So how many of you are able to make a living doing this?

[JTyson]

I did for 6 years, but that was over 20 years ago. A lot has changed in the music world.

 

[kasperjensen]

I bought my 100B off a guy who did 80 or so gigs a year with a cover band, playing company events, weddings etc.

He told me how much he hated going on stage every time playing music that he doesn't like 80% of and that it's only for the money.

I think he had lost his love for guitar and even music over years and years doing "the job".

Guess unless you're as talented as Andy or Pete, it's better to do a normal day job and play only for fun's sake - at least nothing takes away passion and love for music then.

Amen.

I used to make a living just playing guitar, but it became such a drag in the end that I seriously lost the spark.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

6000 members

5990 hobbyists/collectors

Or something like that...

 

[guitarnoize]

I bought my 100B off a guy who did 80 or so gigs a year with a cover band, playing company events, weddings etc.

He told me how much he hated going on stage every time playing music that he doesn't like 80% of and that it's only for the money.

I think he had lost his love for guitar and even music over years and years doing "the job".

Guess unless you're as talented as Andy or Pete, it's better to do a normal day job and play only for fun's sake - at least nothing takes away passion and love for music then.

Amen.

I used to make a living just playing guitar, but it became such a drag in the end that I seriously lost the spark.

I could see how that happens, I quit playing for 7 years after I finished my Music Degree felt like all the fun had been taken out of playing. These days I'd love to practice 6 hours a day... Bugger! Haha.

 

[King Guitar]

Sorry guys, first 10 guys in will get a weekly check from Rig-Talk.com for $10K each, sorry I hadnt thought to offer that before.

Shifting gears we need to now implement a $9.99 per minute usage fee for the site.

 

[hunter]

Sorry guys, first 10 guys in will get a weekly check from Rig-Talk.com for $10K each, sorry I hadnt thought to offer that before.

Shifting gears we need to now implement a $9.99 per minute usage fee for the site.

Good idea Brad. You always get what you pay for, don't you

 

[blackba]

I don't think I could make it as a pro. I think the traveling would get old really fast. Being a studio musician sounds like a cool gig though....

 

[Atropos_Project]

I'm not sure its ever even been a consideration. I think I actually prefer the idea of having the day job, which allows me a good deal more freedom when it comes to making music. Both appproaches have their pros and cons obviously.

But yeah... I've spent WAY WAY more money on music than I'll likely ever get back from it. And I'm ok with that.

 

[The_Kid]

my current gig will provide enough cash to live off of, especially supplementing the wifes check, which we wouldnt ever have to touch. On top of that, I can shift my job hours to accommodate the gig schedule enough so that I'm still making a check, and able to travel to the shows as needed.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I did for 4 years with a cover band..
It allowed me enough money to pay my rent, bills, car payment and put my self through Lincoln tech and still had money for gear.. Booze and chicks were free though...

I think everyone in NJ does the cover circuit for at least a few years. When the metal and rock bands didn't go anywhere i did the cover scene from 1998 through 03. There was a lot of money to be made but soo much BS to deal with, mostly other band members and playing out 3-5 nights a week takes a toll on the body and mind.

But people outside of this area don't believe how much money a cover band can make here but i think things have tightened and they're not making as much anymore. There was a period where the band i was in never got less than 1k a night, and with our managment we never had to deal with a grumpy bar owner if the night was slow.

But to me, there's a big difference between those who are making a living out of playing originals and covers. When you play covers it becomes a job and it can suck the creative spirit right out of you to the point where you forget what type of player you are.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I bought my 100B off a guy who did 80 or so gigs a year with a cover band, playing company events, weddings etc.

He told me how much he hated going on stage every time playing music that he doesn't like 80% of and that it's only for the money.

I think he had lost his love for guitar and even music over years and years doing "the job".

Guess unless you're as talented as Andy or Pete, it's better to do a normal day job and play only for fun's sake - at least nothing takes away passion and love for music then.

And 80 gigs a year isn't much at all really. And the rest of what you said is what happened to me but i was doing about anywhere from 12 to 20 gigs a month. Playing shit like Blister in the Sun and I wanna Be Sedated every night gets old fast.

 

[mentoneman]

semi pro
when i was teaching and playing live i made 1k/month as a supplemental income and now it's about half that, so about 6k a year comes from playing me fi-diddle...basically my gas money fund!

 

[nbarts]

5

 

[kasperjensen]

I bought my 100B off a guy who did 80 or so gigs a year with a cover band, playing company events, weddings etc.

He told me how much he hated going on stage every time playing music that he doesn't like 80% of and that it's only for the money.

I think he had lost his love for guitar and even music over years and years doing "the job".

Guess unless you're as talented as Andy or Pete, it's better to do a normal day job and play only for fun's sake - at least nothing takes away passion and love for music then.

Amen.

I used to make a living just playing guitar, but it became such a drag in the end that I seriously lost the spark.

I could see how that happens, I quit playing for 7 years after I finished my Music Degree felt like all the fun had been taken out of playing. These days I'd love to practice 6 hours a day... Bugger! Haha.

I don't think its really worth doing unless you like the people you are doing it with... Basically.

 

[RockStarNick]

lucky enough to do it this far! i dont know how to do anything else

A Wood

Better than being a jack of all trades, master of none! You were BORN to do this Andy!

 

[amiller]

Have I made money playing...absolutely...could I support a family solely on that money...absolutely NOT! For the most part, gigs have paid for a good share of my equipment.

 

[Rob Tahan]

ACTUALLY... We've been in negotiations with a few record labels for the past few months and finally got a really good deal. Havent signed it yet, but the offer is great and we are going to get our lawyer to edit it and make it a little more sweet if possible. But the other bands on this label seem to be doing really well, and with the new material i can only hope that we do just as well if not better.

 

[van hellion]

ACTUALLY... We've been in negotiations with a few record labels for the past few months and finally got a really good deal. Havent signed it yet, but the offer is great and we are going to get our lawyer to edit it and make it a little more sweet if possible. But the other bands on this label seem to be doing really well, and with the new material i can only hope that we do just as well if not better.

congrats! was it the label you and i talked about?

A Wood

 

[rocker]

I bought my 100B off a guy who did 80 or so gigs a year with a cover band, playing company events, weddings etc.

He told me how much he hated going on stage every time playing music that he doesn't like 80% of and that it's only for the money.

I think he had lost his love for guitar and even music over years and years doing "the job".

Guess unless you're as talented as Andy or Pete, it's better to do a normal day job and play only for fun's sake - at least nothing takes away passion and love for music then.

well said.

 

[Rob Tahan]

ACTUALLY... We've been in negotiations with a few record labels for the past few months and finally got a really good deal. Havent signed it yet, but the offer is great and we are going to get our lawyer to edit it and make it a little more sweet if possible. But the other bands on this label seem to be doing really well, and with the new material i can only hope that we do just as well if not better.

congrats! was it the label you and i talked about?

A Wood

Yes sir it was

Noah from Pillar says hi btw..
We just played a really big show with them this past weekend. Nice guy