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Quality or Quantity of Gigs?

Quality or Quantity?

  • Quality

    Votes: 77 71.3%

  • Quantity

    Votes: 11 10.2%

  • Carrots

    Votes: 20 18.5%
  • Total voters
    108
#61
Bass_Pounder said:
Those are some quality numbers there - I applaud you for hitting that pay level :hyper:

You have to admit though - if you were still doing it at $100 a night, you wouldn't speak as highly of it ;)
Click to expand...

That's very possible. We do "acoustic" shows during the week(I say "acoustic", because I still play bass guitar, not acoustic or upright), and the only way any of us makes $100 for those shows is if someone in the group doesn't show up. We still do 'em though, because we have a good time. Is it a quality gig? Probably not by definition, but its a quality gig for us because we get to kick back, relax, and play some tunes. Our crowd likes it, because its quieter and a lot more intimate, and the bars like it because it doesn't cost as much. Do I make tons of dough playing those shows? Barely enough to pay for gas(trust me, I drive an SRT 8 Cherokee!). Will I keep doing those low rent shows? Absolutely! They're usually a pretty good time...

I still say that quality is in the eye of the beholder...;)
 
#62
We never came to a consensus on the definition of quality gig, jive gave one. I think there are several and some variation.

Here are 2 examples

Example A


  • Nice venue

  • big crowd

  • at least a $1,500.00 pay day

  • the band is "on"


Example B

  • Packed Dive bar

  • The band is on fire

  • Great attentive appreciative crowd

  • $400.00 Pay Day

Blue
 
#64
bluewine said:
We never came to a consensus on the definition of quality gig, jive gave one. I think there are several and some variation.

Here are 2 examples

Example A


  • Nice venue

  • big crowd

  • at least a $1,500.00 pay day

  • the band is "on"


Example B

  • Packed Dive bar

  • The band is on fire

  • Great attentive appreciative crowd

  • $400.00 Pay Day

Blue
Click to expand...

I would take A everytime. I learned along time ago when I was self employed one good (big) job a month sure beat 4-6 little jobs a month.
Not only was it less stressful the travel and time investment cost me more money running around to all those jobs.
If you are playing 4 gigs a month making $100.00 a piece or can play one gig a month at $400 you are putting more in your pocket with less stress and possible issues doing the one show. With your free time you can do whatever you want...like go fishin :smug:
 
#65
jive1 said:
Just throwing this out there....

Obviously, the ideal for many is to have a quantity of quality gigs, but if you had to choose between quality gigs or quantity of gigs, what would you choose? Would you rather do 4 nights at $100 a night, or one that pays $400? Would you rather play once a month to a nice room, with a good crowd or every weekend to a small crowd in dive bars? Would you rather play once a month with a great band of good people, or every weekend with a mediocre band of people you are indifferent towards?

So, if given a choice, quality or quantity?
Click to expand...

Not only did I say quality is first for me playing once a month. A nice room and good crowd beats dive bars and a mediocre band anyday no matter what the pay is.
 
#66
In an ideal world, quality every time.

However, and I might be odd with this.......

I actually like playing in those crappy little dive bars. For a part timer like me it's fun. I've gotten a lot of compliments from people and have found that, at least where we play, the crowds are very interested in the bands and very supportive. And there isn't a ton of pressure so it stays fun.

Give me $100, a 3 hour gig, and a crowd that wants to dance and have fun, and I'm happy.

I have no delusions about where I am going in this business. Big dollar gigs in fancy places isn't in my future, at least not anytime soon.
 
#67
BayStateBass said:
In an ideal world, quality every time.

However, and I might be odd with this.......

I actually like playing in those crappy little dive bars. For a part timer like me it's fun. I've gotten a lot of compliments from people and have found that, at least where we play, the crowds are very interested in the bands and very supportive. And there isn't a ton of pressure so it stays fun.
Click to expand...

This is actually how I feel about playing small town street dances, which are my main band's bread and butter from Memorial Day to Labor Day. We are completely DIY on production so it is a hell of a lot of work to put on the show we do (big P.A., trussed lighting, the works), but some of these towns we play we are literally the only live band those folks may see all year. So they turn out in droves and everyone from miles around comes too and they are totally into it. We get treated like rock stars and are paid very well (several times what we'd make on a bar gig as a rule).
 
#68
jaywa said:
This is actually how I feel about playing small town street dances, which are my main band's bread and butter from Memorial Day to Labor Day. We are completely DIY on production so it is a hell of a lot of work to put on the show we do (big P.A., trussed lighting, the works), but some of these towns we play we are literally the only live band those folks may see all year. So they turn out in droves and everyone from miles around comes too and they are totally into it. We get treated like rock stars and are paid very well (several times what we'd make on a bar gig as a rule).
Click to expand...

I'm surprised we haven't run into each other yet. I've played so many street dances up in Mitchell and that area it's not funny.
 
#69
Theoretically, all things being equal quality of course. Time is money.

If its a young band I'd probably lean toward quantity for the purpose of solidifying the band and building professional experience. (Worthy investment.)
 
#70
I'd take quality. While I don't have charts and graphs to prove my theory, my experience is that the few quality gigs I've had have provided more opportunities to network with like-minded musicians. The dive bars I've played in around here...well, frankly some of the clientele are downright frightening.
Best "quality" gig I had was playing in a pit orchestra. I made a pittance, however, I don't equate $$ for quality.
 
#74
bassbully said:
I would take A everytime. I learned along time ago when I was self employed one good (big) job a month sure beat 4-6 little jobs a month.
Not only was it less stressful the travel and time investment cost me more money running around to all those jobs.
If you are playing 4 gigs a month making $100.00 a piece or can play one gig a month at $400 you are putting more in your pocket with less stress and possible issues doing the one show. With your free time you can do whatever you want...like go fishin :smug:
Click to expand...

For some of us like me outside of my 50 hour work week, I have no interests outside of gigging. So the $400.00 and only gigging once a month would not work for me.

Blue
 
#77
BayStateBass said:
In an ideal world, quality every time.

However, and I might be odd with this.......

I actually like playing in those crappy little dive bars. For a part timer like me it's fun. I've gotten a lot of compliments from people and have found that, at least where we play, the crowds are very interested in the bands and very supportive. And there isn't a ton of pressure so it stays fun.

Give me $100, a 3 hour gig, and a crowd that wants to dance and have fun, and I'm happy.

I have no delusions about where I am going in this business. Big dollar gigs in fancy places isn't in my future, at least not anytime soon.
Click to expand...

And congrats for getting those $100.00 a man gigs, a lot of bands are struggling to get to that threshold.

Blue
 
#80
I voted "carrots" because it isn't an either/or for me. But, this touches on the multiple bands/projects thread. One band gives me quantity I want (enough to break even on gas and strings ... grin!) while my other projects give me the artistic outlets I want as well as provide relatively scarce (dozen gigs/year) gigs that are typically concert settings and pay pretty well. The latter is far more work, and I'd do it for less money even (don't tell anyone!), but are much more satisfying.

Edit - I thought I should make it clear that the band members I play with are much, much better than mediocre, and are a joy to work with, so I'm commenting mostly on the quantity of gigs, because NO gig is worth playing with lousy musicians!
 

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