To ALL working bass players...

[SactoBass]

Playing a free gig is like going to the bar but playing on stage instead of just hanging out. Much more fun being on stage.

It sure is!

And "fun" is the *only* reason I play music!

 

[Mike N]

Funny how none of the automotive forums I participate in ever have guys telling hobbyists and weekend warriors to stop fixing friends & neighbors cars for $20 and a six pack, since you'll drive the professional mechanic out of business.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

I'm from the camp of the people who earn their living from music hopefully are not counting on these $50 and a meal gigs to pay their rent...

 

[kentiki]

I want to be sure I understand. According to the OP, if all musicians stop taking cheap gigs the fees for musicians will skyrocket in the future. I think what you would see would be more DJs, Karaoke, open mics. if I'm wrong, and I hope I am, message me when it happens.

 

[Tony In Philly]

Also worth noting is that most successful musicians teach, do session work, repair instruments, or straight up have a job unrelated to music.

This is one of the truest statements ever. Most full-time musicians I know do a lot of teaching and session work. Full-time musicians I know that do nothing but play in bands are usually living a hand to mouth existence or are mooching of somebody. It almost seems like an excuse to be a slacker.

As far as the ultimate indignity of working a straight job, it should be noted that the famous American Twentieth Century composer Charles Ives owned a very successful insurance agency.

The moral is, you have only one life on this earth (at least as far as I can tell), so it's important to earn what you can to your fullest.

 

[SactoBass]

As a praise and worship minister, and gladly unpaid I might add, let me ask you this question. How can I charge God, who gave me this talent in the first place to bless his people?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking those in ministry that do get paid, that’s between them and God. For me, God has bless me and my family abundantly, not only spiritually, but financially as well, far more than what a paid musician could reasonably expect. What is I’ve more increadible is for most of my life I worked on straight commission, but my income has been incredibly stable year in year out since I started playing in this ministry.

As for this ministry, the yoke is light, and the rewards great. I play before around 1,500 people a week, week in and week out, and have been doing this for the last 22 years. How many TBers can honestly say they had a steady gig for that long?

I like that post, not because it is related to religion, but because it demonstrates that people play music for a variety of reasons. Some play to further their spiritual belief of choice (such as dbsfgyd1), some play for money, some play for attention or to try and impress others, some play to feed their ego, some play to express creativity, and some play strictly for the sheer joy and happiness of playing music. (I fall into the latter category.) Some may also play for a combination of those reasons.

So my philosophy is, go forth and play music for whatever reason you wish. But I do not support the idea of telling others what they should or shouldn't do. Anytime someone tries that with me, I just smile and point in the direction of the nearest beach where they can go pound sand all day long! I'll just continue doing my thing because that's what makes me happy in life!

 

[SactoBass]

Funny how none of the automotive forums I participate in ever have guys telling hobbyists and weekend warriors to stop fixing friends & neighbors cars for $20 and a six pack, since you'll drive the professional mechanic out of business.

+1

That's because it doesn't happen.

 

[Iridescentone]

Wouldn't getting involved in local affairs to change the rules fall under your busy bodies comment? The ordinances to protect property owners rights from other negligent property owners are there because someone DID get involved in local affairs. I suppose to the guy whose sewer empties into his front yard it looks like interference, to the rest of us it simply makes sense to the entire rest of the population.

Not in my view. As long as no one breaks the law or infringes on other folk's law abiding behavior, then all is good. Additionally, there are myriad examples of ordinances enacted well after certain behavior was legal, whereupon previous situations are "grandfathered in".

To counter your rather extreme hypothetical example of the guy who's sewer empties into his front yard....I would ask if a hypothetical ordinance restricting the number of sheets of toilet paper used per bowel movement inside one's own home would seem reasonable? No doubt some would think so and would not hesitate to enforce such a ruling. Ya'know, just for "the good of the rest of the entire population". I know people like that and I'm guessing most everyone does, too.

 

[Pbassmanca]

If you have your own draw, you can get paid. If you don't, it is much more difficult. If you can't draw, don't blame that on weekend warriors or any other boogeymen you want to create.

Yeah, if you can pump up the show really well on social media and have a decent group of people that like to see you play and you can charge cover at the door, you're not going to encounter too many issues with getting hired back and making half decent money. It's more ideal if you can have "a night" say once a month or weekly etc, where you can build it up Kevin Costner style..... In my limited experience, you're not likely to bring in more than 400 - 600 bucks for a 4 - 5 piece at a bar/club on a regular basis. If you build a really solid night at a good place and you're taking the door, you could crack $800 - $1000 once in a while but that takes a lot of time and work and you have to be really good! The band I play in (9 piece funk/soul covers) has been fortunate to have a 5 year run at a local club playing the first Friday of every month. It's a well established night in the local scene and we're lucky enough to pull 140 - 160 people through the doors on an average night, all paying $10 cover, so we do pretty well, but it took us a couple years to get to that point at the venue. Sadly, after our show there last Friday, the owner posted on social media a few days later, that they have been blind sided with an eviction notice for what they allege are unfounded accusations of breaking terms of the lease. They are getting lawyers on it to see what their options are, because they are a young couple who have poured there sweat and blood in there to make that place a success, but it doesn't look too good right now! I'm going to be super disappointed if we lose that gig because it is a staple for the band.... Well, truth is, all good things must come to an end sooner or later, and that certainly rings true in our beloved music industry! Peace friends....

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Read my sig.

 

[blue4]

Not in my view. As long as no one breaks the law or infringes on other folk's law abiding behavior, then all is good. Additionally, there are myriad examples of ordinances enacted well after certain behavior was legal, whereupon previous situations are "grandfathered in".

To counter your rather extreme hypothetical example of the guy who's sewer empties into his front yard....I would ask if a hypothetical ordinance restricting the number of sheets of toilet paper used per bowel movement inside one's own home would seem reasonable? No doubt some would think so and would not hesitate to enforce such a ruling. Ya'know, just for "the good of the rest of the entire population". I know people like that and I'm guessing most everyone does, too.

It's not an extreme hypothetical here in Missouri, I can guarantee that. It's an issue my brother in law has had to deal with.

The fact is laws and ordinances come about, for good or bad, because people get involved in local affairs.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Read my sig.

Hahahahahaha, nice......

 

[Mechanical]

yes, there are.

lots of people who originally planned to have a wedding photographer end up asking a friend to take the pics. in most cases, the friend - who often doesn't have a fast enough lens to have decent lighting or a good enough camera to get undistorted photos, is very nervous about this because they know how much they don't know about photography and that in wedding pics, there are no do-overs.

a couple years ago, a relative got married. he asked another relative and my son to do the pics. the other relative turned out to have a cheap camera with a built on slow lens. the pics were dark, distorted and dismal. my son's pics were better, but he hadn't worked indoors at all previously with the lens he used, so they weren't great. my relative and his new wife were thrilled with these pics, which is typical of the people i know who instead of getting beautifully lit, perfectly framed wedding pics opted for a buddy with a camera.

another thing being done these days is that the bride and groom or their folks buys all the guests disposable cameras and tells them all to shoot the wedding. a couple of my friends did this, and the pics were universally poor and poorly lit. i guess the important thing is that the cost of the disposable cameras was far lower than an experienced wedding photographer with pro gear including a full frame camera and a spare, great lenses, experience and talent.

With due respect, this isn't quite accurate. I know plenty of friends who did this. The pictures, universally speaking, are hilarious!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I like that post, not because it is related to religion, but because it demonstrates that people play music for a variety of reasons. Some play to further their spiritual belief of choice (such as dbsfgyd1), some play for money, some play for attention or to try and impress others, some play to feed their ego, some play to express creativity, and some play strictly for the sheer joy and happiness of playing music. (I fall into the latter category.) Some may also play for a combination of those reasons.

So my philosophy is, go forth and play music for whatever reason you wish. But I do not support the idea of telling others what they should or shouldn't do. Anytime someone tries that with me, I just smile and point in the direction of the nearest beach where they can go pound sand all day long! I'll just continue doing my thing because that's what makes me happy in life!

Thanks for your post, and I certainly understand where you are coming from.

 

[SactoBass]

Yeah, if you can pump up the show really well on social media and have a decent group of people that like to see you play and you can charge cover at the door, you're not going to encounter too many issues with getting hired back and making half decent money. It's more ideal if you can have "a night" say once a month or weekly etc, where you can build it up Kevin Costner style..... In my limited experience, you're not likely to bring in more than 400 - 600 bucks for a 4 - 5 piece at a bar/club on a regular basis. If you build a really solid night at a good place and you're taking the door, you could crack $800 - $1000 once in a while but that takes a lot of time and work and you have to be really good! The band I play in (9 piece funk/soul covers) has been fortunate to have a 5 year run at a local club playing the first Friday of every month. It's a well established night in the local scene and we're lucky enough to pull 140 - 160 people through the doors on an average night, all paying $10 cover, so we do pretty well, but it took us a couple years to get to that point at the venue. Sadly, after our show there last Friday, the owner posted on social media a few days later, that they have been blind sided with an eviction notice for what they allege are unfounded accusations of breaking terms of the lease. They are getting lawyers on it to see what their options are, because they are a young couple who have poured there sweat and blood in there to make that place a success, but it doesn't look too good right now! I'm going to be super disappointed if we lose that gig because it is a staple for the band.... Well, truth is, all good things must come to an end sooner or later, and that certainly rings true in our beloved music industry! Peace friends....

Pbass: I hope that situation with the venue resolves itself favorably!

 

[Pbassmanca]

Pbass: I hope that situation with the venue resolves itself favorably!

Thanks brother! I sure hope so too. I was starting to think we might have had the makings of a ten year stint, but only time will tell.....

 

[SactoBass]

Thanks for your post, and I certainly understand where you are coming from.

Thanks! And just to be clear, that last paragraph about me not supporting the idea of people telling others what to do or not do was most definitely *NOT* aimed at you! It wasn't really aimed at anyone in particular. It was just a general statement aimed at the human species.

 

[AaronVonRock]

As a praise and worship minister, and gladly unpaid I might add, let me ask you this question. How can I charge God, who gave me this talent in the first place to bless his people?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking those in ministry that do get paid, that’s between them and God. For me, God has bless me and my family abundantly, not only spiritually, but financially as well, far more than what a paid musician could reasonably expect. What is I’ve more increadible is for most of my life I worked on straight commission, but my income has been incredibly stable year in year out since I started playing in this ministry.

As for this ministry, the yoke is light, and the rewards great. I play before around 1,500 people a week, week in and week out, and have been doing this for the last 22 years. How many TBers can honestly say they had a steady gig for that long?

Poor form bringing your religion into the discussion. Unnecessary and tacky.

 

[Iridescentone]

It's not an extreme hypothetical here in Missouri, I can guarantee that. It's an issue my brother in law has had to deal with.

The fact is laws and ordinances come about, for good or bad, because people get involved in local affairs.

Of course. But I think you asked me to delineate between what I thought a "busy body" is, and residents of a community participating in local affairs to change, or enact, ordinances?

I think I did that by offering an opposing hypothetical "toilet paper" ordinance, whereby busy bodies would seek to intrude into ordinary people's private affairs, just because they can. I would argue that there is no shortage of people like that, and that many would consider them to be quintessential "busy bodies". Am I wrong?

Obviously, laws restricting the handling of raw sewage are "good ones". Who would think otherwise?

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

As a praise and worship minister, and gladly unpaid I might add, let me ask you this question. How can I charge God, who gave me this talent in the first place to bless his people?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking those in ministry that do get paid, that’s between them and God. For me, God has bless me and my family abundantly, not only spiritually, but financially as well, far more than what a paid musician could reasonably expect. What is I’ve more increadible is for most of my life I worked on straight commission, but my income has been incredibly stable year in year out since I started playing in this ministry.

As for this ministry, the yoke is light, and the rewards great. I play before around 1,500 people a week, week in and week out, and have been doing this for the last 22 years. How many TBers can honestly say they had a steady gig for that long?

Do you get paid as a minister?