So the late night Monday show is over.There were a bunch of beautiful ladies in audience, but they all left while you were breaking down your gear. You sat through two shit-ass bands who played before you, neither of which ever actually gave the bar managers a demo. Your band played a good show, but by the time you're done jammin' everybody's gone home and the party is over. You meet with the bar manager who gives you an envelope with $30 in singles and 50 cent pieces...just enough to cover your bar tab for the night.

Why do you play music on this scene...for the love of performance, music, creativity...or perhaps it's for the attention, women...Hopes of moving on to something better? Being "discovered"? It's obviously not about the money or the mamouth crowds that support our scene...

So tell me this...If the only incentive you received for being a part of the scene was free beer...would you still do it?

yes.

YUP!

No cause I don't drink. Free food maybe.

i like to hurt small minded animals (like people)

http://www.myspace.com/wearethesubjecttochange

quote:

i like to hurt small minded animals (like people)

Hmmm... pop stars!

Generally speaking, no - I'm just not a huge beer lover ... or alcohol lover for that matter. Getting wasted on someone elses dime lost its appeal years ago. Food on the otherhand. Now if there was this bombin' spread that I could chow down on after the gig.

That would be cool

No doubt!!

--Third Hour
http://www.myspace.com/3rdhour

ummmm.....it's obvious, isn't it?
you have seen black maria, right?

Not the booze, or the bajillion screaming chicks or the huge Albuquerque contracts, but the muuusic. Right? Beer's a good reason, too.

Our bass player oesn't drink alcohol, but I'm pretty sure he'd play for Dr. Pepper. Food is a given, I think, for any musician. I don't know how it is for you indie folks, but have you seen how heavy metal guys eat? It's like I haven't eaten in days, and I might not eat again! Simfonik Plague spent most of the Launchpad b-day between the bar and the food. Great music made better by all you can eat free stuff!!!!

By the way, Merry fucking Holidays!

This thread reminds me of playing at Joe's back in the day. Here's your beer cup! All the free beer you could drink if you were playing. Plus, I could just stumble the short distance back to my house.

I thought that was how you got paid in Albuquerque.

Yes, but I'd prefer a nice Stout or Porter this time of year...

yep, but only if they serve the beer on coasters made of $20 bills.

my band drinks way more than we make at any show at any given time...after almost 2 years...we can afford hats shirt and buttons...

wooohoooo

sean
7of9
son of 7of9
sean@sevenof9.com
ackthpppbt1@aol.com

Why do you play music on this scene...

writing, composing, practicing, jamming and performing music is one of the biggest joys in my life

sharing your own musical creations with other people and having them appreciate it is an awesome feeling

being on stage in front of a group of people provides a rush unlike any drug could ever deliver to the brain

$$$ is just an added bonus

I think webmonkey is absolutly right on this one. Those are the first and main reasons why we play. The money thing is good, but yeah we do drink our share.

But when it comes to the money that we make at a show, we always pool it together, and try to use it to buy merch. for the band. Since we started this its worked out great. We've been able to afford to get a mixer, buttons, some practice time at bleeding eardrum, now t-shirts, etc. To me that's the best way to go when you earn some extra cash at a bar.

oh... I thought this thread was an offer.... bummer.

We've played for beer a lot. Benefit shows, other bands' cd release shows, weekday opening for touring bands; those are all shows where we don't expect any money. We are cool with that if we know what we are getting into.

If our band didn't ever money though I'd have to quit. It needs to at least pay for itself. I mean, I have a kid. I couldn't justify the time spent being in a band if it also cost money. I actually think that trying for money has made us a better band. Having goals like "we need x amount for a new PA, recording time, etc." It's made us organized, motivated, dedicated. In fact my entire income, with the buttons and stuff, all started from trying to make the band more money or at least save us some. Having buttons and shirts and a web site and a cd with a bar code... it's all part of the deal for me.

I don't expect to get rich (I got into this for the ladies actually). But I draw the line at losing money.

How much beer are we talking about though?