Last night was the first of three scheduled gigs I have at a local Italian place...
http://www.lapiazzatroy.com/home.asp

...where I've been hired to play background keyboard from 6:00pm - 9:00pm. The place has my appearences noted on their website and when I arived last night, I was shown a postcard...(full color, glossy with a nice blurb about me) that was sent out to their mailing list customers. Roughly 650 people I'm told. The staff was expecting me and were friendly, welcoming and helpful. Several employees introduced themselves to me and wished me luck.

...Set up was easy...Tyros with the Yamaha small speakers...The space for me was cleared out and overall it took less than 20 minutes total to be ready to play.

Some random observations:

*The sound from the small Tyros speakers is surpringly effective. The layout of the place is a very wide hall floorplan. Three main section...one far to the left, the middle and one to the far right...Primary seating for the evening is in the middle, where I was located. Sound was optimal in the main room...hard to hear in the others.

*About 35 minutes into the gig I (once again) realize just how much of my act is based on my singing. I understood this was different going in...It actually serves a good purpose for me, additional exposure with a break for my voice, close to home...It will, over time, clearly improve my KB chops, which is always a good thing.

*The crowd was supportive in a reserved way. A few tables stopped by on the way out and complimented the music...I also saw several smiles and nods in my direction. I did have one women in her early 30's who approached me and asked if I could play something from the "70's or 80's." I said "Sure, what jazz piece would you like to hear?" She couldn't come up with a title or anything so I went into Pop mode and played Daniel and Wonderful Tonight. She was happy enough to put a few singles in my tip jar when she left.

*The traditional Jazz keyboard players in my area have no threat from me whatsoever, lol...

*The place should really bill me as playing favorites, easy listening, something because while I have a few hard core jazz numbers...that's really not my bag. I can angle my songs that direction and most people THINK I'm playing jazz...but I'm not.

*Volume ranged from 10am to 1pm and was adequate all night. A little went a long way.

*I played tons of old standards, latin and some pop...

*GM was there during set up and a sound check, then left for the night. Assistant manager was very pleased at the end of the night. Comments included "Made a big difference"..."added a different vibe to the place"..."very festive" ..."You know what you're doing."

*Business was up according to the manager...not sure if it was due to the music...

*Staff open about looking forward to next week.

*Made under $20 in tips...which I think will improve over time if this turns into a steady gig.

*Not to repeat, but I always feel a little incomplete if I'm not singing. Its a comfort zone kind of thing, I'm sure for me. Like I said before, I'm a very functional piano player, however, singing is my forte.

...We'll see how the next few weeks go then meet with the GM to discuss the future, what ever that might be.

Bill in Dayton



[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 08-12-2005).]

Got to be honest .....after readung your review...Id say your not too happy and thinking you made a mistake ....I personally hate these kind of gigs although Ive done them many times thurout the years ....but I would never take them for any long period of time, 1 or 2 nites to fill in is enough....If I cant perform & be happy doing it the way "I do It" including vocals I'll turn down the gigs every time, theres too many other jobs out there which are the right venue I'd be happy with performing for much more money....in these dining situtaions I always feel like a low key,low paid, Robotic "MUSAK" Mood Machine....
Too boring & agravating for me. .....but who am I?
Anyway I hope the gig works out for you and thanx for the post.




[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 08-12-2005).]

Bill sounds like things went well for you, glad to hear it. I'll be looking for more posts from you with this gig. You may recall I'm fairly new at gigging and am not a singer(but started some voice lessons about 4 weeks ago). I've played some coffee houses recently and your comments in the quote are the type of reactions I've received as well just playing the PSR 3000.

Good Luck

Bill . Well, it sounds like things went well, even if the gig wasn't what you preferred to play ... There is a BIG difference in a performance where YOU are the attraction, as opposed to the 'wallpaper', but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy both ... As you said, this gig will help you improve your piano chops, so use it for that ... AND you can also make it more interesting for yourself by playing the same tunes with different styles/rhythmns ...
You should ask the management about advertising you as YOU want to be advertized ... If they are billing you as a 'jazz' player some less 'sophisticated' ( ) people may not want to go because of what they THINK you are going to play, and if you're not a jazz player, some jazz fans may be disappointed ...
I think I mentioned before that playing some of the more 'pop' stuff (Beatles/Elton John/Billy Joel)in bossa or latin styles often works very well ... the listener recognizes the tune, but the style fits in with the ambience of the restaurant ...

ALSO ... make sure you have your business cards prominently displayed and available ...

While Donny (with ALL due respect,God Bless him) might be in the position to turn down these types of gigs, others of us (for whatever reasons, including sheer lack of opportunity/market) may have to settle for slightly less than optimum in order to increase our following and demand ... and then who knows, maybe someday WE can turn down this type of work as well ... ...

Love ya Dnj !!!

Best of luck, Bill ... keep us posted ...
t.

Gotta' agree with DNJ, and to some degree Tony with this one. I've been turning down restaurant jobs for the past 18 months, mainly because in our area the pay just plain sucks. It's $150 for Friday and Saturday evenings, $100 fow weeknights and I'm not overly fond of cigarette smoke and drunks, which is usually the case toward the end of the night.

Good luck and I hope things go well for you,

Gary

------------------
Travlin' Easy

Bill,

I started out 30 years ago playing background music from 6 to 9 at a restaurant. I played every Friday and Saturday. It was a good gig. I didn't sing back then and it certainly helped me keep up my playing chops.

I always figured that because the tables turned over every couple of hours I could repeat songs after a couple of hours because the customers would never know.

Good Luck

Tom

..... the GREAT thing for musicians in li'l rhody is that the State has gone "Smoke free" ... we still have to deal with the drunks, but at least your not coughing when you do it ... ...
t.

Can't resist guys!

I know that Bill, Donny, Gary and many others are real pros, you all do some great stuff with your entertaining and kudos to you all, lots of respect too.

I've learned more in the last few months reading your posts than a couple of years playing gigs could have taught me. But as a newbie I'll take whatever I can and I know this is the price I probably have to pay. ( did someone say don't quit your day job? ) For a guy like me a newbie playing a lower priced gig beats just playing at home to my wife, the dog and 4 walls.

The good news is that in Rhode Island smoking is banned in all restaurants, the bad news you can't get away from the drunks. I've got a gig Sunday at a Starbucks, hopefully no one has overdosed on caffeine.

Tony, I love ya man

If people cant book better paying jobs that they really want & makes hem happy doing, there is a reason......find that reason, fix that reason, do what ever it takes to enjoy this
"Thing Of Ours" ...if ya got the product it can be done if you go about it the RIGHT way ....make it happen !!
there are many fish in the seas...
BUT DONT SETTLE FOR SECOND BEST!!

I hope I havn't offended anyone ....
Im trying to remain calm....I love my proffesion too much to see this kind of stuff happen to my fellow musicians.

Donny ... I agree with what you are saying, (and please STAY CALM ... no reason to get the BP up ) ... What I am saying is that in some locales the OPPORTUNITIES for doing what we do may be more limited, and therefore sometimes a person may have to 'settle' for something a little less just so they are playing, gaining recognition, and making some money...

... And if I had my "druthers" I would be the headline act 5 nights a week in Vegas, and since THAT ain't happening, anything else I do could be considered "SECOND BEST" ... ...
t.

Tony....If you have the product, & if you have the persistence to go after what you want and NOT SETTLE...you will succeed, the word "SETTLE" to me = "Lazy" Ive seen this many times when I talk to other players...instead of embracing our profession and taking it very seriously, especially when its your livleyhood, I see a lax in attitude, and always complaining about what they are doing, when in reality they are not doing anything about making it better for themselves.
ok now wheres my BP meds hehehe

"If people cant book better paying jobs that they really want & makes them happy doing, there is a reason......find that reason, fix that reason, do what ever it takes to enjoy this "Thing Of Ours" ...if ya got the product it can be done if you go about it the RIGHT way ....make it happen!!
there are many fish in the seas...
BUT DONT SETTLE FOR SECOND BEST!!


...I'm confused...what does that have to do with me?

*I have exactly 384 gigs booked for this year...When the last minute holiday rush is over, I expect to go over 400 performances this year.

*My client base is diversified to the point that no single client contributes more than 11.3% of my total revenues for the year. The second largest client accounts for only 8.3% of my total sales. This insulates me from suffering too much if any one client leaves for any reason.

*Total sales for the year project to be between $52k and 53k.

*When I worked in "corporate america" I made $55.5k/ yr. working upwards of 65-70 hours a week. On an average week over the last few years, I work between 35-45 hours max, with many of those hours here in my kitchen doing admin type work.

*While in coporate america, I left before my kids were up in the morning and didn't return home until they were back in bed. Now, I have major quality of life with my kids and my wife.

*My client list includes everything from Country Clubs, Weddings, Local/regional city/county P&R Depts., Hotels, Banquet centers, Animal clubs, retirement communites, churches, senior centers, private clubs, restaraunts, etc.

*My pricing is average to slightly above average in this market. I usually get $85-$120 per nursing home show, usually $125-$150 per club gig. Usually $150-$250 for private parties/civic shows...

*My rehire rate with clients is in the upper 80% range. That includes the one time only type gigs like weddings/anniversaries/etc. ...If I remove those, its over 85%...

Donnie, I respect the hell out of the business and rep you've earned over your career. I'm confused by your constant theme in response to my most recent post. The quote above...how does that apply to me I ask? I've grown my business for every year since 1997 when I took it full time. I haven't "settled" for just one type of client base...I've purposely gone after a variety of clients to protect my revenues. I have bookings through 2007 already...It seems to me that I work a good bit. If anything, the restaraunt gig I posted about in the first place is a testament to me NOT sitting on my laurels and exploring new ways to market my business. It's on a night that suits me, it's less than 4 miles from my home and requires no singing...$100.00/tips/dinner for three hours work is very fair for this area.

As others have pointed out, many things are relative in our business. I believe that. I think to paint what's settling or not settling requires too broad a brush for me. Perhaps there are performers higher up the food chain in your area that feel you're selling out? Would they be right? Probably not...you've found a certain niche that works efficiently for you and what's wrong with that?

...Not a thing.

As far as the kind of gigs you deem appropriate and what I deem appropriate, well, again its relative. One important fact to consider. I did some research on the internet to see how similar our areas might be.

According to census information from 1995...(that was the most recent year I could find for both areas)here's the size of the market we're dealing with:

South NJ Metro population-5.1 Million
Dayton Metro population-950 Thousand

South Metro NJ household income-$69,746/yr
Dayton Metro household income-$27,423/yr

...Your market is over FIVE TIMES what mine is. You have five times more country clubs, upscale venues, etc. You also have 5 times the competition, I suspect. Look at the household income numbers...Dayton is surrounded by FARMERS on all sides. Again, I respect what you've been able to do in your area. I hear you constantly putting down jobs that you don't feel pay enough...and if I were in your area, maybe my prices would be low...But here in the sleepy midwest of Southwestern Ohio, I think I have it pretty good.

...I feel I am passionate and driven with my music business. There is an artistic element to my business and there is a business side to my business.

...I'll bet the ranch that Donnie feels, rightfully, the same exact way. Seriously gang, the information we can benefit from with each other is staggering. Noone has been aided more than me from the members on this board. Donnie has personally always been a great source of suggestions and help. To me, he is one of the "old hands" on this board. However, anytime you're inclined to make a judgement call on another areas wages or gigs, remember, everyplace is unique to itself. Some things are similar...some things just aren't.

Bill in Dayton

Bill, first of I never talk personal income with anyone in person or online...next my replies & opinions are my own and I express them here because that’s what the forum is for whether they are good or not. What I read is what I perceived from your original post & I responded accordingly.
Im a believer in quality vs quantity so yearly gig totals don’t impress me. I know your a hard worker and a passionate musician judging by your posts & I embrace that very much as I do any brother musicians efforts if they are heartfelt. But when I see the things I talked about in my previous post & I’m not saying that it's you, but when I viewed it in a more generalized way it irritated me, & I spoke out. You are certainly doing fine out there & that is to be commended, locality influenced or not. We all do it differently,where ever we do it, but if we don’t share our thoughts nobody benefits.
Maybe I should of left this post alone altogether...it wasn’t intended to disrespect or belittle anyone, just wanted to bring it out in the open for discussion.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 08-12-2005).]

Bill in Dayton, you are doing great. About 99.9% of musicians never achieve what you have achieved -- making a living playing music.

Seems that most restaurants that would have a musician such as yourself are not gonna pay as well because they don't have the income. So, you're doing fine there. You either take or leave it.

And very few people have the chops to play piano alone. I don't! My hats off to you.

Accomplishing what you have done in Dayton, Ohio is amazing. Thank you for posting your experiences.


------------------
Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

Bill, I commend you for your ability to see beyond just the money with this restaurant gig, appreciating the other important benefits that this gig appears to be offering you.

1. FREE advertisement, publicity, & promotion of you via the restaurant's mailings

2. Actually getting PAID to work on and improve your solo keyboard chops.

3. EXPOSURE to an expanded audience to garner an even larger fan base & following, of which can reap even MORE of those 'high paying' choice private party/event bookings.

Bill, for those with less than adequate solo piano playing ability this sort of gig might not be suitable, but with your obvious instrumental keyboard solo competence, this looks to be a good opportunity to not only further hone your keyboard chops, but broaden audience exposure and land a lot more of those lucrative private party gigs as well. The great thing is that it's so close to home, on a weeknight, and that you're actually getting PAID for the educational & promotional benefits it offers. As musicians, it's far too ez for us to simply rest on our laurels. I admire your interest in exploring different avenues of gig opportunity & continued desire to improve your keyboard musicianship as well. If this gig continues to provide this for you, I believe it's well worth your time & effort. Good luck and thanks for keeping us posted. - Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 08-13-2005).]

The key is to do what is personally satisfying and what meets your personal goals.

Differences here are mostly semantic.

Bill is right in his reference to the influence of average income and population as far as they affect available work and rates.

DNJ is right in his reference to not "rolling over" and just accepting whatever is offered in compensation.

In my area, there is tremendous pressure by "marginal" players to play my $150.00 restaurant jobs for $75.00. If a club owner dosen't know the difference between good and marginal performances, there's not much else to do but find better venue.

I LIKE upscale restaurant jobs (oops, almost said "GIGS"...sorry, UD). I've worked restaurants in the summers for over 14 years. That gives me access to people who hire entertainment for much higher paying corporate, government and other private jobs, and to the organizations that hire me for film and graphics work.

There's also an art to doing it right...the right tunes, volume, etc. I don't mind being "walpaper", because you can practice on someone else's nickel. Also,playing a wide variety of requests is rewarding (read good TIPS).

Everyone must set their paramaters and figure out how to make it work. I don't play bars, nursing homes or country music, use a tip jar or sell CD's...nothing against any of the above...it's just not for me.

The key is to be professional, always keep learning and improving and enriching lives with your abilities.

Keep the music "HAPPENING"!

The best, always,

Russ