I really REALLY want to quit my job and start a band, how much do gigs usually pay? I live in Indianapolis.
2007-03-20 07:55:36 · 5 answers · asked by chrisoaks23 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
lol. don't quit your job. (i know, bro. i know) DO start the band though. definitely do that.
i'm a music teacher/college professor by day/ gigging musician by night, so i can totally feel your pain. i want to just gig and write my music, but the $ can't support it...well, that and family life....'nuther story! :)
listen, most gigs won't get you paid more than 100 bucks a night, but you have to set up steady gigs like that to have a decent living....and after 10 years of gigging, i'll tell you: if you have a steady 2 or 3x a week gig for more than 4 months, you've been blessed. it rarely happens. you are always hustling gigs together. the worst thing about it is that you don't know if it's going to be there next week. i have a jazz gig tonight that's been feeding me for the past three months, but it's starting to show signs of fading....the owner's looking at us differently.....there are just some things you get used to...telltale signs, if you will! :)
dude, DO the gigging thing. it's never boring. it's a great way to score extra money, but keep that money in the 'extra' category. as soon as it becomes your main way of living, sh!t gets really unstable!
(another way you could supplement the gigging, though, is by teaching private lessons on whatever instrument(s) you play. i make 30-40% of my income on that some years)
good luck!
g
check my 360 to see my struggling musician @ss!
360.yahoo.com/bluesingroove
EDIT: I don't know how 'mobile' you are...or if you are 'good' enough of a player. (with respect.) but cruise ships pay great dough for 6 months at a time. i had a BLAST playing guitar and drums on a carnival cruise for 6 months.....the NEXT 6 months, though....they started to SUCK! it's worth a try, if you're really serious about doing music performance 100% of the time. (obviously, that'll be cover work, though. )
good luck, bro!!
2007-03-20 08:05:58 · answer #1 · answered by blue-in-groove 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you start off, you'll be lucky if the whole band makes 200 bucks. Usually the guy who owns the sound equipment will take a little extra.
If you are good, and you get a following, you can start playing in bigger bars. If you can pack a big bar, you're looking at about $500 a show.
Remember you have to split it with the whole band. So, the less people you have, the more money you each make. Sure, it would be nice to have a conga player, but since no one can hear him anyways, I wouldn't want to split the money with him!!
You can make good money playing music, but I wouldn't quit my job just yet. For one thing, the hours suck. Don't get me wrong, the band ALWAYS gets invited to the afterhours party. But, if you like having Friday and Saturday nights free, forget about it. I'm in a band, and Saturday nights, I don't get home until 2am or so. I kept my day job, and the band is just a nice supplemental income.
One thing to consider is that unless you are booked for a show, you won't make any money. Keep your day job (Or get one that you like) so you know your bills will get paid.
2007-03-20 08:00:32 · answer #2 · answered by Answer Schmancer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have a Chinese public sale. Contact neighborhood firms and notice in the event that they might be inclined to donate whatever that you simply might include right into a effectively wrapped basket for a Chinese public sale. Example - guide basket with a few books, bookmarks, tea cup and teas for enjoyable whilst studying. Bath basket - a wide variety of bathe gels, and so forth. People love Chinese auctions right here. Our animal safe haven has a gigantic one each and every 12 months. We get ample stuff to make up approximately one hundred baskets of all sizes. We cost $10 a individual to get in and that entails 25 tickets. You should buy a further 25 tickets for five bucks. We serve refreshments. We made $two,000 at the final one. It's plenty of labor despite the fact that. OR have a used guide sale. Lots of folks supply their lightly used books to libraries. See in the event that they might supply them to you for a sale.
2016-09-05 09:36:25 · answer #3 · answered by bungay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can make a fortune, but then, I bring the thunder...
you, on the other hand, shouldn't quit your day job.
2007-03-20 08:00:33 · answer #4 · answered by hookem_hornz 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends on how popular you are. ;)
2007-03-20 08:00:24 · answer #5 · answered by notsoswan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋