alby Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Who would you prefer to be? Option 1: You are the rich businessman with the big house, tennis court and pool, that can afford to have a live jazz trio to entertain at his party on a Saturday night. Option 2: You are the talented but poor jazz piano player, lugging your gear around in the back of your car on a Saturday night for $150.00. (Playing for that rich businessman). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phait Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Option 1. The rich businessman who'd hire the poor guy to play for me and others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan South Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Hugh Hefner, except younger. The Black Knight always triumphs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJDM Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 I say option 1: I would be the rich businessman with the big house, tennis court and pool, that can afford to have a live jazz trio to entertain at his party on a Saturday night. BUT if I were really me I would take the time and learn to play piano myself and cut out the middle man. If I had the band over it would be to jam at my super swanky affairs. DJDM.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankieP Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Option 1 but without a pool. I got one and it's a freaking pain in the ass to maintain! Oh wait a minute, if i'm rich I won't have to worry 'bout the wife nagging me to clean it out. I could hire somebody for that. Alright, I want a pool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 I attended a friend's wedding when I was in college. His family was wealthy ... well connected society types. Big wedding. There was a lot of joy in the event, but I swear his dad's silly grin when he picked up his brushes and took the drum throne was priceless. A quintet of his embarassed looking 65 year old friends playing competent dixieland for a large room. It was like he had practised his whole life for this. Needless to say, the dance floor was full. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Analogaddict Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 If I were really talented, I could get rich from playing... naah, who am I trying to fool?? /J nas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbobus Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 Option #1, because I already know what option #2 is. http://www.bobwijnen.nl Hipness is not a state of mind, it's a fact of life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouizel Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 #2 I'm already #2. I'd rather play than have money. Besides, being a rich businessman would take up way too much of my time. I wouldn't be able to take the time to practice. Music is way too important to me to allow a trivial thing like money to come between me and it. And no, I'm not kidding. **Standard Disclaimer** Ya gotta watch da Ouizel, as he often posts complete and utter BS. In this case however, He just might be right. Eagles may soar, but Ouizels don't get sucked into jet engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jode Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 For a long time, one of the best-paid, hardest-working, and easiest-to-listen-to cover band in Tuscaloosa, AL, was made up of four professional guys (doctors, architects, etc.) who rehearsed in someone's $500,000 house out by the lake. They had a blast, and they did it better than anyone, probably precisely because their children's supper wasn't even remotely involved. They had nothing but a good time when they played, and it rubbed off on you. Yeah, I wouldn't mind being that guy. "I had to have something, and it wasn't there. I couldn't go down the street and buy it, so I built it." Les Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botch. Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 We played a party just like this about six weeks ago for a Doctor. I happened to be sitting at the same table as the doctor's wife and we had a pretty good discussion during the meal. Couple days later my girlfriend (an RN who used to work with that doctor) called and was laughing hysterically. She said the doctor's wife called her and was absolutely bowled over by how "polite and articulate" I was for a musician. She was rather stunned to learn there's eight college degrees between the five of us "musicians". Guess we don't have that great a reputation among the "elite".... Botch "Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking" - George Will www.puddlestone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markyboard Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 http://members.cox.net/mwolinsky/!cid_image001.jpg@01C2B49E%5B1%5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Fortner Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 I'd be the rich businessman... who loves music and would pay a good jazz combo $500 a head or more. If the choice is such that the rich guy can't play, and will never be able to, then no thanks... I don't think any amount of money would be worth trading away the knowledge and love of music I have in my head. Botch said: She said the doctor's wife called her and was absolutely bowled over by how "polite and articulate" I was for a musician. She was rather stunned to learn there's eight college degrees between the five of us "musicians". Guess we don't have that great a reputation among the "elite".... Living here in super-swanky Santa Barbara, I can second the notion that musicians have something of a bad rap to overcome in "polite society." Partially, it's our own fault. I've been on many a gig where someone said or did something that made me want to crawl under the nearest cocktail table. A couple of examples: At this gig at a veddy exclusive country club, the drummer had his kid during setup time. She's quiet, smart, and well-behaved (must get it from her mom), but her dad thought nothing of her swimming in their pool, which was for members only, while he loaded in. I confronted him about it, to which he replied "Oh, we crash the pool all the time here." Whatever, pal, not when you're possibly affecting my rep by association. Another time, a wedding party had booked out the local zoo (really nice for a small zoo), and a different drummer (not trying to pick on drummers) showed up in a PETA t-shirt, which he knew the zoo to have a policy against. Within earshot of the event co-ordinator who had hired us, he started berating the zoo employee who asked him to remove it and even offered a replacement shirt, saying things like "So, you're saying you approve of murder." The bandleader, who really has the gift of gab, intervened and smoothed things out, but I was mortified. Fortunately, we played great and the clients were happy. There are other horror stories, and the usual stuff: showing up hungry and scamming a setup for the buffet even though meals aren't in the contract for a particular gig, thinking "semi-formal dress" means wearing black dockers instead of torn blue jeans, male band members trying to hit on female guests at a casual who are way out of their league, drug use on the premises, etc. Once upon a time, I thought all these things were negative, baseless stereotypes. I now think they're negative stereotypes with a basis. I'm not bashing musicians here, as I have the pleasure of working with plenty who are articulate, polite, professional, and can immerse themselves in the vibe of any event as well as play impeccably. Like Botch, we should all do all we can to subvert and disprove the bad image, though. Stephen Fortner Principal, Fortner Media Former Editor in Chief, Keyboard Magazine Digital Piano Consultant, Piano Buyer Magazine Industry affiliations: Antares, Arturia, Giles Communications, MS Media, Polyverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veracohr Posted August 21, 2003 Share Posted August 21, 2003 I'm shocked how many of you would choose Option #1! "And then you have these thoughts in the back of your mind like 'Why am I doing this? Or is this a figment of my imagination?'" http://www.veracohr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Originally posted by Veracohr: I'm shocked how many of you would choose Option #1!Me, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMember Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 What's with the picture? To be honest with you: First I thought #2 of course. But you know those nights where you finally got your gear in the car 2Am after a gig (with to little money paid of course), I doubt many of you would say: "I LOVE THIS ABOVE ANYTHING IN THE WORLD". But let's be happy because we don't have to make that choice in black and white (either this or either that). We can be some place in the middle. The important thing is that we do what we are talented at. Think before you think before you speak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbobus Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Originally posted by Botch.: She said the doctor's wife called her and was absolutely bowled over by how "polite and articulate" I was for a musician. ROTFLMAO! To Marino and Veracohr, of course most of us would really choose #2, otherwise we wouldn't do these gigs, right? I would just like to see how it would be living this other life. So yeah, for a day, sure #1! Till now #2 has worked out okay. http://www.bobwijnen.nl Hipness is not a state of mind, it's a fact of life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lack of me Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Option 1. I can't work on Saturday night... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markyboard Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 What's with the picture? Sorry I was focusing on the title of this thread Who would you prefer to be? on second thought...never mind - failed humor attempt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave The Rave Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 I am #1 (minus the tennis court), but I aspire to be #2 as far as the piano playing goes. $150 a night? Whoa, that's low!! You guys are underselling your skills, totally! :DTR Cambrian Guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowly Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 I'd be the poor guy, playing in the trio, until I hit the lottery, then I'd be the rich guy, still playing in the trio, but with better instruments. Kcbass "Let It Be!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jode Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Another time, a wedding party had booked out the local zoo (really nice for a small zoo), and a different drummer (not trying to pick on drummers) showed up in a PETA t-shirt... Bro, I would kick the drummer's ass myself if he showed up wearing a PETA t-shirt to any gig I was on. My first arranging professor said one of the most profound things I've ever heard someone say about playing for fun vs. playing for money. He said, "Every man must have two things in his life: what he loves to do more than anything, and what he does for a living. I'm a music teacher because I can't feed my family playing golf or fishing." "I had to have something, and it wasn't there. I couldn't go down the street and buy it, so I built it." Les Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Azzarello Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 I want to play, and I work a day job now so that I can play what I want. I couldn't imagine living without playing, so I couldn't give answer #1. I've lived #2, and enjoyed it, but in the end the tradeoff wasn't what was right for me - I was working so many gigs to make ends meet that I wasn't enjoying my playing anymore (and not doing any of my own music). Originally posted by Dave the Rave: $150 a night? Whoa, that's low!! You guys are underselling your skills, totally! :DTRI totally agree. In todays adjusted dollars (with few exceptions: see corporate gigs below) I've made less gigging in the last 7 years than I did in college (late 70's, early 80's). That's sad. It may be different in LA, but the first cover band I joined in Seattle played for $60/night. I was doing it for fun, but that didn't last long; I couldn't see giving up a night with my family for what it would cost us to go out and have dinner/see a band/pay a babysitter. By contrast, right before I left Chicago I was playing festival gigs that were at least $200 for a 90 minute set (and I was always home by 11 pm), and bar gigs with a guarantee of $125. And there was a roadie included in that deal. Corporate gigs are by far the most lucrative if you can get them. The highest take for me was @ $1800 (after travel expenses), but that was in New Orleans and required me to be away from home for 3 days. So it really depends on the market. I was talking with some pros (guys making their living doing it) here in Seattle, and they were having a hard time making $100 doing pop covers. It's even more difficult to play jazz here and make a decent $$$ on Saturday night. Only a handful of bands doing it are getting by from what I can tell. Pat http://www.patazzarello.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BP3 Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 Originally posted by Jode: Another time, a wedding party had booked out the local zoo (really nice for a small zoo), and a different drummer (not trying to pick on drummers) showed up in a PETA t-shirt... Bro, I would kick the drummer's ass myself if he showed up wearing a PETA t-shirt to any gig I was on. And give a bonus for this shirt..... http://www.tinderarts.com/images/peta.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jode Posted August 22, 2003 Share Posted August 22, 2003 I still regret not buying the "I (heart) animals - they're delicious" t-shirt I saw one time. "I had to have something, and it wasn't there. I couldn't go down the street and buy it, so I built it." Les Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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