 

[Michedelic]

Originally it was to able to sit at the cool kids’ table. Then I had to make some adjustments…

 

[squish]

One of my bands mostly flies to shows and pays well. I love playing. I love traveling. I love getting paid. So it is a vote for both.

 

[SoonerBill]

I've struggled to get the bills paid. I've been upper middle class and had money to burn. Neither really made me feel much.
Nothing compares to looking into the eyes, hearing the voice and hearing the words of someone that you would give anything for and you know she would give anything for you.

 

[51PRI]

A little bit of fun, a little bit of money. Not enough of one to do it without the other....

That's a good way to put it.