How Much Musicians Really Earn in Income?

radio_friendly_unit_shifter · **Posted:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:52 pm

if i do get a band, i'll probably gig once maybe twice a day, obviously we'll be travelling, so i'll busk in some tourist-y spots, and if we are playing in a city for like 2 weeks say, i'll get a part time job. the only thing concerning me is, i can not get my car liscense. so transport'll be issue

way cool jr · **Joined:** Tue May 18, 2010 7:34 pm **Posts:** 6911

63supro wrote:

BMW-KTM wrote:

OMG!! You meant $90 for the gig for the whole band?

No Thank You!!

LOL I'd play for free before I split 90 bucks. I made more than $22.50 playing at family functions in the 60's when I was 13 years old. It has nothing to do with Boomers and X'rs having it made. Maybe we just played/wrote better music. Way back I made a decent living. My bread and butter was a wedding/corporate event band in the 70's and 80's and clubs for fun and sometimes really decent money. I was even in the musicians union for a little while. I didn't have to sleep in a roach motel and eat at greasy spoons. The wedding/event gig music sucked but financed much of my other stuff and fed us too. If you act professionally and play well you get the good gigs. if you suck, you split 90 bucks. It's a business. If you run your business properly you prosper, if you don't you go bankrupt or do something else. Most young players I see know nothing about the business end or their band or have a buddy "manage" them who also knows nothing about business.

well said my friend.
in my area bars pay pretty good, some better than others.
ya gotta treat it like a business like supro said. ya never know whos watching.

Solid Body Love Songs · **Posted:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:38 pm

Made more acting in dinner theater on the weekends, a few weekdays over 4 to 5 years, 50 to 60 a show local, a buck fifty + expenses away. diversify.

way cool jr · **Joined:** Tue May 18, 2010 7:34 pm **Posts:** 6911

radio_friendly_unit_shifter wrote:

if i do get a band, i'll probably gig once maybe twice a day, obviously we'll be travelling, so i'll busk in some tourist-y spots, and if we are playing in a city for like 2 weeks say, i'll get a part time job. the only thing concerning me is, i can not get my car liscense. so transport'll be issue

twice a day... plus a part time job......bro, there is only 24 hrs in a day.

texasguitarslinger · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:03 am

I actually know more than a few professional musicians who only play music for a living, no day job or anything like that. None of them make a lot of money, but they can support themselves on a decent income. I work at the guitar store where a couple of them teach lessons, and I know a few who teach somewhere else and are independent of any music store. They one thing they all have in common is that they're extremely versatile, which allows them to get all kinds of gigs (including studio work) and keep a lot of students. And they all get to play their own original music too on the side. One even has a record deal and a record which made the top ten in the jazz charts. He hasn't really made much money off the record, but he has a record. He makes more playing with his band live.

So anyway, I'm sure that all of those guys have dealt with the roach motels and such (they've also told me about being homeless), but they've figured out a way to make a living doing what they love. It can be done, and if your heart is more into music than money and you're willing to make some sacrifices then I don't think it's a bad way to go.

texasguitarslinger · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:07 am

radio_friendly_unit_shifter wrote:

if i do get a band, i'll probably gig once maybe twice a day, obviously we'll be travelling, so i'll busk in some tourist-y spots, and if we are playing in a city for like 2 weeks say, i'll get a part time job. the only thing concerning me is, i can not get my car liscense. so transport'll be issue

I don't have a license yet even though I could. With my Dad working three jobs (now he's down to two) and me working my job there's been absolutely no time to do it. Plus I couldn't afford a car anyway. I get around by constantly asking my band mates to take me places. :lol:

Just be prepared to pay for their gas, or listen to them endlessly complain about it.

way cool jr · **Joined:** Tue May 18, 2010 7:34 pm **Posts:** 6911

texasguitarslinger wrote:

It can be done, and if your heart is more into music than money and you're willing to make some sacrifices then I don't think it's a bad way to go.

yeah if only i could get the bank, power company, gas company, etc etc to
accept music as a payment.

texasguitarslinger · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:24 am

way cool jr wrote:

texasguitarslinger wrote:

It can be done, and if your heart is more into music than money and you're willing to make some sacrifices then I don't think it's a bad way to go.

yeah if only i could get the bank, power company, gas company, etc etc to
accept music as a payment.

Well, it's not for everyone. I know my grandparents just about had a stroke when it finally dawned on them that guitar was probably going to be a little more than a hobby for me. :lol:

way cool jr · **Joined:** Tue May 18, 2010 7:34 pm **Posts:** 6911

it always does. parents and grandparents always have high dreams for their children,
doc, lawyer, etc etc. just be the best you can be and they should be proud just the same.

way cool jr · **Joined:** Tue May 18, 2010 7:34 pm **Posts:** 6911

oh, im setting here reading matt smiths book that you suggested to another guy a few months back. good book. ive learned a few different ways at looking at things from him.
also remembered a couple things i forgot.

Solid Body Love Songs · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:32 am

texasguitarslinger wrote:

way cool jr wrote:

texasguitarslinger wrote:

It can be done, and if your heart is more into music than money and you're willing to make some sacrifices then I don't think it's a bad way to go.

yeah if only i could get the bank, power company, gas company, etc etc to
accept music as a payment.

Well, it's not for everyone. I know my grandparents just about had a stroke when it finally dawned on them that guitar was probably going to be a little more than a hobby for me. :lol:

Texas, that is the cutest repartee that I have read all day

way cool jr, boo hoo hoo :cry:

way cool jr · **Joined:** Tue May 18, 2010 7:34 pm **Posts:** 6911

hey, ive tried it. lol

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