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old guys playing originals?

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#141
kesslari said:
......... there can be trade offs between pay and other factors.
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Other than exposure, there's lots of things that can be gained.

For example, say I want to film a promo video for my band. I could rent a location for lots of money, or I could talk a place into letting me record there on an off night in return for entertainment. They wouldn't be getting a full show, there will be lights and cameras that might be obtrusive, the band will start and stop often, repeat songs, etc. Who is getting the better end of the deal here?

Another thing that people don't talk about is musical development. Seriously, how much musical development can you get from playing 3 chord Rock tunes over the 'Living After Midnight' beat night after night? Maybe more complex and creative music doesn't sell, but if it makes you a better musician, that's a gain as well. You could spend $40 a week for a 1/2 hour lesson, or you can jam with good players who are willing to teach you in the basement for hours for nothing. I heard a story about Buddy Guy taking a young dude who was relatively new to the guitar on tour with him to give him the opportunity to learn and develop. He got to learn from a legend while backing him up on tour. Who came out ahead on this one?

So many guys in this business can be so narrow minded about music that they really lose sight of what music can be about, and the beauty and power it has.
 
#142
[QUOTE="jive1"
So many guys in this business can be so narrow minded about music that they really lose sight of what music can be about, and the beauty and power it has.[/QUOTE]

I don't think anyone read my post.

For me, music is about my passion for live performance, having fun and seeing the crowd appreciate what you're doing.

However, some of us have figured out a way to get financially compensated without stress for the love and fun we have playing and some of us haven't.

And it's rather easy to say, "blue were not like you we don't want to get paid."

That's fine but I'm not buying into the whole, "we don't want to get paid" philosophy.

I think there's another underlying reason why some chose to play non benefit or fund raisers but in bars and clubs for free.

Some of you guys sound like we should be shamed because we get paid.

It's like, " we're a little better than those of you getting paid. We're playing for the sheer love of art and the joy we get from playing. We're artists."

C'mon, really? Give me a break.

Btw, I don't play music for a living. I'm a weekend warrior.

[/QUOTE]
 
#145
I'm an old guy (56) and everytime I play it's an orginal. At least in my mind :-) If you are very very fortunate, you get to be an old guy who still plays, no matter what it is. I don't know what happened to our culture where older people get less respect but it really is a shame because for those of us who are fortunate to have good health, and good fortune in life will grow to be old too. Not all of us make it or will make it to being an old guy who still plays.
 
#146
I don't have anything against guys who get paid to play other people's music. It can be rewarding too from a crowd response perspective in a way. I've done it plenty of times myself.

But in my experience, there is nothing more powerful than seeing a crowd get into music that is yours. I'd trade 1,000 drunken singalongs of my past cover bands playing "Don't Stop Believin'" for one gig where everyone knew the words to one of our songs.
 
#148
bluewine said:
I guess everyone agreed with all the points in my last post.

Blue
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I do agree with them. In your earlier posts it almost seemed as though it was just a job to you. I am glad that you still love to play. The fact that you get paid for all the power to you.
Myself I just can't see getting paid for something I am more than willing to do for free. For that set, gig, song its all about having a good time and hopefully the audience does as well.
Edit: As posted below this is usually a 1 hour gig of all original songs, not 3 to 4 four hour. My band also will not pay to play ever.
 
#149
bluewine said:
Really, there is not much difference.

We both leave being musically satisfied and we get the same satisfaction from the crowd digging our performance and It's never tense for me in anyway.

The only difference is I leave with a commision for my performance in my pocket and you leave with no compensation.

Do you think because we get paid we don't enjoy, love and have fun playing music?

Look at it this way, we also have fun putting money in our wallets.

If I ever open a club or a bar, I'm calling you guys.

blue
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It's not that we don't WANT to get paid. When we get a gig that pays, we take it every time. It's just not a requirement for us. We refuse pay-to-play gigs, but playing for free is no big deal.

Now, let me clarify something...I'm talking about a short, one-set gig of originals (the topic of this thread). That's the kind of thing we are willing to do for free. If someone wants us to play 3-4 hours of cover songs, we're going to ask for some cash. If we have to provide the PA, that'll cost a little more.

If you open a venue within a 30 minute drive of me, please let me know. We'll be happy to play. I might even buy YOU a beer. :)
 
#150
EricF said:
It's not that we don't WANT to get paid. When we get a gig that pays, we take it every time. It's just not a requirement for us. We refuse pay-to-play gigs, but playing for free is no big deal.

Now, let me clarify something...I'm talking about a short, one-set gig of originals (the topic of this thread). That's the kind of thing we are willing to do for free. If someone wants us to play 3-4 hours of cover songs, we're going to ask for some cash. If we have to provide the PA, that'll cost a little more.

If you open a venue within a 30 minute drive of me, please let me know. We'll be happy to play. I might even buy YOU a beer. :)
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I think that's the point, not everyone is the same and neither are the situations. The number of free gigs I have played in the last couple decades I can count on my hands. I've turned down plenty of free gigs, and I won't do them. I've also turned down paid gigs if it wasn't worth the time and effort.

Play 4 sets of Katy Perry and Taylor Swift while bringing the PA, yes I need to get paid. Play 3 chord Rock and Blues all night, yes I need to get paid. But if Anthrax called me up to fill-in for an evening and would cover my expenses and provide backline, I'd be on it like white on rice and won't need a penny. But if they wanted me to tour with them, I'd have to get paid. I've had paying gigs that weren't worth it in the end and basement jams that were more fulfilling musically than opening for a national act.

Do I think that musicians should get paid? Hell yeah! But, it's not my business to tell artists what they should and shouldn't do, nor should it be. Why the heck would I want to mess with someone's happiness? The guys playing 1 set of original music with 3 other bands on the bill aren't cutting into my business. The guys having fun in the basement and playing out once a year aren't affecting me. The guys writing and recording original music aren't killing my market. Quite honestly, the more music there is regardless of where makes the world a better place and I don't understand why as musicians we try to restrict that.
 
#151
markkoelsch said:
What is the problem? Playing covers over and over, while it might earn you a few bucks, can get real old.

Conversely, creating something of your own is exciting. You actually get to express yourself...you get to make music versus copying somebody else.
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Yep. I still play them, but MAN, a little bit of me dies inside every time I have to play Jenny Jenny or The Break-Up Song or Honkeytonk Woman or Highway To Hell....

I was in an 80 tribute side project for a little while. It was going to be a project that I did strictly for the money. The lead singer was socially odd (missing a piece somewhere) and eventually got kicked out of the band. But, he at least wanted to do some songs that were not the same damned standard covers you hear every other cover band in the world perform on any given night. I ended up leaving the band because my main project, a band that does both covers and originals, got very busy. But part of the reason I left was that after the first singer was gone, the set list shifted to all the standard songs that everyone else does.

I don't hate covers, which would really be an impediment seeing that my Police Tribute band is once again having a go at it (4th time trying to launch this thing.. exploding drummers and all). I certainly enjoy watching the dance floor fill up when we break into "Play That Funky Music White Boy" or "Highway to Hell"! I will play almost anything. But there is something gratifying when someone comes up to me, or us as a band, and tells us how much he or she liked that song we just played, and it was an original.

PS. I'm 47, and Finally arranging some songs I have written over the last 34 years and prepping them for my very first solo album thing! Will fill you guys in on the progress of both Syncronicity 3 and the solo thing.
 
#152
bluewine said:
I think that when you work, loading in an out and performing getting compensated should be a critical part of the fun for all musicians whether they need the money or not.
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Right. That's you're opinion. Not everyone shares it, nor do they need to.
 
#154
I joined an old guy (ages 50+ to 60+) originals band 7 years ago, after 25 years focusing on raising kids. We are a local band. Our singer frequently says, “Some guys play cards, we play music.”

We do it for the fun of it. Sometimes its more fun when we get paid, sometimes it isn’t. We only do non-paid gigs for the benefit of something we believe in. Some of those gigs have been awesome.

As a listener, I prefer to hear original music, but not all audiences are like that. Live music is like any other leisure entertainment vehicle: a quality product will find a market niche, given effective promotion and value pricing. Your market niche defines your earnings. The average full time musician in the US makes about $35K. This average includes those who have “made it.”

Moral of the story: old or young, do what floats your boat, and respect others for their choices. For goodness sakes, don’t do something in public that you will feel embarrassed about. Duh. If you need to get $45 an hour to enjoy the experience, and that is your priority, again, do what floats your boat, and respect other for their choices.

My hat is off for any and all TBers who have found a musical endeavor they enjoy, regardless of the reasons. It means they know what they want and pursued it to their satisfaction (and perhaps that of the audience or venue.) There are a lot of people in this world who will never know that kind of joy.
 
#155
I'm in an old guy originals band. Everyone is in their 50's and 60's except for the 32 year old drummer. We play 3 to 6 times a month, open for national acts, and just got a little radio play on our CD due out week after next. Way more fun and fulfilling than my previous blues rock cover band. The songwriter in the band is very prolific so we always have new tunes to add.
 
#156
jazzbill said:
I'm in an old guy originals band. Everyone is in their 50's and 60's except for the 32 year old drummer. We play 3 to 6 times a month, open for national acts, and just got a little radio play on our CD due out week after next. Way more fun and fulfilling than my previous blues rock cover band. The songwriter in the band is very prolific so we always have new tunes to add.
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Dammit - you're clogging up the works for all the teens and 20-somethings - get out of the way old man!!!! :D
 
#158
bunkaroo said:
Dammit - you're clogging up the works for all the teens and 20-somethings - get out of the way old man!!!! :D
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I'm pretty sure nobody that goes to see your band is going to see a band with 50- 60 year olds in it.

Their not in your way and your not in their way. :)
 
#160
metlman72 said:
I do agree with them. In your earlier posts it almost seemed as though it was just a job to you. I am glad that you still love to play. The fact that you get paid for all the power to you.
Myself I just can't see getting paid for something I am more than willing to do for free. For that set, gig, song its all about having a good time and hopefully the audience does as well.
Edit: As posted below this is usually a 1 hour gig of all original songs, not 3 to 4 four hour. My band also will not pay to play ever.
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Agreed

Blue
 
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