United States

question- day gig or music....for a family man....got skills no a sloucher.three nights away from home four days with family. gig pay 300 bill a night total 900.. or day job with insurance and salry in th 50's working with granitee make a decision please.

Dude that's a decision you have to call. I personaly i know people who have made it work and ive seen it go the other way to.But all you can do is try and if you feel it's interfearing with your personal life you have to decide which one is more important.If you keep your mind right my friend you will make the right decision..

The ideal would be to do both somehow, but barring that do what is good for your family first and what makes you happy second.

If you are a family man take the day gig with insurance. One major sickness could make your life a real mess without insurance. one thing to think about is that you have to keep your equipment up and pay your way around with the money from your music. After expenses how much of the 900 do you really have left? Unless it is a gig that might lead to some real money down the road, what is the point. If this is your main gig are you reporting taxes? That could take a bite out of the money you make. I know most weekend warriors just stick cash in their pocket.

If you are single take the music gig. Music gigs tend to disappear over time.

I used to play 6-8 nights a month, hold down a normal job, married with 1 kid and another on the way. It was too much, when I was at home I slept or practiced. I wasnt there for my kids in the way I now think I should have been. Kids grow real fast and if you miss their growing up you will never get it back. Good Luck, whatever you decide.

thanks for the advice. it's really a tuff decision. on one hand i have insurance inthe other i'm so sterssed out at the day gig i'm driving my wife and family crazy..she wants me to play far aliving. that's how she met me and i am different when i'm playing for a living... i forgot to mention i already have a gig at church that pays 150 for one service.. so i'm looking at a pretty good chunk of change a year with either gig. insurance is gonna run me about 680. amonth if i'm self employed it now costs me 400. and you're right of every gig running it's course

Do both, make the 50K and play for fun.

You'd be ahead of me.

potential and you didn't do it, then on your deathbed you wished you had. You may only get one chance to do a dream musical gig and this may be that one chance. You have to evaluate the potential of the gig and your desire to do something big in music. How important is it to you? Do you know for sure that someday you can look back and say that it was all worth it. Are the people you'll be playing with really talented and reliable? Are they going to be able to see through to the completion of your musical goals? Are they going to be loyal to you? If I ever got the opportunity to do something really big in music and make a lving at it I would do it. I've seen too many good musicians not take the risk and regret it later. GOOD LUCK and make the RIGHT DECISION FOR YOU. Later...

In general, I'd say go with the secure job and gig on the side. Anyways, playing is hard work! (especially drums). I've read where one of my old class mates did make something like twenty thousand dollars a week, playing for Dylin. As the story goes, Bob asked him if he would take a cut in pay, so he quit to do his other gig full time, leading the Saturday Nite Live Band. If ya got a gig like that, go for it!

well i forgot to mention this is n't my first rodeo...i played pro and for a living since about the age of 25.. it's only been the last two that i've done it on the side... this is just the first time with two kids.........scary... i kinda know what i'm in for.. yeah they're loyal but what's loyalty when the dollar is involved.... i played on a dinner yacht 7 nights a week for about four years in tampa. yeah i know it sounds cheesy BUT i made it cool. it was my band i auditioned the musicians and hand picked them. whoo what a band. i'm talking about so many styles it was insane. really no cheese. My guitarist was a taxi driver my bassist had recently come from cuba and was working making refrigerators my singer was struggling(she was the ipidemy of young whitney) and I basically gave them a five hr anight seven night a week 50,000$ a year gig. when i tried to take them to bigger and better places they were to comfortable. well now they are struggling again and trying to get in contact with me after 3 years... that experience soured me a little. I realized i had personnaly twisted what i loved to make money.. well now there is the rebirth within me and your advice is on this forum is extremely appreciated. thanx. I promise to all I will not let this musician ever be micro managed for any amount of money...loyalty ....who cares....it's about the music and the people listening not the musicians loyalty..... LOVE AND PEACE

I say once again think about the kids first. I think in the end our familys and how we interacted with them is all that matters.

I got out of music and have spent the last 5 years taking my now 15 yr old son around the country racing motorcycles. Weve had experiences that we never would have had if I was still trying to be a RockStar. Looking at it now I dont think I would trade our time together for anything.

Kids grow up fast and once they are gone you can always resume a musical career. In my area most of the musicians I know who would be considered to be pros are not making enough money from their music gigs to support a wife and 2 kids unless the wife is working full time and they have a side job to boost their income. It sounds like you are located in a better musical environment than I am.

Once again good luck whatever you decide to do.

My perspective on this case will only be that of a someone who is young (Due to the fact I am not a working musician).

I would agree with what JW said, it is hard for us kids not to have our parents around when we are growing up. My father decided to pursue what was best for him and now I resent him pretty darn badly for it. He was a very selfish man and still is. He only sees us (Me and my sister) when it is good for him and that is when he is not being a belligerent person towards us. Do not get me wrong, I love my father, but there are many things I wish he would do different when it comes to me and my sister.

So yes, I would say do what is best for the family. If the music job is very high paying then it is one thing, but if it is a risk it is not worth skipping a job over, nor not being with the family as often as possible.

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

Ask your wife she should be your best friend. Ask God he should be your best advisor. Ask yourself what will make you happy,A happy husband and father is more important to the health of your family than money. My Sifu would always tell me. (Comsider fully then act decisevly) Nothing you can do will prevent you from making mistakes in your life.
Good Luck My Man.

GA, it comes full circle.

My dad was the same way. I just saw him in passing the other day and he said some pretty ugly stuff about my mother, so I socked him in the face.

He then got mouthy and started preaching. I then asked him if he wanted another and instructed him to be courteous and polite, else be gone as usual.

I like being a brute, it does a body good and punks come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

I am not a proud parent puncher, but if you build it, they will come. And if you want served, I always come with waiter's towel handy. Service with a smile!

... Well I cannot see getting into a fist fight with my father... On the other hand, I have had some fairly viscious arguments with him. He has that whole dominant personality going on, that he is the father and I should shut up since I am the child. I am 19 years old now, I am not a 5 year old. I have a mind of my own and I respect him most of the time, but when he says things that are out of line I have no problem attacking him on that. I do not go for people who think you should respect them just on the premise that they are the parent, I need a reason to give you respect, forget your title.

Show me I should give you my respect because you are a caring/kind hearted human being. Do not yell at me or my sister and then tell us to give you respect that you do not deserve after that.

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

It's like the song, "Ain't nothing but mammals".

If they don't know any better and have no respect for you, then return the favor I always say. Then again I am 6'2", pushing 260. So being mouthy to my face for no apparent reason may get you a trip in the meat wagon.

I was raised correctly by 1 parent and I know how to act, I just decided that too much is "too much" and should be dealt with as such. No one was picking their teeth up off the ground, but no absentee sperm donor is going to flap their gums in my face and walk away like they are correct. Not happening.

If you don't want to get bit, do not poke with stick!