What Do We Get Paid For?

[Nev375]

You are paid for your time on stage; you are not paid to practice, you are not paid to load / unload. If the amount you are earning is not worth it, then get off stage.

This is how every job works.

There was an engineer who had an exceptional gift for fixing all things mechanical. After serving his company loyally for over 30 years, he happily retired. Many years later the company contacted him regarding a seemingly impossible problem they were having with one of their multimillion dollar machines. They had tried everything and everyone else to get the machine to work but to no avail. In desperation, they called on the retired engineer who had solved so many of their problems in the past. The engineer reluctantly took the challenge. He spent a day studying the huge machine. At the end of the day, he marked a small "x" in chalk on a particular component of the machine and stated, "This is where your problem is." The part was replaced and the machine worked perfectly again. The company received a bill for $50,000 from the engineer for his service. They demanded an itemized accounting of his charges. The engineer responded briefly: "One chalk mark $1. Knowing where to put it $49,999"


Moral of the story... Itemize things however you see fit. They can only screw you out of your talent if you let them.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

I happen to like my day job, but I happen to like playing music more.
I once heard that playing music is, "The most fun you can have, with your clothes on." I happen to agree.
I don't think of music as a job; I think of it as an activity. A very fun activity.
Ive played Country Clubs gigs that paid ok, but meh, not that fun. I've traveled an hour and a half to play a gig at a BBQ joint that didn't pay that well, but I had an absolute blast. (And some awsome BBQ, as well.)
I have on occasion stated that there have been times I'd almost be willing to play for free, if someone else would hump my gear.
YMMV.

 

[skruch]

When I played Pro, I always said that it is best when someone hands you money at the end of the night and you think "I get PAID for this?" "COOL!"

 

[bolophonic]

You are paid for your time on stage; you are not paid to practice, you are not paid to load / unload. If the amount you are earning is not worth it, then get off stage.

This is how every job works.

Mr. Serious over here.

 

[friendlybass]

Paid for what you can do.
Can't get paid for what you can't do

 

[Lowness]

Mr. Serious over here.

Mr I-Play-a-Precision-Bass.............oh oh oh.

'evs

 

[mwbassace]

According to my guitarist, we play music for fun. We get paid for loading in and loading out.
Yes, we were packing up after a 4 hour gig when he said that.

Thats been our running joke for years as well. I read in an entertainment seminar that a musical act (single, duo, band, DJ, whatever) is a contractor being paid to provide "entertainment value", just like a plumber provides working toilets, an electrician working lights, etc. So rehearsing, hauling equipment is the same as the plumber providing his tools and training.

 

[GregT]

I get paid to play music. Before that and after I am done, I load my equipment for free. I could pay someone to do it for me, but then I'd be playing for free also....

 

[INTP]

I get paid for my performance as well. Just a bit of levity. Remember which forum you are in?

It was a noble effort

 

[bolophonic]

Mr I-Play-a-Precision-Bass.............oh oh oh.

'evs

I'm definitely not getting paid to figure out what that means.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

According to my guitarist, we play music for fun. We get paid for loading in and loading out.
Yes, we were packing up after a 4 hour gig when he said that.

Even in my day job, I get paid 10% for working, and 90% for putting up with sh**. Pay is great, and so is the work. It's the sh** that is the struggle. Life.

 

[bolophonic]

"Paid."

 

[klejst]

You get paid for doing what you love to doing.

 

[hsech]

We get paid for people to clap their hands, stomp their feet, two step and line dance. Of course they could do that just as well to the juke box.

 

[Engle]

I'm always going to play music because I love it.
It is a performance art, so I feel like I need to be performing it for an audience.
But if I can also get paid to play music for an audience that's better!
Live music at any event is a major upgrade from recorded music and we get paid to provide that.

 

[BassUrges]

money for nothing and chics for fee.

If you're paying a fee for the chicks you're doing it wrong.

Or you're the bassist.

 

[ZorgRift]

iunno about you guys but i get paid to leave

 

[okcrum]

Wow. Looks like about half get the joke.

The other half's heads would probably explode if you brought up the concept of paid rehearsal.

 

[Johnny Crab]

According to my guitarist, we play music for fun. We get paid for loading in and loading out.

We've all said that in our band even though we KNOW the real deal is keeping the place full and cash registers ringing. We're all 60 with one young 58 year old whipper-snapper.
Bonus Items: It keeps us in shape(1200 to 2000 calories per gig accoding to FitBit and similar activity trackers), keeps us happy/sane, free food most of the time, and Brad Paisley's line "never buy another beer" is mostly true. It's also FUN.

Used this line on the guitarist while loading out Tuesday night at midnight:
"You know if the band implodes or any of us quit, I don't think these beautiful women would come to our homes and dance around in our living rooms while we sat on the sofa. Plus we might get fat".

 

[ThuzzleFump]

We get paid for people to clap their hands, stomp their feet, two step and line dance. Of course they could do that just as well to the juke box.

"Big fat lady shoutin' in my ear, clappin' her hands, drinkin' all my beer..."