“What is it like to be a Working Musician?” Welcome back to part 2 “What is it like?” Well,…it can be like anything in life. Some days it’s just a job. Other days.. a pretty cool experience, but always interesting. The one thing you must get use to is the up and the down, the yin and the yang of life. What does that mean? As I’ve said in the past, learning by example can sometimes be the best way. Here’s my tale.
During period I was a the Cotton Club, I was picking up connections and side gigs. The pay ranged for local club gigs from Monday through Thursday was about $30 to $80, Friday and Saturday was about….. $75 to $150. Now keep in mind this is between 1989-90, some of the juicy gigs hadn’t started yet. Now corporate gigs, weddings, private parties etc. That’s the big dough! And then there’s the “New Years Eves” gig, big money. All that can range from $150.00 to $2000.00. Sounds good…… yeah!! Okay……. “Ladies and Gentleman I like to introduce to you “REALITY”.
An example of my monthly pleasure and pain back then:
Week 1: Monday- Teaching, $90, Club gig, $30
Tuesday- teaching, $60, Club gig, $40
Wednesday- teaching, $60, watching TV
Thursday- Waiting on the phone to ring.
Friday- Club, $100
Saturday, Club, $80
Week 2: Monday- Teaching, $50 (some no show students), Club gig, $30
Tuesday- teaching, $60,
Wednesday- teaching, $45 watching TV
Thursday- Subbing for friend at wedding gig, $200.
Friday- $0
Saturday, Club, $120
Week 3: Monday- Teaching, $100, Club gig, $30
Tuesday- teaching, $60,
Wednesday- Day time (brunch), $80, Club gig, $50
Thursday- Club gig, $80
Friday- Club gig, $100
Saturday, Club, $100
Week 4: Monday- Teaching, $25, Club gig, $30
Tuesday- teaching, $45
Wednesday- Club gig,$40
Thursday- Club gig, $50
Friday- Club gig, $60
Saturday, $0
Do you get the picture? Yin Yang. This is how it started out. Did it get better? I’ll tell ya next time. Now I could give you the old “give it the old college try” thing….. But I rather leave you with this.
I enjoyed it all… rain or shine, bad or good. It didn’t matter to me back then. Because every time I went out my front door, amp in one hand guitar in the other I felt blessed. Blessed that I was a working cat, doing what I love for a living. Paying my rent …. with my axe.
see ya next time.
more articles by Kenn Smith
- Double Z, the Queen of Bass
- What do you Look for in a Bass Player?
- The Working Musician: Buying Gear; Do’s and Don’ts
- The Working Class: How to Become a Working Musician
June 12th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Kenn,
I really enjoyed reading your article “The Working Class: How to Become a Working Musician”
I look forward to reading your next article before I comment.
Lynne/Talent Manager
Conte’s Networking Communications