lowdown Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 [quote name='AndyBob09' timestamp='1369250934' post='2086973'] Realistically, £800 - £1,000 per month. [/quote] Pro shows - you can earn between £600/£1,000 pw [company dependent], or course ex's on top of that to take off. Not the gig for everyone, but on the plus side you can dep out and do other stuff. Even a Full on Panto for a few weeks over the winter/xmas period can earn you between £400/£600.00 pw, again depending on the company you work for. All hard work but worth it, and you get to meet plenty of Musicians and MD's. Garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Having a chat about a similar thing this morning. Upshot was, you get paid to travel to and from gigs, and the music is free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 [quote name='AndyBob09' timestamp='1369250934' post='2086973'] During the summer (April - September) I make enough so I don't need to work elsewhere, can afford a few luxuries like holidays, fast cars and beer. I'd like to keep this up through the winter too though (minus the holidays! - And maybe slow cars. The roads are dangerous in winer after all!). Realistically, £800 - £1,000 per month. [/quote] You can afford holidays & fast cars on £800 - 1000 a month? I'm moving to Glasgow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earbrass Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1369302080' post='2087420'] Getting paid to play bass is a terrible job. 1. You can be a session musician but you might be asked to play with one of those dreadful bands that appear on 'Later'. 2. You can play weddings or cruise ships but you'll have to play things like 'Eye of the Tiger' or something by Coldplay. 3. You can teach but you feel suicidal after the first month. Get a proper job. [/quote] Brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBob09 Posted May 23, 2013 Author Share Posted May 23, 2013 [quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1369302080' post='2087420'] Getting paid to play bass is a terrible job. 1. You can be a session musician but you might be asked to play with one of those dreadful bands that appear on 'Later'. 2. You can play weddings or cruise ships but you'll have to play things like 'Eye of the Tiger' or something by Coldplay. 3. You can teach but you feel suicidal after the first month. Get a proper job. [/quote] Man, I'd much rather be a session musician and play with a dreadful band that appears on 'Later' or play weddings or cruise ships and play 'Eye of the Tiger' or Coldplay and I'd rather teach (some pupils over others) - Than work at a desk and feel someone else's whip at my back. No thanks. [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1369319016' post='2087715'] You can afford holidays & fast cars on £800 - 1000 a month? I'm moving to Glasgow! [/quote] No, I can't afford these luxuries on £800 - £1,000 a month but I earn double that during the summer and can afford holidays & fast cars. I just want to live during the winter. [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1369310182' post='2087562'] Pro shows - you can earn between £600/£1,000 pw [company dependent], or course ex's on top of that to take off. Not the gig for everyone, but on the plus side you can dep out and do other stuff. Even a Full on Panto for a few weeks over the winter/xmas period can earn you between £400/£600.00 pw, again depending on the company you work for. All hard work but worth it, and you get to meet plenty of Musicians and MD's. Garry [/quote] Currently looking in to pantos. Thanks bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 [quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1369261755' post='2087176'] We never rely on one type of gig, we're always thinking of the next new or interesting thing we can do. [/quote] Is how you make a living from being a musician. To specialise is almost business suicide, unless you're an a-lister. I as a musician have about 5 different 'main jobs' that I do per week, so if one dries up I still have the other 4 to keep me going until something else fills the slot. Being 'just a session musician' is too risky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 At the moment I am averaging 55 to 70 gigs a year. At (currently) not less than 70 squids per person per gig, that's...not a lot, even when the functions and weddings double and occasionally triple it. But it would make life vastly more difficult if I couldn't do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dand666 Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 International work. Get in a good band and apply for them contracts. You will get work 10 out of the 12 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 Pubs, weddings & parties! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBob09 Posted June 25, 2013 Author Share Posted June 25, 2013 I'm definitely going to apply to ships at the end of the summer. After the wedding season is done, I want a big change. Nothing like sailing the sea when all you've known is land for a big change. There's cash on ships too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krispn Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I'm usually playing between 4-8 gigs a month (£60/£70 per gig) and its really handy income on top of the day job. As I work compressed hrs in my regular job (4 days/37.5hrs) its pretty much an ideal set up for now until I notice nxt month I'm working 12 hr shifts fri/sat and early on the sunday and have gigs on the fri starting at 1am, late gig the sat and 7.30 start the Sunday. Normally it's not so cluttered but a small price to pay for playing music I like to appreciative crowds of 300+ folks each night. Living the dream? Well it's certainly not a nightmare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthevan Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Usually by being paid to stfu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameltoe Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 To answer your question- Busking! I'm in a regular pub/function band (more pub than function), probably do on average 3-4 gigs a month over the year, more in summer thanks to festivals etc which always pay better too. I think to really do it as a profession, you need to be in a couple of solid covers bands, plus go out on your own (or with a partner) as a mid-week acoustic act, with an emphasis on private functions over your regular pub gigs. 3 gigs a week minimum. Even then, you'd probably need to busk to get by. Don't think trying to 'make it' will earn you any more money. Unless you want to play in front of 4 people all night and then be paid half the bar takings as your gig fee. I was going to ask- how much do you guys charge for weddings? but I think I'll start by own thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I sympathise with you, although when I mentioned a similar thing a while ago I was slammed for daring to suggest that musicians play for anything other than the love of music! Apparently I've been told, most bass players are independently wealth and/or have fantastically well paid careers that allow them to indulge themselves playing in a band as an amusing hobby, and the concept that some need payment is vulgar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 Make money on the overseas gigs but treat the music as a net tax loss......been filing the return for years, every year making a loss - it makes the music gear cheaper. It's not bad getting a tax rebate for doing what is effectively my hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameltoe Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1372190786' post='2122750'] I sympathise with you, although when I mentioned a similar thing a while ago I was slammed for daring to suggest that musicians play for anything other than the love of music! Apparently I've been told, most bass players are independently wealth and/or have fantastically well paid careers that allow them to indulge themselves playing in a band as an amusing hobby, and the concept that some need payment is vulgar! [/quote] Just not making a loss would suffice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 I don't make money playing bass, and I have no issue at all with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1372190786' post='2122750'] I sympathise with you, although when I mentioned a similar thing a while ago I was slammed for daring to suggest that musicians play for anything other than the love of music! Apparently I've been told, most bass players are independently wealth and/or have fantastically well paid careers that allow them to indulge themselves playing in a band as an amusing hobby, and the concept that some need payment is vulgar! [/quote] You can get a bass and amp good enough to gig for £500. It's not an expensive hobby as hobbies go, and you certainly don't need to be wealthy or well-paid to do it. Do you really not do anything just for the joy of doing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
risingson Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1369254727' post='2087030'] I dep for Inti. Lotsa dough. best, bert [/quote] Must be tough keeping up with all those prog bass parts and fitting your massive head through the door at venues that will have you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='risingson' timestamp='1372198360' post='2122897'] Must be tough keeping up with all those prog bass parts and fitting your massive head through the door at venues that will have you! [/quote] Sorry, but I didn't get what that means. I can guess the first part to mean that it must be tough to play those parts, but the second part escapes me. Could you please explain? b, b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted June 25, 2013 Share Posted June 25, 2013 [quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1372199903' post='2122933'] Sorry, but I didn't get what that means. I can guess the first part to mean that it must be tough to play those parts, but the second part escapes me. Could you please explain? b, b [/quote] It means you are fantastic and have earned the right to look down your nose at everyone, and think mediocrity is a really bad word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mentalextra Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 [quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1372198216' post='2122892'] You can get a bass and amp good enough to gig for £500. It's not an expensive hobby as hobbies go, and you certainly don't need to be wealthy or well-paid to do it. Do you really not do anything just for the joy of doing it? [/quote] What about if you 'love' playing but can't do it without getting paid. For those that play in bands, there are many more expenses than just the instrument you play. Unless you are a solo artist that busks outside your front door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Themrperson Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I don't, I'm a bedroom player so there is no money. I was part of a band put we didn't gig as it was just for fun and we did have a drummer later on. I have made a total of £150 doing 2 shows though so it is not that bad. At the end of the day I'm 16 so there is not much money for me to make any way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Well, I'm currently juggling my function gigs with some freelance sound engineering, taking bands out on the road in my splitter van and a bit of stage teching too. Recently started to dabble in lighting as well, and as we speak I'm brushing up my CV to try and get some hours teaching music tech at local colleges. Still looking for things to keep the function band busy in the winter months. I've been offered loads of touring work in September but it all clashes with when mini-Mike no. 2 is due so had to say no! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 [quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1372204758' post='2122984'] It means you are fantastic and have earned the right to look down your nose at everyone, and think mediocrity is a really bad word [/quote] Ah! Thanks, Milty. Yup, as a fantastic representative of the arts, I surely have earned that right, but you will be happy to hear that I don't look down at clownwhores. (Why, after so many months do I still think it's funny? What if that is because I'm just a clownwhore? ) b, b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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