Telecaster Guitar Forum - View Single Post - How many of you rely on your gigging for your income ?

Doug Matthews · June 27th, 2003, 02:57 PM

Between marriages, my gig income kept the wolf away from the door and gave me something to do for 2 or 3 nights a week. I had a good paying job but child support payments and debts were excessive.

I played for 11 years in this MOR dance band (we played waltzes, polkas, rock, r&b, country and top 40, if you can imagine) and we played most weekends. As Baard implies, taking a vacation had to be carefully planned.
I couldn't keep up the pace once into the second marriage, more demanding job and "new family" came along so I left the band. I miss it to this day and the money was good $600 to $800 per month in the '80's. The band cameraderie was great and we are still close friends, like "family", to this day. The band no longer plays.

Today, I jam weekly with new guys who, like me, can't commit to a band anymore and, yes, I have way more grear than I had in the band. I guess because it is now a hobby.

Cheers,

Doug.

June 27th, 2003, 02:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Doug Matthews Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brandon, Manitoba Posts: 137	Gig Income Between marriages, my gig income kept the wolf away from the door and gave me something to do for 2 or 3 nights a week. I had a good paying job but child support payments and debts were excessive. I played for 11 years in this MOR dance band (we played waltzes, polkas, rock, r&b, country and top 40, if you can imagine) and we played most weekends. As Baard implies, taking a vacation had to be carefully planned. I couldn't keep up the pace once into the second marriage, more demanding job and "new family" came along so I left the band. I miss it to this day and the money was good $600 to $800 per month in the '80's. The band cameraderie was great and we are still close friends, like "family", to this day. The band no longer plays. Today, I jam weekly with new guys who, like me, can't commit to a band anymore and, yes, I have way more grear than I had in the band. I guess because it is now a hobby. Cheers, Doug.