What makes you take the gig?...

[JBFLA]

Curious - what factor/factors make you want to take a job? I've done Top 40/Blues/Rock/Folk/R&B/Jingles (anyone remember "Hot Dogs, Baseball, Apple Pie and Chevrolet"...?); but there was something (besides the $$$) that made me want to play with/in that particular band/session.

 

Was it the musical style/taste... the other Musicians... the challenge of doing something new... the recording experience... any or all of the above?

 

What makes you say "I REALLY want this gig!"

 

JBFLA

[NickT]

Some gigs I do solely for the cash, but even then 'cos most of the time I know other guys in the bands it's fun. Also you never know who might happen to walk in and see you holding it down and making a very mediocre band sound quite stylish. Even a gig with a bad band might lead to the greatest gig of your life.

[The Fonz]

the songwriting and the drummer. i need to hear music i want to play and a drummer i want to play with.

 

but then again, i only play for s**ts and giggles...

[davebrownbass]

Well, I don't make ($$$,) I make ($$). Be nice to get those kind of gigs.

 

Of course, there are gigs I accept for financial gain...but there are also gigs I turn down in spite of the money.

 

I think more than anything, competence . I want to play with directors and performers who know what they are doing.

 

Second to that would be the opportunity to perform with friends.

 

However, I'll take a low paying or non paying gig sometimes for churches...especially if what they are doing is really special. I absolutely love the dinner-on-the-grounds, once a year performance of Messiah...the people love it so much.

 

If I can learn something from the gig, I'll often take it.

 

One thing I don't do is take gigs solely because they will further my career. Sometimes I have the opportunity to perform with well-respected area groups. Playing with them might lead to even more prestigious gigs, but I'll only do it if the above conditions are met.

 

I'm not being altruistic...it just doesn't interest me. I have a quite busy life, and I've learned the old meet-n-greet takes a lot outta me.

[diesel breath]

Depends... We played an hour and a half to no one and got paid $600.. Then we turned around and did a free gig when CKY cancled...

 

My answer... fame and fun

[JBFLA]

Bastid/NickT/DBB/Diesel: The reason I asked - I don't do sessions/originals much anymore. But I found myself in a situation where I was asked to play songs I might not normally play - but it was fun/ the other players were good people/ and there was room to "work" within the song format. Most of all, it's just plain enjoyable!

 

At this point (nearly as old as JeremyC, but not nearly as talented or wise!), I want to have fun while getting a chance to play out....too darn old to hit the road/hit the studio again....

...Basically...Is there life after the peak years?

 

Thanks for your input.

DBB - BTW: I'm using that Schecter Elite 5 full time...It's working great, and I've got less wear/tear on my MM Stingray! Luck of the Draw, maybe?

JBFLA

[fig]

Just for the fun of it. The money is always welcome, which if I cover my bar tab, dinner and gas, I'm a happy boy.

 

Since it's only for fun, I know what WON'T make me take a gig or situation. If there's one or more jerkoffs, egomaniacs, Xtreme partyers (normal partying is ok), rude somnabitches, etc, then I won't be part of it.

 

So if a gig or situation is within my technical grasp, I'll do it. I just like the music for the music anymore, though some folks call it being a band whore.

[JBFLA]

Hey fig -

 

I'm gonna be out your way this summer (last week of July/1st week of August, or so). If you're playin' then, ...fla4strngr@hotmail.com.

 

JBFLA

[wraub]

I have taken gigs for money (too much money for a local band can lead to greed, overspending, and breakup); for the chance to play something new (one of the best reasons to take a gig, IMO); to break into a different musician's scene (ya gotta meet people); and because I really liked the band (or at least the drummer.)

I definitely prefer a situation where all the players come from a place of admiration/respect for each other, but with a low tolerance for each others B.S.

If I could find that playing situation now, I wouldn't even really care about the money (or lack of it).

But it would be nice if there were cookies.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[Mr M Pulsive]

What makes me take a gig? An opportunity to gig.

[_Sweet Willie_]

Originally posted by wraub:

But it would be nice if there were cookies.

 

No $#*% !!!

 

Peace.

[humabass]

I take gigs I'm able to play. I know my limitations and have turned down high paying gigs that I knew I just couldn't play well enough,sure I could have faked my way through them and probably sounded barely adequate but that doesn't do justice to the employer or to my self-respect. Since I don't make a living playing it's all about the musical experience for me.

[Cup]

Simple. I/we take every gig we're offered. We're currently trying to build a fan base, so every outting is a chance to grab.

 

We took a collective decision recently to not seek any gigs and write some new material. Needless to say we've been booked to play some good gigs and some bad gigs (crumby sound, club etc) But as long as we get one person onside and have fun, I'm happy. Ohh, it also important to blow whoever we're supporting away too.

 

CupMcMali...this monkey's gone to heaven

[Ninja]

That raises my curiosity.

 

How much is the average pay for a gig? I mean for bands of 5-6 people? Italy, but Rome especially, offers something going from 200 Euros (a bit less than 200$) to 400 EUR (a bit less than 400$).

I'd be very grateful knowing more about your situation.

I obviously talk about occasional gigs, played by non-pros.

Thank you.

 

Fab.

[BenLoy]

Two things:

 

1) Is the music worth the effort?

 

2) Is the money worth my time?

 

The magnitude of either of these things has the potential to cancel the other one out. If the money's incredibly good but the music is so-so, I'll do it. If the music's incredible but the pay is so-so, same thing.

 

If the music sucks and the pay is low or non-existant, I try to find the most polite way to never do the gig again.

[music-man]

Three factors are at play for me, not necessarily in this order:

 

1. The players. If I like the musicians in a particular band (and generally this means I have to respect them as musicians), I'll do the gig even if I'm not thrilled with the music or I'm getting little bread from it. I get a lot out of working with good musicians (creative input, challenging chops, and often - calls for better gigs).

 

2. The music. If I like the music I'll do it for free. Even more true if I like the musicians. I also might take a gig if it's a kind of music I'm new to (i.e. country - haven't ever done it yet ...) or that really pushes a particular skill.

 

3. The money. I generally won't play for free. It makes me annoyed and resentful to have to deal with the hassle and the time expenditure; I think I'm worth more than "nothing"; and in my experience "free" often means "amateur" (late band members, unprepared, poor rehearsal skills, low standards). I don't ALWAYS require money, and in band settings of course the whole thing is different because it's a collaborative creative thing. But I start from the presumption that I'm going to get SOME amount of money. And if I decide to do it for cheap or zippo, it's my choice.

 

I guess on this rationale, the gig I would REALLY want is one with great musicians, great music, and great pay. Duh.

[Tom Capasso]

Funny question. I've been reading and thinking about this thread. Though I have similar feelings to everyone (even when contradictory), I realized that the number on factor is time. I'm in a band, and we'll do just about anything we get asked to do (which is easy since we don't get asked much ). I work with some coffee house things, and I'm enjoying it (and making time for it). But if somebody walked up to me and asked me to join some gig, I'd probably say no, because time is such a factor.

 

Of course the music, musicians, and "fit" count for me. Money isn't such an issue because I'm a hobbyist.

 

Tom

[bc_dup1]

I've always split things up similarly:

 

1 Musical: do I like the music? Will it help develop me as a musician?

 

2 Social: do I like spending time with the guys/girls in the band? Is the band popular - being in a popular band can be fun and expand your social life.

 

3 Money.

 

I'm not a pro, and 3 is the least important. No disrespect to people for whom money is a key factor, but I spend enough time doing stuff I don't particularly enjoy to earn a living in my day job. I've done some gigs I knew would not be fun purely for money, but rarely. I would happily play in a band that just covered expenses if the social or musical upside were there.

 

I think my main motivation is musical, but have to be honest that my main projects over the last few years has been motivated more by social than musical factors. It was a popular band and being part of it gave my social life a lift. I'm now moving into a situation where I'll be playing music that will be less popular but closer to what I actually listen to nowadays. It'll be interesting to see how it compares.

[ibescotty]

The gig or situation has to be worth my time. As with Tom I don't have a lot of time on my hands. Any time that I've committed has to be rewarding musically. As long as I'm learning something and getting to stretch my creativity I'm a happy camper.

I have a Day job

I moonlight as an electrician

I moonlight as a musician

I'm also a father and husband

 

Times a wasting!!

[The Bear Jew]

Mainly I just have to like the people and the music.

 

Being a really good musician isn't all that big of a deal to me. If you're an amazing musician but you're also an asshole, I don't wanna play with you. I'd sooner play with people who aren't great but know how to interact with others -- y'know... people who know how to "play nice." And I have to like the music.

 

This is where you say, "DUH."

 

If the people are cool, and I like the music... I'll find time for the project. Money's not really an issue to me. If there's money to be had, great... I'll take it. I don't want to lose money on anything, but I don't take on projects with money in mind. I take on projects with music in mind.

[jeremy c]

Step One:

In my youth, I took every gig which was offered, no matter what it was. No matter who the people were, no matter what the style of music.

 

I learned a lot of music, a lot of songs, a lot of styles, met a lot of people.

 

I worked almost every day of the year, often two gigs a day on weekends. We're talking about gigs which were four or five 45 minute sets.

 

Step Two:

Now I play gigs with people I like which pay a decent amount of money.

 

The first step was necessary to get to the second step.

[Connie Z]

As I am still a fairly new player (less than 3 years in), I pretty much take any opportunity to play, whether a gig for our band, or a jam session with friends or others. But, I can see that I am quickly becoming a person who says, "If I am spending this much time and money, I do want to make money."

 

This is the thought process that pushes me to push my poor bandmates into getting serious about being an Oldies Dance Band.

 

But, I thoroughly LOVE playing Oldies Dance music. If I had to play our originals all of the time, even for money, I don't know how I'd feel. I love our originals, but only like to play them sometimes. Maybe if we had a huge audience of fans who loved to hear originals, I'm sure I'd like to play them a lot more.

 

I will be interested in discovering what my attitude will be another year from now, when my confidence is even more developed, and I've actually played for some $$$$.

 

Thanks for letting me share!

 

... Connie Z

[Mike H.]

The cash and just the fun of playing out live.