How much do you make each year playing your guitar?

  • Thread starter Thread starter eecamichael
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I always say we play for free, we get paid to set it up and tear it down. $100 each a gig is are minimum, one gig this year we got $2000 for 2 nights, split 3ways very nice pay day, we only play about 40 nights a year any more.
I use to play about 75 nights. but when you work a full time job, and I'm 51 now it's nice to have some extra time off. PS I plan on playing out as long as I can
because I do it for the love of playing not for the money. It just goes right back into new gear and write it off anyway.
 
I play about 45-50 shows a year and make about $6-7000 per year. A decade ago for the same amount of shows it was around $11-12,000, but I was living in a much better area for live music with clubs that paid more.
 
I play in function and wedding bands, cover bands, acoustic duos, solo wedding background music, the occasional sight-reading at a local musical and teaching in the week an schools and privately.

I wouldn't like to say how much; it's not a fortune, but it's a good enough sum to live well off.... just not quite enough to be spending on all the gear I'd ideally like to buy all the time!
 
mentoneman":2ldb1hu0 said:
here is a little gopro video i shot of the waves there
See, I'm at a place where I'm ready to give up 90% of my gear just to be in waters like these to surf.

Surfing is in my blood - and it's heavily, HEAVILY addictive :thumbsup: :rock:
 
Never made any money here, always been a hobby mostly. I was in several bands in my teens and early 20's, work always got in the way. Some of my old band mates are still doing local shows, nothing major.
 
I just did a quick tally from 1995 to present. 0.00

I think that'll change in 2017.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Thomas
 
Ventura":3dbz4v6i said:
mentoneman":3dbz4v6i said:
here is a little gopro video i shot of the waves there
See, I'm at a place where I'm ready to give up 90% of my gear just to be in waters like these to surf.

Surfing is in my blood - and it's heavily, HEAVILY addictive :thumbsup: :rock:

oahu is the place to be brobrah-north shore just has the first swell of the season last week

but my home break sandy's where i grew up and now surf/sponge/skim has taken a heavy toll the past few months

2 deaths, two broken necks = paralysis, my friend dislocated his elbow getting pitched over the falls in 4 foot shorebreak barrel, i got stitches in my face last week sunday from my skimboard flying back at me on a wave, and last wednesday my other friend got his thumb flesh ripped off the bone by his homemade handboard leash!

you play you pay :rock:

ps the new skim world champ was crowned last week and he is good


pro surfing is finally starting to catch up with what skimmers have been doing in the air for the last decade!

this kid just moved to oahu to attend UH and kinda started the whole step off revolution that austin keen and tom curren are killing



sorry for the off topic but im a stream of consciousness guy and i surf every morning :thumbsup:
 
A quick estimate was around $18,000 last year. . .just playing in cover bands.
 
Im stiil learning but i would have to pay people to hear me lol so i would lose money lol
 
Between cover gigs, acoustic gigs, licensing, occasional sessions and sideman work, I do ok. Not buying a Ferrari anytime soon but love what I do.
 
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