Who makes money making music on the forum ?

[String Tree]

In 20 something years, i have never made any money. Maybe 2 or 3 times i got 50 euros, but usually the money gets back into making records or the gas tank. I am not a SACEM member or anything, though a few tunes i wrote were played on local radio.

And not long ago, i noticed bands, or at least bands i play with got paid less. I remember 15 years ago we would get paid 300 euros, and then it vanished. If i help sell beer, i would like to get paid. But nowadays, it is 150 euros on a good day.

I used to until the Pandemic hit.
I still have my Jam Band Gig one night a Month.
It pays but, not very much.
Hoping things pick up.

 

[StrangerNY]

I'm not making a living per se - I'm officially retired, so there's money in the bank every month.

I still make a couple hundred bucks a week picking up sub gigs, and that's my 'walking around' money. It's not a lot but it's more money than I'd have if I stayed home and watched TV.

- D

 

[WelhavenTW]

At my last gig, a few weeks ago, we got beer, food and a hotel room. At the gig before that we got $250. Not much, but we only play live when someone ask us too.

 

[Yesyoudidyouare]

If you want to make money and you can suffer it,the wedding/corporate scene is what pays here. I'm out of it a few years now,but it was essentially money for old rope. The unsociable hours don't work well with a day job as you get older and I just got tired of it eventually.

I make a minuscule amount of money from recorded music using the usual infamously parsimonious outlets,but I don't do it for the money anyway.

Great vocabulary. Infamously parsimonious

 

[Skub]

I make a, uh, less than extravagant living playing guitar and bass with local dance bands.
It’s been my pleasure/addiction since I was a teenager.
I still love it, and intend to do it as long as I can.
The phone still rings, and the fingers still work.
Wish me luck!

I do most certainly wish you luck William.

On Saturday past I had occasion to talk with a chap who grew up on the local scene around the same time as myself. I had booked his band to play at a memorial do for my late brother in law. He sings and plays better than he ever did,but in his own words,"My voice may have lasted,but the rest of me is falling apart". Diabetes and the usual musician bad lifestyle choices have joined forces to make him a wreck.
I asked him if he planned to keep going until he drops,and he replied,"I have to".

It kinda made me both happy and sad for him.

 

[Telecaster88]

Since I'm sitting at the dining room table doing our taxes, I did some quick math...

I made $274.76 off Bandcamp sales last year. That's my only music income. Don't play live anymore.

 

[brookdalebill]

I do most certainly wish you luck William.

On Saturday past I had occasion to talk with a chap who grew up on the local scene around the same time as myself. I had booked his band to play at a memorial do for my late brother in law. He sings and plays better than he ever did,but in his own words,"My voice may have lasted,but the rest of me is falling apart". Diabetes and the usual musician bad lifestyle choices have joined forces to make him a wreck.
I asked him if he planned to keep going until he drops,and he replied,"I have to".

It kinda made me both happy and sad for him.

I’ll “have to” play till I drop, too, BUT, for better or worse, I am defined by what I do
For me, time stands still when I play, in a good way.
I don’t think about “the bad stuff”.
I’m not a tired old man when I’m playing music.
I only think about playing my best.
I’m simple, perhaps simplistic.
Because playing is what I do best (IMO), as long as I’m doing it, I feel like I’m being my best self.
I may be delusional, but it’s still fun, and somewhat mentally challenging.

 

[charlie chitlin]

My sunday morning gig pays two benjis.

I assume you play in church.
I came across a guy who gigs all over his state, but he ALWAYS gets home by Sunday morning because his church gig is his bread and butter.
Times have changed.
The big churches pay legit coin.

 

[dukewellington]

More miles than money, honestly. But when the money comes it is appreciated. It takes a lot of hard work, and the amount of money is not often reciprocated. Some of it is playing music, teaching music, or selling services and instruments or equipment. Can’t underscore how important professionalism and networking are in a business that is largely by referral. “Hey I know a guy who can do that gig with/for us…” etc. Good luck! It’s hard out there.

 

[Flaneur]

The money is a token, of the amount of work involved, in creating and running a musical ensemble.
Token, is the operative word. The investment, in equipment, travel, rehearsal and overall commitment, is seldom compensated accurately. £50 per person, for three hours' work, in a distant town, isn't padding anyone's retirement pot......

 

[MickM]

I assume you play in church.
I came across a guy who gigs all over his state, but he ALWAYS gets home by Sunday morning because his church gig is his bread and butter.
Times have changed.
The big churches pay legit coin.

I haven't got paid to play since the 90s but I often spend money to play music after reading stuff on this forum! Like "oh yea, I need one of those".

 

[1955]

 

[kennl]

I make a, uh, less than extravagant living playing guitar and bass with local dance bands.
It’s been my pleasure/addiction since I was a teenager.
I still love it, and intend to do it as long as I can.
The phone still rings, and the fingers still work.
Wish me luck!

sounds like a song hook

 

[soul-o]

I make most of my income by playing music. Not my own music, but at 54 years old I am pretty grateful to still be able to do it.

 

[fleezinator]

I assume you play in church.
I came across a guy who gigs all over his state, but he ALWAYS gets home by Sunday morning because his church gig is his bread and butter.
Times have changed.
The big churches pay legit coin.

Indeed. It's a familiar set up for a lot of the church players I know. However, this is my only music related gig as my main source of income is another field entirely.

Funny thing is when the wife & I first started attending, I volunteered my talents not expecting anything in return. They insisted since all the players in the worship team are working professionals and they want to respect their livelihoods. Doing so brings a level of quality to the experience & helps make a bigger impact on those new or looking to return to a church. That said, I'm most definitely the weakest link LOL

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

Not much.

 

[Slippery Jack]

My gigs pay for my weekly food shop. You know, spam and out of date bread, that kind of thing. Good job that I have the day job.

We took January off and I was wondering why I didn't have any cash in my pocket.

 

[Steven Kaplan]

When I played bars, special events, and parties I got paid.

 

[SRHmusic]

Yes, enough to break even on expenses, nowhere near a living, for our classic rock cover band. In the cities around here at breweries and nicer bars we tend to get about $100 or a bit more per member plus tips, often free beer. It's good to be paid, I think, to feel some responsibility on both sides, and shows that it's worth something. But, this is for about 5 or more hours of work for each of us per gig, including load in & out (our PA etc.), and playing for 2.5 or 3 hours. It can make for pretty late and tiring nights. (We joke it's our bands health plan.) Playing venues with a house PA and sound person is rare for us, but is so much better.

 

[T-Bone]

Man! I’m rolling in dough from my music. So far this year I’ve already earned $15.00 on Bandcamp, and I’ve almost earned my first penny on Spotify. This music business is awesome. Easy money, baby!