Lack of gigs

[fenderbender]

 
Just a thought
I could play as many nights a week as I wanted to in bars -hotels-retirement homes -anywhere-
As long as I was not looking for money----
The spread of playing for -showcasing your talents (I'm too old for that for starters )
Having open Mic nights (the venue supplies a stage with classy backdrops -really good PA etc)
Blues nights -always on a Tuesday and Thursday nights( when no one goes out )
Ballad and Bluegrass nights -maybe Wednesdays(when very few go out
but come the weekend --the gigs are all sown up with fairly well know names (locally)-GETTING bleedin' paid.

 
Sometimes being all grown up has it's advantages-cos you -you tell them all to stick it where the monkey stuck his nuts-
-knowing that In your younger days you got away with pretending to be a cool dude and got paid for it.
OHHH and enjoyed every second of it.

Long Live Live Music-

Long Live music on songsongcrafters
Just a thought gang
 

[Groundy]

So True Tommy.......

The big thing years ago in Liverpool was Auditions, In order to get work from an agent you had to do an audition, you would go to a club and do your thing, there would be about half a dozen acts on, Gear everywhere, The club was always packed as it was midweek and 6 acts on, most of the acts then got work from the agent but no one got paid for the audition...Apart from the agent who would get paid by the club for filling it midweek.......

Alex

[Flash Harry]

Next week, I have band practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, a gig on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, all three paid!

I stand a chance of coming out of next week in profit after all the costs of travel and rehearsal but nothing to offset the cost of the PA, mixer, mics, stands, instruments, amps, keyboards etc.

It's just the way it is.

 

[bruno]

My last gig was in florida, as is my next - am I being too selective  seriously though, I can't bear the politics and the snidey remarks that seam to permeate the local music 'scenes' - for open mikes, I would like folks to play mainly for the love of it and not their own egos. Generally people have too many distractions to go out these days, sad but probably true, so oppertunies for people to hone their craft is really limited. Being paid properly is rare.
B

[Blooby]

I can't bear the politics and the snidey remarks that seam to permeate the local music 'scenes' - for open mikes, I would like folks to play mainly for the love of it and not their own egos.

That is a shame.  That hasn't been my experience at the local Open Mic nights here. Sometimes folks get overly chatty, which can be a drag (especially after folks were quiet while they performed), but that's about it.

I've found that different Open Mic's have different vibes.  I would keep looking for a good fit.

Blooby

[The Gobi Desert Canoe Club]

Hi all, I don't gig now, but when I did the problems were just the same. Plenty of work available but definitely a shortage of what I would call financial remuneration. We played most of the London clubs but for expenses only and hopefully a mention in the NME. The work that paid the most were working men's clubs and functions which meant we had to learn a few waltzes and quick steps and pretend we knew what a foxtrot was. Pubs were always my favourite but again no money but at least we didn't have to pay for our own beer and for those that served food a free meal. We eventually evolved into a comedy band which I hated but we did an hour spot and got paid three times as much as a good music only unit. (Sell out)? I never got involved with open mike gigs so can't comment on the politics or standards involved but it seems to me that playing for the love of playing should be paramount but that's easy for me to say now when I don't need the money. Regards Willie

[Flash Harry]

Back in the late 70's three mates and I used to schlep our gear to the pubs in Middlesbrough, play a set and get paid a tenner for the efforts. That's a tenner for the band, not a tenner each. But beer was 32p a pint.

These days, £150 to £300 depending on the night and the venue, so that's £37ish to £75ish each - still only 10 pints...

[fenderbender]

Back in the late 70's three mates and I used to schlep our gear to the pubs in Middlesbrough, play a set and get paid a tenner for the efforts. That's a tenner for the band, not a tenner each. But beer was 32p a pint.

These days, £150 to £300 depending on the night and the venue, so that's £37ish to £75ish each - still only 10 pints...

Never a truer word was spoken.