General Music Chat

On your day job....


Does your employers money come from doing whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it?'

I think most of you have the wrong idea of how a musician makes a living. I've always been a professional musician since 1978. There has never been a time when I didn't have to compromise SOMETHING to keep a band together.

So it is just wrong to criticize this guitarist for being full time employed and making more money in a month that you will see in 20 years of playing jails.

Not that you are wrong to do so. I quit admire you for it, but the difference is that he probably wouldn't be criticizing you guys for what you do.


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On your day job....


Does your employers money come from doing whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it?'

I think most of you have the wrong idea of how a musician makes a living. I've always been a professional musician since 1978. There has never been a time when I didn't have to compromise SOMETHING to keep a band together.

So it is just wrong to criticize this guitarist for being full time employed and making more money in a month that you will see in 20 years of playing jails.

Not that you are wrong to do so. I quit admire you for it, but the difference is that he probably wouldn't be criticizing you guys for what you do.


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Bingo! Every musical situation is a compromise of some sort. Creative freedom, musicianship, opportunity cost, money. We each make our choice. The guy I know probably makes $4k/month doing a mix of live kareoke, blues jams, and top billed country music. He works 4-5 hrs a night and he doesn't feel he needs a day job.

If you think that Karaoke is for dimwits, that's fine.
If you think that Karaoke is grand, well that's fine too.

I'm glad you are having fun in Poland, but realize this is subjective to the max.
And if you put people down for not liking what you do, the rest will no doubt knock you around in a fashion you are not accustomed to.

George is a nice guy. He won't tell you to "f*ck off", but others will.
Some of us are lucky to have a day job we like, some not so much.

Personally I would have have my fingers cut off a digit at a time rather than do anymore karaoke, but that doesn't mean it's bad or not enjoyable.

It's just not for everyone..

YOD, you ever play any jails? lol Maybe while you were "just visiting"?

On your day job....


Does your employers money come from doing whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it?'

I think most of you have the wrong idea of how a musician makes a living. I've always been a professional musician since 1978. There has never been a time when I didn't have to compromise SOMETHING to keep a band together.

So it is just wrong to criticize this guitarist for being full time employed and making more money in a month that you will see in 20 years of playing jails.

Not that you are wrong to do so. I quit admire you for it, but the difference is that he probably wouldn't be criticizing you guys for what you do.


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Bingo! Every musical situation is a compromise of some sort. Creative freedom, musicianship, opportunity cost, money. We each make our choice.

yep, that. then again.... what in life ISN'T a compromise in some way or another?

On your day job....


Does your employers money come from doing whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it?'

I think most of you have the wrong idea of how a musician makes a living. I've always been a professional musician since 1978. There has never been a time when I didn't have to compromise SOMETHING to keep a band together.

So it is just wrong to criticize this guitarist for being full time employed and making more money in a month that you will see in 20 years of playing jails.

Not that you are wrong to do so. I quit admire you for it, but the difference is that he probably wouldn't be criticizing you guys for what you do.


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I'm always at choice. Even when I choose not to choose I have made a choice.
Opinion was asked. I gave it.

what in life ISN'T a compromise in some way or another?

Yep!

I'll play anything (sometimes holding my nose)
... how much does the gig pay????????

Prevost if you weren't so far away, I'd have to pony up some $ just to drag you down here to listen to you in person. (and I'd hope you weren't holding your nose when you were playing) lol

If you think that Karaoke is for dimwits, that's fine.
If you think that Karaoke is grand, well that's fine too.

I don't have to like kareoke to see that is the biggest competitor to bands being employed nowadays. It's cheap for the venue, the volume isn't making your ears bleed, and the audience has a lot more fun than watching bad bands with enormous egos.

All I was saying is that if there is anyone here who considers themselves a musician and wants a PAYING GIG, this is a brilliant idea. A real musician is flexible, and always looking for the next gig. Even if you were just looking to fill a Tuesday every week on the calendar, this would probably pay more than you get on a weekend with a full band at the biggest club in town. They also do a lot of gigs that they don't necessarily like, so they can pay the bills.

What I get from half of you (unemployed complaining) "musicians" is just guile because you think it is beneath you. Yet every single person here is making a compromise in your band/music and at least 99.999% of musicians are working at a job where you don't have a creative outlet at all. Forgive me for pointing out the hypocrisy of that position if you start criticizing this full-time PAID musician for being a creative entrepreneur.

Do you only play where you're sure everyone will be astounded with your overwhelming talent?

And if you put people down for not liking what you do, the rest will no doubt knock you around in a fashion you are not accustomed to.

1. I don't do kareoke
2. I'm defending a brother musician whom YOU (and others) are "knocking around" so look in the mirror as you write that statement.
3. I don't give a rat's ass what other musicians think about me.

Personally I would have have my fingers cut off a digit at a time rather than do anymore karaoke, but that doesn't mean it's bad or not enjoyable.

I think you've got the wrong idea because I was never proposing that everyone should do this. I simply mentioned it was a brilliant way to be full-time employed and actually make enough money to pay the bills.

I don't need to do that, but I'd never say never. The legend of the rent is waaay hard core.

YOD, you ever play any jails? lol Maybe while you were "just visiting"?

Quite a lot actually....from the inside and out. It is one of the most noble things a christian can do. Criticizing someone else for making a living playing guitar (no matter where they are playing) is not so noble.

I didn't mean to make it about George though. I absolutely admire and support them. In fact, George I wanted to talk to you about how to structure your band as a 501c3 so you can receive tax-deductable donations and raise funds for expanding your influence.

The bottom line is that the guy is working, making decent money, and enjoying himself. What more do you want if you are satisfied with what you have?

Yea, it's not for everyone...but this guy is doing well and get's to be a musician for a living.

He performed about 3 or 4 songs per set all by himself and even did a couple of original tunes.

Seems like someone here (who likes doing cover tunes) might want to think about it.

oh, i'm not putting him down. good for him if he's happy doing it and turning a buck.

like everyone on here i've played some real shitty gigs over the yrs....but wow, for me.....that might just rival any of 'em.

yod, i totally got where you were coming from. and i trust you got me as well.

Yea, it's not for everyone...but this guy is doing well and get's to be a musician for a living.

He performed about 3 or 4 songs per set all by himself and even did a couple of original tunes.

Seems like someone here (who likes doing cover tunes) might want to think about it.

oh, i'm not putting him down. good for him if he's happy doing it and turning a buck.

like everyone on here i've played some real shitty gigs over the yrs....but wow, for me.....that might just rival any of 'em.

yod, i totally got where you were coming from. and i trust you got me as well.

I appreciate your response sincerely.

But honestly, in Warsaw that night, the singers weren't as bad as half the bands you'd see in America...and ALL the girls were really hot.

(not that I would notice something like that....)

Yea, it's not for everyone...but this guy is doing well and get's to be a musician for a living.

He performed about 3 or 4 songs per set all by himself and even did a couple of original tunes.

Seems like someone here (who likes doing cover tunes) might want to think about it.

oh, i'm not putting him down. good for him if he's happy doing it and turning a buck.

like everyone on here i've played some real shitty gigs over the yrs....but wow, for me.....that might just rival any of 'em.

yod, i totally got where you were coming from. and i trust you got me as well.

I appreciate your response sincerely.

But honestly, in Warsaw that night, the singers weren't as bad as half the bands you'd see in America...and ALL the girls were really hot.

(not that I would notice something like that....)

Its Ok YOD, I fell in love with a Serbian Girl once... Women over there are just damn Gorgeous...

Doubt any place in the US is going to pay a karaoke musician/band for Tuesday nights. Worst night of the week for bars.

Opinions are like assholes...and musicians that have played everywhere and no one knows anything about them are in the same category.

Just ask yourself the question "who am I"?
Do you get a resounding answer?

Ok then Karaoke is not for you unless you like it.
I sang Karaoke every night for 4 years while I was a BFA Theater type.
It was fun at the time but very weak in general.
(It doesn't help your performance with a band.)

If you like it, fine. If you don't like it, fine.
I think you are an asshole but it doesn't matter what I think, YOD.
Just like it matters very little what you think.
No one method is going to give you the keys to the proverbial kingdom, else you'd be there already.

"Do what you do and do it to the best of your ability, lest someone else fill your shoes because there are few real openings and tons of people that almost fit the bill".

I still think the worst slap life can give a musician is for it to be a lifetime endeavor and not to be recognized in the least.