Watching/listening to a guy at a farmers market yesterday. Not sure if they offer him any pay, but he had a fair share of $1 bills in his guitar case (of course I added to it). Reminded me that playing in places where you are just 'background music/noise' can get really disheartening after a while. I think that happens more to solo players than bands. We certainly had our fair share of being background music in 'Trilogy', but we also had enough people paying attention/commenting/applauding that it was tolerable. My wife has suggested to me a couple of times that I look into playing these solo gigs, but I think it would quickly suck my soul out, and I'd lose interest in playing at all.
Of course the alternative for solo players is playing in a listening room where people DO listen, but the pay is less than you'd get busking. There's little 'middle ground' between this level of solo playing and the next level, which is playing at coffee houses (not coffee shops!) or opening for larger bands and venues that get more people (150 - 400 range).
We had a (new) guy at our songwriter circle Saturday who books acts for Friday night songwriter nights at the local listening room and 'features' at an open mic at a coffee shop (not coffee house!) and not-so-subtly suggested anyone should contact him if they were interested in playing. I know that no one is making more than gas money at these events.
Of course the alternative for solo players is playing in a listening room where people DO listen, but the pay is less than you'd get busking. There's little 'middle ground' between this level of solo playing and the next level, which is playing at coffee houses (not coffee shops!) or opening for larger bands and venues that get more people (150 - 400 range).
We had a (new) guy at our songwriter circle Saturday who books acts for Friday night songwriter nights at the local listening room and 'features' at an open mic at a coffee shop (not coffee house!) and not-so-subtly suggested anyone should contact him if they were interested in playing. I know that no one is making more than gas money at these events.
My reverbnation site: http://www.reverbnation.com/mikebirchmusic
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/mikebirchmusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mikebirchmusic
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/mikebirchmusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mikebirchmusic