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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | 
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Location: Northwest Arkansas | The clubs and other venues aren't paying any more than they did in the 80's. Solo or duo acoustic gigs pay a whole lot more.
Edited by AdamasW597 2013-07-17 8:49 AM
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Location: Upper Left USA | If I step back and look at the market I'd have to say it is mostly a Buyer's market.
As in, there are a lot more bands and individuals that Want to play vice the people that want to have someone play. The trick is to gain an audience or fan base and flip the situation over to there being only one of you and several that want you!
That pyramid has a really big base...
That's why there are so many mobile DJs or "Band-in-a-Box" outfits filling the need.
I would also throw in that most bands or players have a narrow slice of product, especially when you compare them to the Mobile DJ.
It comes down to having to really want to do what you do.
And having a good day job with flexible hours can sure help! |
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Location: Flahdaw | There's a guy here in town that has a pretty good gig. He "plays" over top of a sequencer, with a strum here and there, or a little lead lick. He sings passably, but not great. But he is consistently busy and people like him? If I could learn that system, I would be great. But alas..... |
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Location: Miami | Out of the 100 guys I've seen doing it, I'd say only a handful are good at it. The others, as mentioned, barely play (what's the point), sinq every song in the same style, and use tracks that sound like the muzak you hear in an elevator or some hotel bathrooms. Just God awful. And even if the tracks do sound good, if you're not going to perform ALL of the guitar or sing ALL of the vocals, that's what radios are for.
I agree with the above comment on soloists and duos making more than band members (been there done that), but it's definitely not enough to make a living without another job to supplement it. |
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| Patch - Funny but all too true.
My wife is a classical Cellist. She gets about $200 to $300 for a wedding gig with a quartet depending on whether or not they play just for the ceremony or at the reception as well. That rate hasn't changed in 20 years or so.
It's amazing how often people try to haggle with her and her colleagues over the price to hire professional musicians. Not an easy way to make a living. |
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Location: Flahdaw | I live in an affluent retirement area (that pretty much describes ALL of Florida, huh?). I was thinking of trying to market myself playing ceremonial tunes for 2nd (3rd) weddings of older folks, 'cos I can play and sing "The Wedding Song", "Love Song", and other older wedding type songs really pretty good. At $200 a pop for a saturday afternoon when I'm not doing anything else...why not? |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | darkbarguitar - I was thinking and the first problem is uncovered
Edited by stephent28 2013-07-18 6:14 PM
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Location: Tennessee | darkbarguitar - 'cos I can play and sing "The Wedding Song", "Love Song", and other older wedding type songs really pretty good 
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Location: cincinnati, ohio | Trying to make a living as a musician is risky, if not impossible these days. Very few venues actually PAY musicians in Cincinnati anymore. Somewhere along about 10 years ago some club owner got the bright idea that, if you had musicians play for tips, you basically got free music. This came about because there were so many musicians out there desperate to play somewhere that THEY’D be willing to pay the clubs to get a gig!!! Another side effect of this is that there are way too many crappy musicians out there who’d never be able to find a place to play any other way.
My band(s) and I have a pretty good following, so (for the most part) we usually get enough to make it pay. “Tips only” places can be tricky, though. I’ve made as much as $250.00 (solo), and, one abysmal night, $1.50. It was me and the staff – no customers – and one of the dishwashers had pity on me. on
We play mostly clubs, wineries and restaurants. The clientele usually is more well-heeled than bar patrons, and they tip better – especially in wineries. The customers get lit up and become more generous – lol! I don’t play bars anymore; don’t need the headaches. We also do a number of private parties throught the summer, which pay well, and Christmas parties.
Bob – you and I have talked about Florida. I think I’ve mentioned I was in St. Augustine a couple of years ago, and if I’d had a guitar with me I could have made a killing. I’d say within a mile from our hotel there were at least a dozen restaurants with live music, mostly solo acoustic guys and duos doing Buffett and classic rock. They had a few bands here and there, and there was music, as the Kinks said, “all day and all of the night.” It was a rotating schedule starting at 2 pm and going until 2 am the next morning. It was wild! A number of places in the Old City had outdoor music at night. It was a musician’s paradise…
In the long run, I’d have to say that I love playing enough that I’d play for free – but I’d rather get paid. If it’s “tips only” I usually say “no thanks” unless I feel that I have the potential to at least make $50.00 - $75.00 a night. We’re constantly checking out new places to add to our established venues, and we manage to get 8 to 10 good paying gigs a month. I don’t think I’d want to do more than that – nor would I have time for that.
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Location: New Hartford CT | Any musician who goes out and plays at a for profit venue for free because they are desperate to play or show their stuff is slitting the throat of working musicians. This is how it's gotten to the point where some unscrupulous and greedy proprietors expect free entertainment; after all you're simply doing something that is 'fun' right? I think we all realize that is a ridiculous point of view.
We have already suffered massive deflation of wages with the going rate today being the same or less than 30 years ago. No sense in adding to that by offering up your talent and services for free.
There's nothing wrong with playing a free one once in a while to help out a friend, for a good cause, etc. However, these ham and eggers who go out offering free entertainment on a consistent basis hurt the cause of working musicians. I won't do it and neither does anyone I play with.
rick I have to agree that FL seems like a great place to find work. Compared to musty and withering Connecticut, opportunities abound.
Bobg, mastering a sequencer and playing along with it comfortably is a skill that can really come in handy. Not sure if you are using one. About 20 years ago I hooked up with a really popular wedding/club group that used them on every song. I was stubborn (and frightened) of working with them but today I'm to the point where it feels like I'm the boss of the 'click' and not vice versa. It is a skill that can mean getting the gig. I know some players who look down their nose at them but they are doing that from their armchair at home.
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Location: cincinnati, ohio | Geostorm - if I can ever retire, I think I'll move down to Florida - maybe look up Bob G and start a duo. Our styles complement each other. 
Now, to sound like a TOTAL dummy...what's a sequencer?  I shy away from anything that's a "cheat" (like vocal processors with pitch correction), but I'm curious as to what this is and how it works. And yes, I am that technologically challenged. I use a Tascam DP 01FX for recording because it has keys that say "play," "record," "fast forward," and "rewind" to fool me into thinking I'm winding a tape back and forth, and not recording on a 40 GB hard drive... |
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Location: New Hartford CT | A music sequencer (or simply sequencer) is a device or application software that can record, edit, or play back music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically MIDI or CV/Gate, and possibly audio and automation data for DAWs and plug-ins.
Here's one of many types:
http://www.google.com/shopping/product/13407008852350348306?q=midi+...
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Location: Parrish, FL | Bob continues to scare those of us in the area by threatening to take his gig public. So far false alarms! |
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Location: cincinnati, ohio | George Frey - 2013-07-19 11:48 AM
A music sequencer (or simply sequencer ) is a device or application software that can record, edit, or play back music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically MIDI or CV/Gate, and possibly audio and automation data for DAWs and plug-ins.
Here's one of many types:
http://www.google.com/shopping/product/13407008852350348306?q=midi+...
Think I'll stick to me and my guitar. Once in a while I use a drum machine and feel guilty about that.
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Edited by rick endres 2013-07-19 2:25 PM
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Location: cincinnati, ohio | BluesSailor - 2013-07-19 1:53 PM
Bob continues to scare those of us in the area by threatening to take his gig public. So far false alarms!
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| Hey Guys
Fairs and festivals pay better than the local bar . they are only in season through the summer and early fall and you must book ahead of time . Like now for next year , but it's a no brainer twice the money for half the time and extra if you have to bring your own p.a. Most places sound is provided
so it sure beats dragging all your gear to a local watering hole , then trying to get it all in through the back door past the kitchen help and busy wait-staff because the owner doesn't want his dinner crowd disturbed , or the bride and wedding party one moreing you to death at the end of the night ( I never complain about this stuff out loud ) . So let the guy with two turntables and a microphone play those small bars all summer while you enjoy sunshine beer tents , elephant ears , and corn dogs and you make better money . Then move back indoors in the winter .
keep it polished |
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Location: Flahdaw | A solo guy here uses one for everything from Steely Dan to Santana to Eagles to everything in between. It covers bass, drums, harmonies and he just lazily strums a few chords or lead licks, and sings somewhat in key. I really don't understand why people like him, but I ALWAYS think, "hell...I could do that MUCH better than this dude."
I think the complete background music can be downloaded from the net. You could put a 50 song list on the sequencer and just play and sing along with it. It's fake as hell, but I don't think most audience members even care..??? |
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| Here is something to think on
Around here we have something called Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions . The 129th convention will be held Jan. 9-11 2014 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel , Grand rapids , Mi.
Maybe your state or country has something similar . Please share info ! |
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Location: Jet City | darkbarguitar - 2013-07-22 12:26 PM A solo guy here uses one for everything from Steely Dan to Santana to Eagles to everything in between. It covers bass, drums, harmonies and he just lazily strums a few chords or lead licks, and sings somewhat in key. I really don't understand why people like him, but I ALWAYS think, "hell...I could do that MUCH better than this dude." I think the complete background music can be downloaded from the net. You could put a 50 song list on the sequencer and just play and sing along with it. It's fake as hell, but I don't think most audience members even care..??? My #1 viewed video on youtube is me playing and singing to a backtrack. Go figure |
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Location: Flahdaw | My #1 tutorial is "Summertime"....an easy, kinda old song that I never hear anyone play at an open mic or in a bar. "Go figure" |
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Location: Parrish, FL | Bob,
I've caught said 'musician' once. Mildly entertaining. Another guy, Mike Tozier is the real deal and puts a sequencer to good use, laying down each segment as he goes. Plays SKOB Saturday nights. Carries over 200 songs in his head |
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Location: Jet City | hmm, don't know if you took 'go figure' the wrong way, but I totally agree with your sentiment. I have probably 60 videos or so on youtube between solo and band stuff, and only ONE with a backtrack. I'd rather people were clicking on one of my videos with REAL music, myself or with a REAL group. One of the ones I took the time to try to get the vocals just right, one of the ones I spent hours trying to dial in the mic on the guitar, etc... But NO! It's the one with the backtrack playing through my stereo and recorded with my laptop's built in mic, totally clipped and distorted all to hell, that has more than 4 times more hits than any other. Really, there's just no tellin' what people will like.
Edited by Damon67 2013-07-22 9:08 PM
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Location: Flahdaw | BluesSailor - 2013-07-22 9:15 PM
Bob,
I've caught said 'musician' once. Mildly entertaining. Another guy, Mike Tozier is the real deal and puts a sequencer to good use, laying down each segment as he goes. Plays SKOB Saturday nights. Carries over 200 songs in his head
Brad, I was talking about the guy at Woody's River Roo, don't know his name. There's another guy that used to play at Lucky Pelican who really annoyed me. Bottom line is, I can't tell if these guys have ANY talent or just use a sequencer well. |
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Location: Flahdaw | damon67 - 2013-07-22 10:07 PM
hmm, don't know if you took 'go figure' the wrong way,.....Really, there's just no tellin' what people will like.
That's all I meant. I've determined that people's tastes are weird, and getting weirder every day.... |
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Location: Central East Coast Florida | I play out in East Central Florida and the going rate is $125 a head, be it solo, or 4 piece. My best tips come when I play with my two piece because we can make a lot of diverse music and we only have to split the tips two ways 
Here's a clip, I'm playing flute on this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifamUMhacdY&feature=c4-overview&list...
I personally can't do a sequencer, but when I play solo use my loop station sometimes with great results. First, it's ME playing. It can be fun to lay out a 12 bar blues track or play a song with a repetitive pattern and throw a lead on top and see the looks of surprise I'll get. The only other gimmick I'll use is a TC Helicon Harmony G to throw in vocal harmony here and there. The key here (for me) is not to rely on either one, but to throw them in to change up the sound and keep it (hopefully) interesting.
Cheers |
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Location: Flahdaw | That was really good.... |
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Location: Northwest Arkansas | Real talent should NEVER be replaced by a machine. Hire a drummer. They'll pay him. I've worked solo, duo, trio, and full-blown bands. Hands down solo gigs pay the best. If you have to cheat, I say you need to learn how to play well enough to do it with a guitar and vocals. They just built a stage on a local restaurant just for me. These nickel and dimers are killing live music. American Idol and the Voice have made every hack in the country a "star". |
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| Here is something to think on
Around here we have something called Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions . The 129th convention will be held Jan. 9-11 2014 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel , Grand rapids , Mi.
Maybe your state or country has something similar . Please share info ! |
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Location: Flahdaw | Is this a duplicate post???? |
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Location: Parrish, FL | Looks like I've confused "sequencer" with 'looper'
Agreed, those playing with a sequencer really aren't putting their best foot forward. Seem to be show casing their vocal talent more than anything else, often with poor results.
Now the guys with the ability to loop several tracks, layer them, pull it off with seemingly little effort are very entertaining. In Sarasota, the afore mentioned Mike Tozier does it well and Ben Hammond is a master. |
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Location: Colorado | A wise guy told me once, aside from stardom, if you want to make money playing live music, you have to play for people who have money. Period. It may not be as much fun as doing originals in the local watering hole, but playing festivals, private dinner clubs, large chain hotels' sunday brunches, and private parties, and sing the songs people with money want to hear is how to make some (not a lot) of bread. Although a note for note INNAGODDADAVIDA at midnight is somewhat impressive, playing summertime or misty usually brings tips of 20 or more...and 200 for a couple hour set. If you can read and play in tune and in time, touring professional theater pays very good scale. Then end at 10:00ish, and then hit the watering hole for the last two sets. |
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Going Rate For Musicians