book a band!

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

I received this in an e mail.

Just another gig...


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A lady called the Los Angeles musicians union to inquire about the cost of booking a five-piece band with a singer for a wedding...

The AFM rep says "Off the top of my head, roughly two thousand dollars"...

She says "WHAT? FOR MUSIC ?"...

The rep responds, "Ma'am... I'll tell you what. Call the plumbers' union and ask for six plumbers to work from six to twelve o'clock on a Saturday night. Whatever they charge you, I'll work for half of that."



She called back and took the five-piece band with singer.

[Dave Nutt]

Thats priceless Billy, absolutely priceless.
If we had all said that over the years a musicians wages would have now been worth having.

Dave.

[Ken Byng]

It's not just the time spent at the venue. It's the travelling that gets me. 12 hours in total away from home some days

Ken

[Dave Nutt]

Two weeks ago I was asked if I was interested in a gig up in North Wales, it required me travelling from South Wales, not the best of roads,certainly no motorway. Best driving time I could have made was 4 hours each way (allowing for speed cameras) then there was the gig, at a holiday/caravan park on the coast near Rhyl - 3 x 45min spots kicking off at 8.30 finishing approx 12.00. At a minimum that would have required leaving home at 3.00 p.m. and getting back around 5.a.m. the next day. plus some grub, at least £40 in fuel.

How much?? £250 to be shared between the trio and myself, great hey?

Needless to say- I had a night at home.
I love playing my steel, and even after almost 40 years of playing I still get the buzz from live work, but that is just taking the p***s

Is there an answer?

Dave.

[STEDDIE EDDIE]

Dave, i suppose you could always move to rhyll? would save you loads on petrol and travelling time
seriously, when you divide the money by the hours you spend away from home, take out food, fuel and of course wear and tear on your car, you would often be on an hourly rate of less than the minimum wage, and thats not to mention upkeep of equipment,

[Dave Nutt]

Heya Eddie, Hope your well.
I guess if I did move to Rhyl,then their bookings would be down here in Swansea.lol
We have to love it mate,there's definately no other reason for doing it.
I wonder how many steelies in the UK and Ireland could honestly say they can make a reasonable living, (enough to pay the mortgage,feed the kids, run a car) from playing steel guitar alone? not many I bet.

[Ken Byng]

Dave

The band I used to play in last year took a gig in Rhyl. They are based in Oxford so they are much closer than I am in Southampton. I refused to do it as Southampton to Rhyl and back would have meant that I would have ended up with £30.00 after paying for fuel and overnight accomodation. If I want to work for next to nothing then I would prefer to do it closer to home. I left shortly after that. Some of the guys in the band have only been playing for a short while so the attraction of playing long distance gigs hasn't worn off for them. I've been there and done it. We used to get £500 a night in the late 1970's, and yet clubs won't pay much more than that now for a band.

I have a very well paid day job these days, so I can afford to turn down gigs that I don't want to do. 30 years ago when I was pro, I used to take every gig that was going regardless of where it was because fuel costs were not prohibitive. Those days are long gone.

Billy. The moral of the story ? Be a plumber during the day and a musician at night.

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Ken,
Strangely enough I play steel like a plumber
The pipes the pipes are calling.

[Uncle Roy]

Hey Ken, Come and push a paintbrush around with me , worth £10 hour and of course 20% of that goes to tax. If only I had only been a plumber

[Donny Johnston]

I've heard about your painting, you are a plumber.