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Thunderbird Club

#128,961
Gaolee said:
I met a guy at Bass Northwest who told me he would not play shows no matter what. He only played for himself and did some recording for fun. He said playing gigs was like being a furniture mover with bad hours and worse pay. He had a point. But I have been happily ignoring his advice.
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I know a guy that is a good guitar player, owns loads of quality gear, and loves to play. He said he was offered $500 to play one night a week with his "band" (its a trio that just get together to jam regularly). Said it was not worth loading a guitar, amp, and spending a few hours at the bar to earn the $$. Of course he doesn't NEED the money because he has a successful business but he has a lot of free time now that the business is on auto-pilot much of the time.
I was thinking that I can't remember the last time I was in a band that made $500 for a nights work. 90% of the gigs I have played have been free, for drinks, or the promise of a better gig next time. I would still play the free gigs just to play because I enjoy it. I never expected to make money playing and it was always satisfying on a personal/social level for me. I enjoyed hanging with my friends and sometimes we got to make noise for other people. Would have been nice to make money but that was never the motivation.

I do feel that many bars/venues can pay for the music but they know they don't have to so why offer?
 
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#128,962
Nocturnal said:
I know a guy that is a good guitar player, owns loads of quality gear, and loves to play. He said he was offered $500 to play one night a week with his "band" (its a trio that just get together to jam regularly). Said it was not worth loading a guitar, amp, and spending a few hours at the bar to earn the $$. Of course he doesn't NEED the money because he has a successful business but he has a lot of free time now that the business is on auto-pilot much of the time.
I was thinking that I can't remember the last time I was in a band that made $500 for a nights work. 90% of the gigs I have played have been free, for drinks, or the promise of a better gig next time. I would still play the free gigs just to play because I enjoy it. I never expected to make money playing and it was always satisfying on a personal/social level for me. I enjoyed hanging with my friends and sometimes we got to make noise for other people. Would have been nice to make money but that was never the motivation.

I do feel that many bars/venues can pay for the music but they know they don't have to so why offer?
Click to expand...
The pub in walking distance from my house starting booking bands a couple of years ago. We play there almost every second month and it’s a ton of work for me to bring 3/4 of the PA and lights for the $115 I get, but when the band is cookin, folks are dancin, and ima playing my Thunderbird, that’s my happy place.
The manager likes live music.

We also get 2-4 private parties a year that pay a little more.
But that’s a cover band playing a lot of 70’s & 80’s material.
And (unbelievably to me), I’ve managed to get some jazz gigs that pay.

I haven’t made much money in my heavier original projects. Still love creating and playing riffs.
 
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#128,963
Speaking of work, it's 7am and I'm waiting for the drummer and his pickup truck to show up. Git-ist is meeting here also, and we're going to Woods Hole (ahem) MA- an hour and 1/2 ride- to get the ferry to Martha's Vineyard. Playing 2-4, then getting the ferry back, we'll probably get home for 9-ish pm.
Our guitar player has another gig tonight that he's gotten allowed to be late for.
$150 a man for a 14 hour day, but it's a chill gig for a small party crowd and everything is paid for.
My employer called me 2 weeks ago and asked me to pull a band together for a little "Goodbye, house" party (he sold his house), so he's getting the Dub-Rub Mashup Squad for the afternoon. Thunderbird will be at House Right today.
 
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#128,966
JIO said:
As a bit of a weeks end summery on the topic this week of how artists/musicians/creative people are treated in a commercial situation (professional or amateur)

There are many people who do not do obvious creative things like making art or music or whatever any creative person does to exercise their creativity, but they incorporate creativity in their lives. That includes being a creative problem solver, or teacher, or most any walk of life. These people generally get-it - they understand the concept of creativity. Then there are people who do not have fluid access to creativity in their lives. Some of those people have a high regard/respect for creative people for that very reason, while others are jealous and resentful of creative people, again for the same reason. So, if someone gets-it, they are more likely to be open to work with creative people to create a mutually conducive situation. Again - in the broadest sense of the concept - file under "everyone is happy". If more people were like this the world would be a much nicer place to live in. There are pockets of more ideal situations all over the world, but it's always a yin-yang battle with those who use their self-assumed superiority to control and dominate instead of creatively working together for the greater good. This is not to say that creatively inclined people don't abuse their "entitlement" (in quotes meaning I do not think anyone is entitled to anything they haven't earned) but a constant demeaning of another usually leads to reciprocal abuse as a form of "getting back" at the person demeaning them. As in, if reasonable good-will has been established from the start - it will (optimally) inspire like-minded follow-through. Sounds like an optimist point of view but as a person of realist/romantic blend - it's my hopeful side showing and what I strive for generally in my life. :) (even knowing what I'm up against!)
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Being a pathological optimist is one of life's great joys. Without the ability to ignore the torpedoes, none of us would ever get anything done.
 
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#128,967
Nocturnal said:
I know a guy that is a good guitar player, owns loads of quality gear, and loves to play. He said he was offered $500 to play one night a week with his "band" (its a trio that just get together to jam regularly). Said it was not worth loading a guitar, amp, and spending a few hours at the bar to earn the $$. Of course he doesn't NEED the money because he has a successful business but he has a lot of free time now that the business is on auto-pilot much of the time.
I was thinking that I can't remember the last time I was in a band that made $500 for a nights work. 90% of the gigs I have played have been free, for drinks, or the promise of a better gig next time. I would still play the free gigs just to play because I enjoy it. I never expected to make money playing and it was always satisfying on a personal/social level for me. I enjoyed hanging with my friends and sometimes we got to make noise for other people. Would have been nice to make money but that was never the motivation.

I do feel that many bars/venues can pay for the music but they know they don't have to so why offer?
Click to expand...
I just did the math. Back in the day, 72 - 76, we played tons of after game (football, basketball) dances at the couple of high schools in town. 90 minute sets, 4 or 5 players. We were usually pretty good. They paid us 50 bucks. They charged 50 cents at the door. Usually 250 + or - kids. In today’s money that’s like $225 for the band. We got $10.00 a player when we did church dances; usually played for a couple of hours. We played main Saturday night dances at high schools and got $125 - $150 for three to four hours, but usually added a female singer, keys and had a guy who played sax join us for some songs. Turnout would be 400 - 500 kids at $1.50 a ticket. The schools let us use their PAs, but once in awhile we would rent something better and the school would cover it. The ASB made a nice little profit and everyone had fun. That’s $570 or a bit more for the band in today’s money for high school kids playing to high school kids. We didn’t do it for the money and didn’t make much. Covered gas, strings, some eats, etc. But we always got paid something and got respect. We were just kids, not adults who had been playing for years with developed skills. It’s a different world.
 
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#128,968
Engle said:
The pub in walking distance from my house starting booking bands a couple of years ago. We play there almost every second month and it’s a ton of work for me to bring 3/4 of the PA and lights for the $115 I get, but when the band is cookin, folks are dancin, and ima playing my Thunderbird, that’s my happy place.
The manager likes live music.

We also get 2-4 private parties a year that pay a little more.
But that’s a cover band playing a lot of 70’s & 80’s material.
And (unbelievably to me), I’ve managed to get some jazz gigs that pay.

I haven’t made much money in my heavier original projects. Still love creating and playing riffs.
Click to expand...
I found myself playing a couple gigs a month regularly, and often more. That was a few years ago. Most did not pay much, but I recall making a decent amount by the end of the year. For a day job type like me, it was a bit much on top of a heavy travel schedule for work. It sure was fun.

Edited to correct fat phone finger failures.
 
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#128,969
I was doing some comparisons for my upcoming rework of the PBird.

I’m probably going to glue on a raised center section and cut down the back/wings to create one at the back.

The new center will cover the existing PU route. I’m leaning toward a single PU, but considering moving it toward the bridge compared to the neck PU on a 2 PU bird.

Anyway here’s the headstock compared to my VP:

44720953-A259-434A-A9BD-524DB8176B2A.jpeg
C6AC8A1F-A18C-4B83-AF58-28B847DCD42C.jpeg
 
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#128,978
JIO said:
I learned to accept long ago that artists are held in contempt out of jealousy of lack of talent and/or creative impulses. Stone cold fact.
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In some cases no doubt. I have something approaching contempt for some artists (and various other kinds of people) and it has nothing to do with jealously or their talent for that matter. Generally it's an attitude thing on their part. There are a lot of things other than jealousy that can earn my disdain.;):D
 
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#128,979
Well I couldn't pass it up I ordered another Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird, it's a alpine white demo weighing 8lbs 3oz. This makes number three, a testament to just how much I think of these basses. This is a newer one with the unstained rosewood fingerboard and much lighter than most, lately they have been coming in at 9 plus pounds up to 11 pounds. I used my sunburst VP Thunderbird for part of the night last night and it pushed me over the edge! Pictures to follow!
 
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