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

[VoodooChild24]

Had the chance to be in a cover band for 1.5 years but flakey band mates and personality clashes ended my gigging days. Were all still friends though but 2 of my bandmates were deployed in Afganistan 4 months ago. My day job is an insurance claims adjuster. Hella stressful but pays the bills. Been doing it for 8 years now.

 

[Stratboy151]

i used to live on teaching full time and playing gigs. i had 50-60 students a week and a few gigs a week, was a fun time and although back when i was living that life it seemed like decent money....when a wife and a baby comes and car payments and rent and healthcare and etc, its not so much money afterall. so i decided to join the IBEW and since then have taught lessons privately a couple nights a week while still continuing to gig here and there. im planning a move to Raleigh NC soon so i will have to start my musical career all over when i get there but i cant wait!

 

[glassjaw7]

Music is all I do for a living. Just one band, nothing else. I used to work for an electronics engineering firm before this, and I loved my job there, but I had to choose. I can always go back to what I was doing before but hopefully I won't have to for a while, and by then, I'd rather take my electronics background and apply it to the music industry in the form of product development/manufacturing etc., from my experience as a touring/recording musician.

I've had to make major trade-offs for music though. None of my friends in smaller bands can make the kind of commitment I made to do this. I stripped my life of many important things, an almost complete lifestyle change. I harbor almost no debt. The band pays for my apartment rent, my cell bill, and I'm on a monthly allowance when we're not touring. All my gear, except for my Friedman Marshall, and a couple of my guitars, were free from endorsements or provided by the band. I don't really pay out of pocket for much. The amount of money I get to save is more than I was able to save when I had a full time day job after all my bills and expenses.

Part of it is being able to change the way I network from being a douche bag band guy. Most gigs I go to, I can get in at the door at no cost, girls/cougars/crazy fans, buy me drinks. I get clothes and stuff from clothing companies that have deals with the band etc.

I have a new record being released in the U.S. this Fall through EMI that will be supported by intense touring, and our last record just hit the shelves in Japan! I have to get my passport in order.

Dude, THAT'S why your stuff sounds like Stabbing Westward! I checked it out once but didn't realize you were in this band. Very cool. I'll be buying the album.

 

[nbarts]

9

 

[nbarts]

I figured out a long time ago that I was not going to get rich doing this... however, we do gigs in our local community and we all the money raised goes out to kids... i.e. last one we raised over $2300. This way, I get to live my rock n' roll fantasy and do it for a good cause...

 

[WhammybarAllstar]

Music is all I do for a living. Just one band, nothing else. I used to work for an electronics engineering firm before this, and I loved my job there, but I had to choose. I can always go back to what I was doing before but hopefully I won't have to for a while, and by then, I'd rather take my electronics background and apply it to the music industry in the form of product development/manufacturing etc., from my experience as a touring/recording musician.

I've had to make major trade-offs for music though. None of my friends in smaller bands can make the kind of commitment I made to do this. I stripped my life of many important things, an almost complete lifestyle change. I harbor almost no debt. The band pays for my apartment rent, my cell bill, and I'm on a monthly allowance when we're not touring. All my gear, except for my Friedman Marshall, and a couple of my guitars, were free from endorsements or provided by the band. I don't really pay out of pocket for much. The amount of money I get to save is more than I was able to save when I had a full time day job after all my bills and expenses.

Part of it is being able to change the way I network from being a douche bag band guy. Most gigs I go to, I can get in at the door at no cost, girls/cougars/crazy fans, buy me drinks. I get clothes and stuff from clothing companies that have deals with the band etc.

I have a new record being released in the U.S. this Fall through EMI that will be supported by intense touring, and our last record just hit the shelves in Japan! I have to get my passport in order.

Dude, THAT'S why your stuff sounds like Stabbing Westward! I checked it out once but didn't realize you were in this band. Very cool. I'll be buying the album.

Thanks glassjaw! Yeah our singer and drummer are from Stabbing Westward. The new record, End in Tears due this Fall, is a transition from the last, Etched in Blood. It's alot darker and more along the lines of Stabbing Westward, NIN.

I'm learning a lot from Chris on how to make a living as a musician/entertainer. It is truly a very broad road exceeding the scope of just playing guitar for me. I don't consider myself a very good player at all and I doubt myself quite a bit. I ask a lot of questions, I observe what my peers are doing with their careers etc. I've talked about my concerns with Chris a lot on the road, and he always tells me the same thing, "Duuude, I can't sing for shit, but have you seen all the platinum and gold records in my giant house??" Writing simple songs and delivering it with a good package/image/live show as a core seems to be what keeps us going.

 

[carl roa]

I spend most of my time (and most of my life) playing and writing the music I want to play, and for that I am extremely grateful. While it's been a difficult road, I can't imagine not doing it.

 

[petethorn]

Ill tell ya, it's not all doom and gloom, the music biz has been real good to me, I'm posessed by the guitar though... I don't really do anything else (which concerns me sometimes). But if you're just batshit crazy enough about music, and you go about it right, you can make a good living. And not lose your passion for it. I love it, what I do. 20 years ago, I moved to LA- no car, 1 bedroom apartment with three guys living in it, GIT for a year, then I worked in a music shop that mainly sold karaoke tapes for FIVE YEARS. To support myself, while the band I was in hunted for a deal. We finally got one... That got me out of the day job, and I've been a full time pro ever since.

That's right, I said karaoke tapes... for five years. . See, I am batshit crazy!!!! Don't talk to me about payin dues!!!

 

[ratkent]

I'm posessed by the guitar though... I don't really do anything else (which concerns me sometimes). But if you're just batshit crazy enough about music, and you go about it right, you can make a good living.

This is really the heart of it. I am so into what I do that I have never had a Plan B nor really any other interests or serious hobbies. But more importantly, not having a Plan B just doesn't bother me like it does some people.

 

[animal]

Music is all I do for a living. Just one band, nothing else. I used to work for an electronics engineering firm before this, and I loved my job there, but I had to choose. I can always go back to what I was doing before but hopefully I won't have to for a while, and by then, I'd rather take my electronics background and apply it to the music industry in the form of product development/manufacturing etc., from my experience as a touring/recording musician.

I've had to make major trade-offs for music though. None of my friends in smaller bands can make the kind of commitment I made to do this. I stripped my life of many important things, an almost complete lifestyle change. I harbor almost no debt. The band pays for my apartment rent, my cell bill, and I'm on a monthly allowance when we're not touring. All my gear, except for my Friedman Marshall, and a couple of my guitars, were free from endorsements or provided by the band. I don't really pay out of pocket for much. The amount of money I get to save is more than I was able to save when I had a full time day job after all my bills and expenses.

Part of it is being able to change the way I network from being a douche bag band guy. Most gigs I go to, I can get in at the door at no cost, girls/cougars/crazy fans, buy me drinks. I get clothes and stuff from clothing companies that have deals with the band etc.

I have a new record being released in the U.S. this Fall through EMI that will be supported by intense touring, and our last record just hit the shelves in Japan! I have to get my passport in order.

fuck man I'm a huge Stabbing/Dreaming fan!!!!! awesome stuff!!! tell chris hi from the Australian fan that comes to his gigs

 

[nbarts]

Don't talk to me about payin dues!!!

Don't get me started!!!!

 

[nbarts]

10

 

[mixohoytian]

I taught lessons for a long time. I couldn't break into any studio scene after college. Once I realized I'd have to keep teaching and do odds and ends jobs & play covers/top 40...I decided to get a regular job.
I've spent every penny on my own music and after 5 years and getting further and further into debt, I'm close to finishing some projects, but at this point...in less than a year...I'll start to associate music with financial pain.
All I ever wanted was to create new music
The biz is mainly about knowing the right people and being VERY outgoing/ your own salesman. If you don't care about original music and just want to make a living and you set your mind to it and never give up, you'll probably, eventually find the right gig


I have a friend who I hire for recording bass, he is ridiculous, he'll sight read anything you put in front of him
He has been on cruise ships for years now...not his 1st choice, but the LA studio scene wasn't making him enough money anymore
He is good enough to play for anyone, but truth is, even if you meet the right people, "looks" are a BIG factor in getting a high profile touring gig
He makes a great living, but he's always gone and in a few years he may hate being on ships..


I recently got an "in" to the studio scene via a contact that is friends w/ my brother
I'm a bit scared to even call him
my sight reading and taking direction chops are not what they were 5 years ago...
I'm debating whether to have have music even be my 2nd job or whether I should have 2 regular non music jobs

 

[ihave27frets]

I do, I get paid to look homeless and headbang

 

[CaseyCor]

I do, I get paid to look homeless and headbang

Living the dream
You're an incredible player Pete, you deserve it for sure. I can only dream about actually making it in the metal world today. It's been my dream since 2nd grade.

I make $50-$100 a gig playing drums for some acoustic cover bands. It's good money, considering I don't have to practice, I eat/drink for free all night, and have a fan base with people asking for my autograph after the show

I put on a crazy show behind the drums, headbanging, spinning/throwing sticks. It's not too over the top and "showy", but it's great to watch and keeps me from getting bored. The crowd really enjoys it. I get compliments every gig, lots of people yelling "That drummer is fucking awesome!" and "DRUM SOLO!"

Here's a few pics for fun

 

[SFW]

Made a living off of music for about four years during the 90s. I was single then, and it was fun for a while. Drugs and heavy touring really took their toll on some of the members... I opted out to get away from some of the darker things in the biz. Having a wife and two kids kinda changed my priorities, so I am a weekend warrior these days. But I do catch myself daydreaming about it ever now and then.

 

[again with this]

i wish. but i'm not that good.
a honest answer. shocking.

a BIG +1 here...

 

[rupe]

I pulled it off for a few years back in the 90's (gigging and lessons), but I typically had some sort of other job during most of the years that I was trying to "make it" as a guitarist. I usually just give my gig money to my wife now to help alleviate any issues that gigging and practice time may cause

 

[Jimmie]

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.

Or start charging for more than one bump per day on the classified page.

 

[droptrd]

I do, I get paid to look homeless and headbang

Living the dream
You're an incredible player Pete, you deserve it for sure. I can only dream about actually making it in the metal world today. It's been my dream since 2nd grade.

I make $50-$100 a gig playing drums for some acoustic cover bands. It's good money, considering I don't have to practice, I eat/drink for free all night, and have a fan base with people asking for my autograph after the show

I put on a crazy show behind the drums, headbanging, spinning/throwing sticks. It's not too over the top and "showy", but it's great to watch and keeps me from getting bored. The crowd really enjoys it. I get compliments every gig, lots of people yelling "That drummer is fucking awesome!" and "DRUM SOLO!"

Here's a few pics for fun

Is that Ajster in that pic?