This is tricky because I require quantity, but I've learned when to let go of the crappy gigs to make room for more quality ones.
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Quality or Quantity of Gigs?
- Thread starter jive1
- Start date
butchblack
Life is short. Do good. Find and do what you love.
Thesis plus antithesis = synthesis. In an ideal world quality over quantity. The reality is that I'm a good, but far from great bassist. I also work a day gig that I have to get up early in the A.M. for. I would love to work every weekend at a club with good crowd who are into the music. I play in a band with people around my talent level, who I get along with well. We usually play 1-2 X a month. We were hosting a jam on Sunday early evening that just ended. That was too much work for too little $ so I can't say I'm sorry it ended. Bottom line is if we got up to 3-4 X a month it would pretty much be ideal for me. The +$100 per person gigs up here are usually private parties or corporate events. I wouldn't mind doing a few more of those, but they're rare and there are too many exceptional bands in the area fighting for those jobs. Reality is we're not doing badly.
I find it's always more rewarding to play to an audience who "gets it".
and it would be great to be able to do that every time.
Quality over quantity always wins, and it's even better when the quantity of gigs
are quality gigs.
and it would be great to be able to do that every time.
Quality over quantity always wins, and it's even better when the quantity of gigs
are quality gigs.
Twice my band accepted a smaller fee for a one or two month trial (regular gig once a week) until audience starts coming and place gets fuller. Nothing wrong with it, once we got better deal after trial, and once we didn't and we quit. Bands market values isn't fixed (YMMV) and can be negotiated, specially if you have the leverage (happy audience).
I chose quantity because it keeps the band sharp. It also keeps the band together. For a new band, it also keeps the band rehearsed. Plus, I enjoy playing out....
I'd much rather play 1 a week for 400 with good players than 4 a week for 100 with meh players. In fact, everything I do is geared towards making it to at least that level. I'm in multiple good bands that all play good shows, and it's my ultimate goal to be able to pay my bills with music. But I won't pretend that I'm better than a 100 dollar gig. If that's what it takes to get out there in front of new audiences and play with different musicians, then I'm happy to do it.
I had to vote 'carrots'. When I was young, it was quantity, probably just to get that 'playing live' rush. Now that I'm older, my style has changed considerably and quality is much more important now.
- Oct 18, 2012
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Hi Jon,
I think $100.00 gigs are free gigs in your world, not in my world and many others here.
In Milwaukee it is what it is. Some of us are in bar bands and were going to stay in bar bands for a variety of reasons.
There are no bar bands here making more than $400.00 per might. Maybe $500.00 if you really blow up the bar.
Now, I'll use myself as an example, the only way I can move up in pay would be to win an audition with an agency represented show or corporate cover band.
Blue
Well my main band has three 2k or more gigs on the books for this year. We probably will not play more than 25 -30 gigs in a year. Most are averaging about $1500.00 a night. I also play in another band that gigs more often for way less money.
Not even close to that.
All the guys in my band do not count on gig money to pay the bills, and have the same gigging philosophy.
We would rather only play a 1/2 dozen or so "quality gigs" a year, then be "bar stars"
That's awesome for you, my friend, but some of us DO make a living playing music. I play in a local cover band that has a good reputation, has a pretty good following, and conducts its business In a professional manner. We've played almost every weekend for the last 10+ years and its been fun AND profitable! We've been at the $400/night and we've been at the $2k/night level. Right now, we're doing weekend nights for $900-1500, depending on what we can negotiate. This weekend is $1100 Friday night, $1500 Saturday night. Next weekend is $1200 fri, $1200, sat, & $1200 sun(st patty's day). These are all "dive bar" gigs and we love each and every one of them. Does that mean I'm quantity over quality? I personally don't think so, because I think each gig is what you make of it. I've played big, outdoor festivals with some great people that sucked and I've played some "bar star" gigs that were a blast. I think quality is totally subjective because I feel like I've played a few thousand quality gigs at smoky dive bars over the last decade and I've been able to feed my family and my incurable GAS in the process...
I think this mean I vote for carrots
That's awesome for you, my friend, but some of us DO make a living playing music. I play in a local cover band that has a good reputation, has a pretty good following, and conducts its business In a professional manner. We've played almost every weekend for the last 10+ years and its been fun AND profitable! We've been at the $400/night and we've been at the $2k/night level. Right now, we're doing weekend nights for $900-1500, depending on what we can negotiate. This weekend is $1100 Friday night, $1500 Saturday night. Next weekend is $1200 fri, $1200, sat, & $1200 sun(st patty's day). These are all "dive bar" gigs and we love each and every one of them. Does that mean I'm quantity over quality? I personally don't think so, because I think each gig is what you make of it. I've played big, outdoor festivals with some great people that sucked and I've played some "bar star" gigs that were a blast. I think quality is totally subjective because I feel like I've played a few thousand quality gigs at smoky dive bars over the last decade and I've been able to feed my family and my incurable GAS in the process...
I think this mean I vote for carrots
Those are some quality numbers there - I applaud you for hitting that pay level
You have to admit though - if you were still doing it at $100 a night, you wouldn't speak as highly of it
I get to quality via quantity. Logging time in front of audiences is not the only way I become a better player, but it is the most important.
And unless you're Michael Rhodes, when you're in a new original project, you will go through a period of playing wherever you can (more of that quality via quantitiy ********) for trivial money. Actually, I'm betting Rhodes doesn't care whether he gets a big payday, or any payday, when he's playing with Invalid Link Removed
And unless you're Michael Rhodes, when you're in a new original project, you will go through a period of playing wherever you can (more of that quality via quantitiy ********) for trivial money. Actually, I'm betting Rhodes doesn't care whether he gets a big payday, or any payday, when he's playing with Invalid Link Removed
QUALITY all the way! I've played too many crappy venues. It's easier to play better and get into the music when the venue supports the ambiance. And better venues usually pay better, too. Of course now I'm playing jazz, so perhaps that's a different deal than the ole' rocker days.....
Quality for me is the quality of the music we play. If it has to be a quality venue, then......well quantity is my only option. We get good and bad crowds, but its always a bar for us.
The Russians used to have a saying (and maybe they still do), something like
"Quantity has a quality all its own"
"Quantity has a quality all its own"
