I think most of us on SZ got to where we are the "hard way" Russ...I wasn't aware there ever was an "easy way".

If you know of one...let me know.

Ian

Ian, I know lots of folks with inherited money(mostly horse fram "brats" around here) or beneficiaries of proceeds from lawsuits who didn't do much to get what they have. The operative words in Don's case are "where he is". He's a modest old dude, but has an admirable history of successes as a Corporate communications Officer, successful club owner, publisher and, of course, musician.

It's his degree of success and modesty, I was referring to. He's one of the more successful contributors here, and deserves my recognition as a "winner" and all round great guy.

And, you're right...there isn't usually an "easy way...".

Hell, I'm trying to get Don to adopt me!


Russ

I am retired too....What ever that is....

Does retired mean you do what ever you want?

Than I have always been retired..

Personaly, I would not trade my life for any other...
I do and have done what ever I wanted to do..and never had to answer to anyone..

Family, friends, health, and faith are all in place...with no worries [knock on wood}..

Russ there is a big difference in selling the farm...and "bought the farm"..

Way to go Fran that's nice work if you can get it.

No complaints here after a 25 plus year career in sales I have 2 jobs both that were my hobbies and get paid to do them both. Yes I put in many hours on the day job but it's not work, it's my hobby. If I hit a mega lottery jackpot, I'd be home doing the same thing I show up at the office to do everyday.

On the charging more for gigs, I guess living in the smallest state in the union has it's rewards. Most gigs are well under 30 miles and many of them are at NHs that are 10 mile or less average ride from home. I play a few others in nearby Massachusetts where my day job is located. Most of the time I'm able to schedule those NHs gigs around a 2 hour lunch break.



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 06-12-2008).]

Russ, you are TOO kind! I am in a good place right now in my life. I have probably the best music job in the area, 5 nights a week. I have two of everything so I can leave my gear set up all the time, even when I have an outside job. What else: a wonderful wife who's job provides income and insurance, great kids and now grandkids, health is good, home on the golf course, and of course the Scion XB!
I left the "real world" almost 30 years ago to be a musician. It hasn't always been easy but I've never regretted that decision. It helps to have an understanding wife who stands behind you even when you mess up!

Today I have to play for the Sheriff's fish fry at 5:00, then on to the supper club by 7:00. I can make it because I don't have to move anything. I can collect my gear from the party tomorrow at my leisure. Nobody will steal it from the Sheriff's Station!

Dave, the best investment I've made music-wise was the Bose L1 stystem. The second best was an additional Bose L1 system.
My Ketron SD5 is at the supper club and I'll use either PSR900 or Midjay at the fish fry.
Main problem is I'll be expected to eat dinner twice!

Getting back to the topic of the thread--the economy could certainly have a big effect on my situation. I'm trying to keep a positive outlook and hang on as long as possible. I'm old enough to retire, but TO WHAT??? I'm already doing what I love to do.
DonM

Don. Who you kiddin? You about cleaned out that buffet at the casino when we were in Lousiana.

For those of you who have never eaten with Don, when he finishes his meal, he says something like, "Well, its time to re-load". And he comes back with another ENTIRE meal.

It takes a lot to fuel a 6'5" frame.

Eddie

Well, I have a duo and we mostly play at ethnic parties. I have notice that everytime I take out my Dodge Caravan it costs me a little more to fill up and I have thought about asking for a couple of bucks more when I book a gig. But this is the problem, we mostly play at 2 local social clubs 3 times a year, one local restaurant at time 2-3 a year (when the house music is off) and a few private affairs. Being that we are portuguese and our community is less and less every year the gigs have been less and less and now we most likely have more bands/duos/dj then actual gigs. It would be foolish to ask for more money. Since visa's are closed to european countries, you have very little people coming to the USA from europe and the younger generation doesn't really care about there backgrounds or are more americanized. So that one aspect on how the portuguese music community is making less money and the other big factor is now with all of this (gas, high food prices, many layoffs)people can afford to have parties at restaurants or go to the monthly social club affair. Twenty years ago the local social club would be booked with 500 people, now your lucky if you have 150. Last new years eve our local restuarant would have 120 people for the night, last couple of years it been less and less to the point that it was 60 for 2007/2008. so social clubs are making less and paying less and restuarant are no longer booking music because that can't afford it or the person booking the party can't afford it either. So if we take a gig we eat the gas costs.

[This message has been edited by mc (edited 06-12-2008).]

I never thought much about it until now. This line pretty much focussed my thoughts. I guess I had enough sense and "sold out" myself when I became a DJ/KJ years ago.

As far back as I can remember I was in it for the playing. I fought the DJ craze for the longest time until I realized that was where the money was going to be. So one day I made the transformation and haven't really regretted it. Especially not when bill time comes around every 30 days!

Sure I still play, but I do a bit of everything now. Yet, I really miss the days when I would walk in to an event, set my keyboard up, and dazzle everyone with fancy keyboard work....and...be treated like a member of Royalty.


As for the doom and gloom that this thread seems to be changing to, I have some good news. I played today in a very rich community for an end-of-the-year school event. They reminded me that there is still “money” in the world. They've been my client for a number of years now. Someone remarked: rich folks will pay well if you give them value for their money! And, if you don't, you're out the door.

The parallel is the class separation in today's modern world. Just as the middle class has been squeezed out, so has middle-of-the-road musicians. You now either move forward to where the money is, or fall back and swim with the sharks!

If anyone else has a different solution, I'd love to hear it. After years of entertaining, I’m not sure I have the energy anymore to move into another environment!

Hammer is correct….”What a cool thread this has become!”

Lucky

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dnj:
[B]Merciless? Hmmmmm? I dont think so.
Remember I live in this world also, I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination....I have made huge financial mistakes in my life also, BUT, thankfully I learned by those mistakes very well & changed those bad financial habits and little by little made my life more comfortable. If you cant take the truth I'm sorry for that, I mean no misfortune to anyone...just making a statement of how I perceive what the heck is going on out there in this crazy world, & hope someone will absorb what I'm saying for the better. .....it's all right there in front of everyones nose LOOK AROUND YOU !
Instead of complaining be a leader & make the required changes to better the problems.
Take care of #1 no one else will.

Have a nice day

[QUOTE]

Donny,

Maybe "merciless" WAS the wrong word. I think "insensitive" is more appropro here.

Have you considered that others who read these messages are maybe not as "enlightened" as you are in financial matters? Or that no one likes to be "lectured" no matter how many mistakes they made?

Have a nice day.

Yes...a very good thread. Thanks Hammer for getting this started.

In fairness to EVERYBODY: We all do what we think needs to be done and it is not with the intention of undercutting or killing off the competition. At least, not in my case. We just want to work and be appreciated.

Think about it. Some people buy top of the line vehicles with all the options. Others buy basic, bare bone cars at the lower priced spectrum. Why? Its all they can afford. Nothing wrong with that. A lexus dealer knows there is no reason to advertise to the Yugo crowd.

We musicians, on the other hand, can decide to cater to the Cadillac crowd..or the Yugo crowd...or BOTH.

For instance: Nursing homes come in a variety of flavors. They range from very modest to lavish. While nursing homes are not my primary clients, my rate to play them varies by what they charge THEIR clients and their ability to pay. Oh yeah...and my desire to play them.

Same holds true for the evening gigs at animal and other social clubs (some 3 hrs, some 4 hrs). The fancy country club communities will often hire their entertainment through an agency for up to 3 or 4 times what I normally charge. If they call me direct, I can double my normal fee without guilt and they feel like they are getting a bargain. If they hire me through an agency, I get a premium fee for that THAT job, but don't have the legal ability to solicit them for future work. It is a contractual thing that comes with all "agency" bookings.

On the other side of the spectrum are the mobile home communities which offer as MANY or MORE engagements, but cannot afford what I consider to be the "going price". If I don't talk to them in their frame of reference, price-wise, I am immediately dismissed as too expensive and NEVER hired.

So...the lesson I have learned is: know your prospects and decide what is the appropriate charge for each potential client..and whether you are willing to play for what they are willing to pay. I wish it was more simple. But, it is not.

It is more "art" than "science". New Years Eve commands a handsome premium every year. But if you decline the first offer because it is too low, you may not get a second offer from any other client. Some times I am reminded of the famous phrase: A bird in the hand is...." well you know the rest.

Eddie