No shortage of gigs here 😂

[JPJ]

So yesterday (Monday) we arrived in Nashville (self-appointed music city). We were amazed wandering down Broadway at 5pm how many bands/duos/trios were playing in the bars - every bar had live music, some having multiple floors of live music and on a Monday. Fast forward to this morning and making the same walk at 11am, same result! Obviously, most if not all are playing for tips only, and you had to feel sorry for those playing to empty or near empty bars. We spotted at least two musicians playing in different groups to yesterday (one bassist was still wearing the same clothes). 
Got me wondering how it works out here? Surely you cannot make a living playing for tips only? Do you have to take the early, empty gigs to get later more popular gigs? Are agents involved or does each bar do its own booking? So many questions - you can tell I’m in the second week of vacation and have nothing else to think about 😂

[zitherman]

Been a couple of times.broadway is great and the standard of musicianship is excellent,saw daniel donato rip it up at roberts as well as the great Porter Mclister but Slick Joe Fick on the double bass takes some beating.I suspect they may be paid a small fee by the venue but supplemented by the tip jar that always looked full to me.

[Bluewine]

10 hours ago, JPJ said:

So yesterday (Monday) we arrived in Nashville (self-appointed music city). We were amazed wandering down Broadway at 5pm how many bands/duos/trios were playing in the bars - every bar had live music, some having multiple floors of live music and on a Monday. Fast forward to this morning and making the same walk at 11am, same result! Obviously, most if not all are playing for tips only, and you had to feel sorry for those playing to empty or near empty bars. We spotted at least two musicians playing in different groups to yesterday (one bassist was still wearing the same clothes). 
Got me wondering how it works out here? Surely you cannot make a living playing for tips only? Do you have to take the early, empty gigs to get later more popular gigs? Are agents involved or does each bar do its own booking? So many questions - you can tell I’m in the second week of vacation and have nothing else to think about 😂

 

Can you make a living on tips? I doubt it. However, I've seen $1,000.00 tip jars more than once.

 

Daryl

[JPJ]

Got chatting with the singer from a very good traditional country band we saw last night in Laylas, they are indeed only paid in tips, bars make no contribution, but drum kit (minus breakables), backline, and full PA with engineer are provided by the venue. He said they aim to do two four hour sets per day, and pick up drop in or dep gigs if they’ve got a slot free, this can result in playing 12 hours a day, all for their share of the tip bucket!

[acidbass]

Nashville gigs are very poorly paid in general.  Even tours with well known artists might only pay $200 per show (with all expenses covered obviously).  Small fish in a big pond comes to mind!

[Misdee]

It's quite a while since I was last in Nashville but I remember talking to a bass player who told me was getting 20 dollars a set on Broadway, three sets a day. The bandleader kept the tips. He asked me if he'd do better in London. I told him yes and no; you'll get more than that for a set but you won't play three sets a day.

Edited 4 hours ago by Misdee