Bluewine

How's this, no gig last night, no gig tonight. Not good, not good at all. Very depressing for me. No gigs until the end of the month. We're fortunate to have a 2 gig Holloween weekend. Blue

I'm an out front guy. I am not a stand in the back by the drummer kind of guy. I probably look like l"m playing a guitar. 😂 Blue

I've been in the same band for the past 8 years. On stage I'm up front with our 2 guitarists. I play a lot of different cool classic and vintage bass guitars. They've never asked about any of my cool bass guitars. They don't even know that I've performed wireless for the past 8 years. Oh, by the way, I'm going to start cutting my own hair. Blue

Played a private event at The Rustic Manor in Heartland yesterday. 40 minute commute, great room a very well appointed converted barn. We closed for 2 other bands. Again all great stuff but the people we're not live music people and had only marginal interest in the bands. It's just the way it is with these private events. The host is a big fan of the bands and his guests aren't We had a good time great pay, only a 1.5 hour set and easy load in. Blue

Yeah, I agree. I don't think people are comfortable approaching me about anything at gigs. Blue

I've never had any punter approach me about my sound or playing and I got a lot. blue

I don't. Not even one. I know loads of If it weren't for 12 bar blues there would never have been any rock and roll or rock music. Blue

Again, I don't understand it either. Some bar band guys like myself think the grass is greener with functions and wedding bands. But find after you pay the expenses, your back in the same boat At least in my neck of the woods. Blue

Why would they stay. I can't think of a reason. Blue

Rustee Allan live version; Studio version; Blue

Play a gig in a 70s style hard rock band. When a group of 20 somethings walk in, see if they stay more than 5 minutes. Blue

They'll never be tons of teens headed into the city to see real rock bands at The Filmore East for $3.00. Blue

Strictly band use. Blue

Neither do I. For some of these guys they consider breaking even a win. They're not in it for profit Count me out. Blue

Yes, a bit different over here. I should mention DJs have taken a good share of the wedding business over here. And that lighting and sound contracting is a big scam. They get a % of the $2,000.00 plus $700.00 for sound and lights. A lot of these guys have good day jobs and some with family money where they really don't care about the money and they're honest about it. It's why I would ask a ton of money related questions before I'd make a decision on joining a band. Blue

I look at this as more of a discussion or exchange of ideas, not a debate. Blue

Not in my area. Functions bands don't gig enough for me. And they usually work for agencies and these booking agencies own the sound & light companies and charge in the area of $700.00- $800.00. So after you pay for sound and lights your left with about $500.00 for the band. Not any more than I'm making now. Plus , I'm 65, most functions band wouldn't grant me an audition. Blue

We're all different. I have always wanted music to become a job. When it became a job for me it actually became more fun. Those that have followed my threads know I'm really into this. There is nothing about my experience that's a chore. Blue

True, 3 gig weekends are unheard of now. 3 gig weekends were not unusual for my band a few years back. We're lucky to have a 2 gig Holloween weekend this year. Another discussion is getting into less gigs but higher paying higher profile gigs. We we're lucky enough to experience a few gigs paying $1, 200.00 for 2 hours with big stage, big lights and sound provided. Very sweet but hard to come by. Pete, just so happens some additional fall gigs came through today. Not great gigs, more of the traditional 4 hour bar gigs. I'm a band guy, a 1 band guy. I never want to be in a position where a band would have to cancel a gig because of my schedule. I think some this depends on the area you work in and remember depping is not a thing in my area or level of play. Daryl

Great point Pete. This is why I ask if members are in other gigging bands. If they are, I wouldn't be a match or good candidate for that band. When I found myself trapped in this business for money it became blessing and a curse. Daryl

If a band is going to net me an extra $600.00- $700 00 a month,I'll learn a sh#@ load of songs. Blue

I always ask how many paid gigs have you played in the last 6 months. Ideally I'm looking for 3 gigs per week. Blue

We just changed the hours on one of our Holloween gigs due to big Green Bay Packers game . Naturally we caught the conflict, not the owners. Blue

In my area most bands are honest about gigging. " We'll play out when we want to" " If your looking for money, this ain't it" " No money hounds" " We gig about 6 times a year" Blue

I have a buddy like that. He plays guitar and he wants to find a couple of guys to jam with once in a while. He has never gigged and has no interest in gigging. Blue