Author Topic: What gigs are you simply not interested in doing anymore? (Read 872 times)

glocke · « **on:** July 28, 2012, 02:43:52 PM »

took some time off not too long ago from playing in bands and playing out because it basically got to be too much like having a second job...too many commitments, too many other people depending on you, along with a bunch of other rubbish that I saw going on that I didn't care for..a big factor was also the fact that a lot of gigs were requiring more travel time than before, and after everything was split 5-6 ways there was barely enough money to cover gas..

Slowly getting back into it, but just playing for myself mostly...started out as nothing more serious than just jam sessions..but slowly and surely I am finding myself getting sucked into something that could loosely be called a band. What I mean by that is these folks are asking for more of my time ( I initially told them once a month), and now want to play gigs.

Problem is the stuff they want to play consists of events (farmers markets, etc) that will not make anyone any money, requires some travel time (40 minutes to 90 minutes for me), and take place under less than stellar conditions..(middle of the afternoon, in the summer, no shade, no sound guy, etc)...and at the end of the day will not do anything for this group of players since the people in attendance could care less about music, or they are pretty far from what could be considered the bands home turf.

Having done many of these in the past, I learned that they are really more work than they are worth..especially with the economy the way it is these days...

My thoughts anymore are fewer but cooler gigs..meaning Id rather play once a month or every other month at a place where I know people would appreciate the music, as opposed to playing out often to people that could care less..better if there is enough money involved to at least cover gas expenses.

Thoughts ?

ajdover · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2012, 02:52:33 PM »

Greg - I do open mics for fun, but I agree that there are things I just won't haul my stuff out of my house for, e.g., country, modern rock, blues ... and by that I mean three, four sets of the stuff.

If gas money is covered, I'm usually good with most things, however. I'm not a professional musician (though when I do play I try to adhere to professional standards), so it's not like I'm going to starve if I don't make dollar X for each gig. It's when people expect you to pay for free (oh, you'll get great exposure! - look, if I want exposure, I'll lie out in the sun) that puts me off. It costs money to buy the instruments, amps, other equipment, a vehicle to haul it all in, gas, insurance, etc. Exposure doesn't pay for any of that. Now, if you're doing a benefit for something out of the kindness of your heart, that's one thing. But playing for free? There has to be some modicum of remuneration if you ask me.

And I'd agree also that I'd rather play out once a month or so where folks would appreciate the music. Nothing like playing for folks who dig what you do (or don't do).

811952 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2012, 12:07:45 PM »

While I would like to say I'm turning down gigs left and right, I generally play whenever a friend asks. For the most part I've been fortunate to work with excellent musicians, which makes all the other details somewhat irrelevant. I've narrowed my attendance of open mic situations to a weekly jazz jam in town, and my first Newcastle is always free..

Pretty much the only thing that turns me off from a gig is having to share the bandstand with someone who simply can't play their instrument. There's a drummer in town, who is a friend of mine, who can't make any two beats the same size and as a bassist it kills me to work with him, so I don't.

And I've driven hours to play free gigs, not for the exposure but because I knew they would be fun..

John

811952 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2012, 12:16:43 PM »

While I would like to say I'm turning down gigs left and right, I generally play whenever a friend asks. For the most part I've been fortunate to work with excellent musicians, which makes all the other details somewhat irrelevant. I've narrowed my attendance of open mic situations to a weekly jazz jam in town, and my first Newcastle is always free..

Pretty much the only thing that turns me off from a gig is having to share the bandstand with someone who simply can't play their instrument. There's a drummer in town, who is a friend of mine, who can't make any two beats the same size and as a bassist it kills me to work with him, so I don't.

And I've driven hours to play free gigs, not for the exposure but because I knew they would be fun..

John

pauldo · « **Reply #4 on:** July 29, 2012, 12:58:31 PM »

Greg - I believe in some of your other posts you have indicated that you and I are living double lives = very similar frustrations with bands/ band members.

One of the absolute coolest gigs I picked up is playing in a small concert band at assisted living/ retirement homes - they are some of the most appreciative audiences EVER! And noone rushes the stage and spills beer on you!

To answer the topic of your post - I have lost interest in the local bar band scene - there just seems to be too much baggage that comes along with it and the people involved with it. If I get the urge for kickin' out the jams I will hit a local open mic night.

So I do the concert band thing, hooked up with the local police department jazz and concert band and put my name out there for any misc. 'project' work, which in the past has included live festival shows, pit orchestra work and studio work - all very fulfilling and maybe more importantly all of them have an end date - it's get in, get it done and move on to the next one.

This all bodes well for me because these events have an established 'leader' and expectations and goals are laid out - this environment usually weeds out anyone who isn't 'on board' so that everybody is focused on achieving the same end result - professional and FUN!

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #5 on:** July 29, 2012, 01:02:58 PM »

A guy I was doing sound for/sharing a house with was approached by his agent one time too many for a free appearance - his last words before hanging up? Yeah, well, you can die of exposure. Then he sat down & wrote Too Precious with the refrain It's too precious, too precious, can't be givin' it away no more.

Peter

rustyg61 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 29, 2012, 09:17:57 PM »

Pauldo, I have done some gigs lately at retirement homes & I totally agree with you! They are so appreciative that musicians would take time out of their work schedules to come entertain them for an hour & no one gets paid. The band I played with is led by fellow Alembic player Doc Green & has 2 trumpets & a sax player. I've always wanted to play in a band with horns, & to get to do for such a great audience made it that much more special!

gtrguy · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2012, 10:55:31 AM »

I must be the exact opposite; if there isn?t any money, it is not worth doing. I think that when money is involved, the musicianship is often better and the gear usually is too. Not that there is very MUCH money, these days!

Bands are like families, it just seems you have to put up with a lot to be in one no matter what. Hopefully you like the members and the toil enough so that when you get on stage, it is all worth it.

pace · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2012, 12:32:51 PM »

I recently started playing pedal steel w/ my cousin in a duo setting, and for the most part it's been a blast (farmers markets, vinyards, etc...). I appreciate that as a solo performer, he's been willing to bring me onboard and split the pay, even though he does the brunt of the heavy lifting~ I just follow along. That said, I passed on a freebie gig on Sat mainly because the weather was bad, and travel would've been twice as long as the set.... If it was a nice day the ride and the outdoor venue would've been fine by me, but I just couldn't justify it....

David Houck · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2012, 01:32:34 PM »

I haven't played a gig in a long time now (I can't play the tunes right at home, so there's no expectation I could play them right anywhere else). But in the spirit of the thread, here's some stuff off the top of my head ...

- parking/load-in load-out; this needs to be easy, no stair carries, no worrying about where to park, etc.

- I don't really wish to play someplace that can't keep their bathrooms clean and functioning properly

- ventilation needs to be working and preferably there should be no smoking

- no parties or venues where just anybody thinks they can walk up to the mic

- I don't really want to play someplace where everybody in the room is watching the big screen teevee while you're playing

- drunks; I don't really want to play someplace where drunks tend to disturb others in the room, start knocking stuff over, start getting angry at each other, and pull knives

- pay; if I could ever get a CD together (still not there yet), I think I would be content to play for tips and CD sales. If someone likes what I'm doing enough to leave some of their hard earned cash in the jar and purchase a CD to take home with them, then maybe what I'm doing is worthwhile. I think the reality here is that I still have a lot of practicing to do before I'm ready to book a free gig in a coffee shop, much less put a tip jar on the table.

But I do think there is perhaps some value to be found in playing music for people who enjoy it, in a room in which you enjoy playing. If you and everyone else in the room is happy, that's a nice place to be.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2012, 02:36:55 PM »

Dave, it sounds like you would enjoy playing retirement homes too, there is no smoking, no stairs, no drunks, no TV's, no knives, the restrooms are clean, & no one asks to play your instrument or set in with the band! I get paid in my regular band & would be very reluctant to play for free unless it was a worthy benefit or something, but it's nice to play for the senior citizens from time to time & give back to the community.

xlrogue6 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2012, 03:11:29 PM »

I'm pretty flexible if the music is good and the musicians are people I enjoy working with. If someone is making money off the venue/event, then I want to get paid too. Also pretty insistent on shade in the summer. My prime directive these days, however, is the 3 Ls: I don't play Loud, I don't play Late, and I don't play Long. Got to protect my remaining hearing, nobody who comes to see any band I play with wants to stay out past 11PM or so, and 4 sets is just too much, unless there are big bucks involved, which there never are...

glocke · « **Reply #12 on:** July 30, 2012, 06:53:02 PM »

I must be the exact opposite; if there isn?t any money, it is not worth doing. I think that when money is involved, the musicianship is often better and the gear usually is too. Not that there is very MUCH money, these days!

Bands are like families, it just seems you have to put up with a lot to be in one no matter what. Hopefully you like the members and the toil enough so that when you get on stage, it is all worth it.

the money thing is part (not all) of the bottom line for me anymore i think...Ive played all kinds of free gigs, retirement homes, farmers markets, street festivals, etc...they were fun, and it was good to get out and play, but after a certain point I just started asking myself why am i spending all this money in gas, giving up an entire day or evening, and schlepping my gear around for free.

anymore my feelings are I just as soon get some awesome musicians together just rent studio space and have an awesome jam session, second to that is just be more selective in the places you play i.e. play at places whose primary purpose is to provide live music, and the people are there wanting to hear music, and hopefully dance to it, and where you will at least make money for gas.

Hopefully the guys Im playing with now dont think im too much of a jerk for not wanting to do these lower-tier gigs....

Edit: Also agree with Daves criteria!

(Message edited by glocke on July 30, 2012)

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #13 on:** July 30, 2012, 08:29:36 PM »

I've never played a big venue, and I wouldn't say people are beating a path to my door to book us, but my opinion is that if the venue profits from our presence, they should reciprocate. If our band brings people to someone's bar, who wouldn't have gone otherwise, I don't see why they shouldn't give some modest compensation for my time. I've also played for assisted living communities for nothing more than the joy of an appreciative audience. I once played a large outdoor festival for free, because I liked the headliner, and I simply wanted the experience. Heck, I play every week in my basement for free. I guess it all comes down to the fact that I love to play, and I'm friends with the guys in my band. I have no love for hauling around my gear, but I'll never make as much money as I do in my day job (modest though it may be), and playing for a good crowd of people who like what you are doing is it's own reward.

bigredbass · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2012, 10:12:12 PM »

I'm simply not interested in doing ANY gigs any more.

I don't have the patience for it any more. I don't drink. I don't do any drugs. I don't run around on my girl. My head's on reasonably straight, considering . . . so there's just no place for me, as with a cluster of personality problems like that, I just don't fit in !

I've beat my head against that wall for over 20 (almost 30) years, and as I look back, I just didn't near as much fun as I should have.

I'm 57, and while I have the time, I'm developing new interests and moving on with my life. I'm very happy to very occasionally throw on an old CD and play along with something I like: I'd be surprised if that happens more than twice a month.

The thought of having to walk back into a club and play 4 or 5 sets . . . . let's just say it would only happen at gunpoint, and it better be a LARGE caliber.

Oh yeah, did I say I'm DONE ?

J o e y

PS To tell you the truth, I almost feel like a hypocrite being in this Club.