General Music Chat

What do you do? I have offers for playing with some pretty cool bands that make money. Or do you take a job for $32 an hour full time with retirement ? Im there. Its been a very confusing last 4 days. And it looks to get weird.
I know its up to me. But anyone been there? done this?

I do what I love.

I'm a software developer. I like what I do and I get paid nicely for it.

If I could make the same money playing music, I'd probably have to strongly consider that.

The way I look at things - you spend 8+ hours a day at a "job". That's a lot of time in your life. You should do something you enjoy.

Around here (K.C. Metro) there's not much opportunity to make money in music. With the stinking economy I'd take the $32/hour gig and play music part-time. If you happen to get really crazy busy with the music later and have an opportunity to play music full time then at that point you could switch to music full time, but for now if you DIDN'T take the $32/hour gig now you may seriously regret it later...

What do you do? I have offers for playing with some pretty cool bands that make money. Or do you take a job for $32 an hour full time with retirement ? Im there. Its been a very confusing last 4 days. And it looks to get weird.
I know its up to me. But anyone been there? done this?

Personally, I can't see why you can't do both. Unless the "real" job has a sporadic schedule.. You must consider what you can afford to do. If the band is making enough money to pay the bills, do it. You can't just follow your heart without thinking. But again, don't over-think it.

Now that gobbledygook being said. I would play in a money-making band any day before working a "real" job.

Take the job, your future stability is not worth it... you can always play music but jobs with retirement are hard to find... for me this is a no brainer.. really...

Don't end up having to work until you take your last breath.. really, not worth it bro.... having a stable life will help your music, it puts you in a better frame of mind.

My .02

X!

Lets see a $65,000 a yr job with retirement, versus $250-500 a night split how many ways in this economy.

I dont understand the question, taking the job would allow you to have the funds to do independent cds and if you are getting going with the music, you can just take the gigs you want and pass up the ones that you dont want to do.

I think my vote goes for the job.

As someone else said, in these times there arent a lot of jobs like that going around.

Good Luck on your decision!

For Gods sake take the job! Like most have said you can still play music. I tried to make a living playing music when I was younger and there is no money in it especially in this economy. Music will break you if you try to do it for a living Finacially and Spiritually. Just 2 years ago I finally got a job like you are talking about after sacrificing my life for the unrealist musical dream.

Lads, don't jump too quickly to judge the situation:
perhaps this fellow still lives at home?
In that case, free room + board...he doesn't have to make much
to get by, so maybe doing what he loves would be the better choice?

Yeah, Celtic. Everybody has a different situation. I used to work a low wage job and my playing supplemented my income. After getting divorced and starting over on square one, my playing started paying my bills and child support and I worked for my dad for my house payment (which was only $225 a month) mainly just watching the shop and doing what I wanted. It was a woodworking shop and I started building up a PA, the speakers, monitors, equipment racks and home made lights. Started playing even more and was making quite well. Then the bottom fell out of the music biz around here and I started working a regular job again. I kept playing and working and used the money to pay off everything and buying more equipment. Also had a 20 X 40 metal building put on my land for a future studio. I started remodeling it a few months ago, but I had to quit my job due to a knee re-injury. So now, I'm 54 and will have to rely on music to get me by. It's taking longer to finish my studio as I'm still limping around and have very little funds coming in. Luckily, I have a good name around here and do live sound at about 7 or 8 local festivals a year. I just got hired to play Sunday mornings in a Church Worship band for $100 per Sunday, filled in for some friend's band and got asked to replace the lead guitarist (it was his idea, he didn't want to play much and suggested that I take his place and he fill in when I have a sound gig), still have people calling for my old band Rat Sass which I can throw together anytime as we don't need practice after all the years, and have quite a few people who want to start taking guitar and bass lessons from me (which I couldn't do before because of my job schedule). Also, the band I just joined will be paying me $200 to $300 or more extra to bring the PA and run it (they all have professional jobs, banker, dentist, teacher etc.) So, in a poor man's way, I've got it made in the shade, BUT, if I had a chance to make $32 an hour, I would put all of the other stuff on hold and jump on it so that I could buy better equipment which would make retirement even better and easier.

So, to answer the thread question, MH10, go for the job and if you really want to play for a living, devote all the money that you can towards that goal and you'll know when the time is right to make the big switch. Think about it this way, with the economy getting worse right now and you making that good money, you'll be able to get great deals on equipment and really build up your arsenal.

If he takes the job he will be set for life, for the most part. He can get out of his parents house no one wants to live that way. If he goes for the music he is doomed for life take it from someone who's been there and done that. I went for the music and passed up a lot of opportunities in life to keep myself available for the band and at 50 I will work till I am 67 before I can retire. I have been here at a major university for 2 years, and now I am seeing the guys that have kept their priorities in order in their lifes the same age as me retireing with full benefits and pay. Musichead we are just going to plan your life for you LOL!

Having been turned over many times by employers in the last few years I don't think there is any such thing as job security any more.

Having said that if someone asked me to start this afternoon even on work that I didn't particularly like I snap their hands off.

Until 6 years ago I worked for someone else. I made decent money, but in the end I got screwed hard after 22 years with the same company. All the promises made were broken and I was left to find a new job with no fault on my part. After a month of unemplyment and talking to countless employers I found no one paid what I needed to satisfy my needs. So I started my own business and havent looked back since. Now I work a lot for a little. As long as the bills get paid Im happy. The economy really sucks and business has falling off a lot but were surviving. No one cares about their employees anymore, at least not in a right to work state like SC. But if you follow your heart and make yourself happy you cant go wrong. I believe we all wish we could make a living playing music, but only a few reallize that dream and usually pay dearly for it. There is nothing wrong in working hard for someone else. I appreciate my employees and work hard just to keep them busy with things the way they are. The only thing I want to stress is take care of yourself first. The rest will take care of itself.
Oh, I wish I could make 32.00 an hr and get some benefits ! Good luck!!!


Its another day in Paradise !!!

Lads, don't jump too quickly to judge the situation:
perhaps this fellow still lives at home?
In that case, free room + board...he doesn't have to make much
to get by, so maybe doing what he loves would be the better choice?

Celtic, if you look at his profile hes 48 years old. May I remind you that a job with benefits would have health insurance hopefully. The most money I ever made in a yr playing music was $12,000 or there abouts and I worked my ass off for that doing everything under the sun. So if he has an offer of $65,000 a yr w benefits, I just think he would be crazy to pass that up. Even if he could book 5 nights a week solo gig for $150 a night fro a solid yr thats only $39,000 and no insurance retirement or anything.

I just wouldnt encourage chasing some dream when in reality you can get the job and still pursue the dream on a smaller scale.

I have about 2 years left on the house. I already have done the $32 job for 22 years now. (Union Electrician). But there isnt much work right now. And God knows when its going to break lose. So Im thinking about making a clean break. And talking the band offer. But you guys game me some great things to think about. More on this......later....I have to get to the day job today.

By the way ...Im 48 ...I moved out of my parents house last month..not really. I have everything I need. Of course I want more. But Im right on the line of doing 10 more years in the trade and retire or 10 more years of music then retire. I have a 2 pensions and a 401k and I buy and sell silver.
Like I said Im right on the edge.