I've always been pretty picky when it comes to where I play:

* No private jobs for businesses/organizations that use unethical practices. That includes some investment firms, law offices, a few manufacturers and others.

* No establishments where there are frequent fights. A "country" country club around here is # 1 on the list.

* No nursing homes for reasons I've already explained.

* No places where the clientel likes/wants country or Buffet music.

* No places where the help in mistreated.

* No public places that draw the undesirable element of the community. Some of these places are high dollar and the clientel has "cash-no class".

* No places with restaurants with sanitation problems.

* Other places, depending on the mood I'm in.

I don't make all of my living playing. If I did, I probably wouldn't be so picky.

I'm also opinionated as hell, and haven't really had to look for work for years. I limit jobs to 5 a week; several in the daytime; usually of an hour duration.


What about you?


"Crotchety" ole Russ



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 04-07-2009).]

No places where smoking is allowed.
DonM

No bars/taverns.

No outdoor gigs.

No nursing homes.

Ian

Ian, I love the outdoor gigs....People are there to have a good time, it is always a casual atmosphere, always great looking girls..

Why, do you dislike the outdoors?

I understand , weather conditions come into play, and wind could be a factor with those plastic keyboards.. ..and maybe sun glare on those hard to see screens....Did I miss anything?


Smoke-free is a given for me...We finally got the message through, and do not have to put up with that reek anymore...

Nope, you didn't miss a thing, bud.

Know what you mean, Ian. Played an outside job 14 summers. got rained on, burnt up, blown all over the place. Plus, drunks kicked over equipment. One time, a kid actually pulled a Pa speaker into the pool.


Not a big fan of outdoor gigs. Or Bars.


Russ

I don't take jobs where there are stairs involved. In fact, I have a lady I need to call back for a party in her home. I did one for her last year and her home is multi level and not air conditioned. The party is in August, so I'll turn that one down.

I also don't do beer joints, places where there are fights, ect. I do higher class parties and the retirement circuit and have more than enough work.

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

Reading all this, I wonder where you DO play

I've played in bands for many many years, and we played smokey 500-people venues, bars, outdoor-festivals, huge outdoor festivals on muddy soccer fields, got our mixer destroyed by beer accidently being poured in, PA-systems wrecked, instruments ruined by rain... been there, done that. It's what they call "performing", being "out there". Risk of the job.

If you want to control who's coming to watch you play and ensure to a certain level that they will "behave", send invitations to your close friends and set a few chairs in your living room. Geezz...

Insurance and a high enough fee to make sure you can replace your instruments after a year or two heavy use, that's the key if you ask me.


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- THE DUTCH KEYBOARD FORUM
http://www.keyboardforum.nl
Happy owner of a Roland E-80 V2

God gave us the gift of music......
you know why?..

Because he wants us to share it!

stop complaining & start sharing.

Picture pushing your stuff up a steep ramp to a tiny landing at the second story that is so small you can't turn your RnR cart to get in the door. You have to tie off the cart to keep it from running back down the ramp and carry each piece into the room, reload the cart and drag it to the stage in a dripping sweat.

Now picture the end of the job and doing it all in reverse. Load the cart, drag to the exit, unload cart, tie cart on tiny landing, reload cart, untie it and try not to let it drag you and your stuff down the ramp at break neck speed.

But wait...it gets better. Just as you hit the bottom of the ramp, picture the lawn sprinklers coming on drenching you and your gear.

I won't play that place......again.

Eddie

Ahoy Captain,
I've never been dowsed with a sprinkler system, but I've played every other venue that you described.
Ciao,
Jerry

I have had 9 week off in 53 years from playing at least 4 gigs a week (since age 11), and have earned the right to be particular. If I didn't restrict the bookings for live music to 250 per year and needed the work, I'd have to change my attitude. My jobs are all horse farm parties, gigs for fortune 500 companies, country clubs, universities, financial institutions, etc.

I'll do upscale restaurants where the kind of person who hires entertainment for private functions hangs out in brief stints to maintain visibility.

Believe me, I've played them all...inside...outside...behind chicken wire...on flatbed trucks.

I don't have to do that anymore. The bulk of my playing income comes from scores I record for industrial video I produce for clients.

In younger, hungrier days, I did what I had to do to feed, raise and educate my family.
That meant playing anything I was asked to play as often as the work was available.

I don't have to do that now. For example, I wouldn't play Bad Leroy Brown or ANY Jimmy Buffet tune for anybody at any time. If I were an entertainer lke Donny, I'd "jump on it". I'm not, and probably have to settle for less money and not as much appreciation.


Luckily, there is enough satisfying work out there. I've made my choice; set my rules and have to live with the consequences.


Looks like there are others who also, as much as possible, do it "their way".


Play on, everyone, however it "floats your boat".


Russ

OK so what have we learned here from this thread?...I consider being a prof musician since the age of 14 a privilege in this world we live in.....I respect it and enjoy it. Almost NOTHING in this world makes me happier then to see people enjoy my music. If I had to do it all over again I would certainly choose doing it all over again for sure.



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 04-07-2009).]

Sometimes a thread is there only for the conversation value ...
t

Reading this thread gives me the impression we have some very persnickety performers here. I guess it's nice to have enough work to overlook the less desirable venues. And yes, I can already hear the 'but I have my standards' replies. I guess I'm just saying - it must be nice...

persnickety -[per-snik-i-tee]

adjective Informal.

1. overparticular; fussy.
2. snobbish or having the aloof attitude of a snob.

Mmmm...which performers here would give you that impression, cassp?

Just curious.

Ian

certainly not you nor I...

Since coming on this forum I'm quite impressed with the availablility of gigs out there and the number of you guys still doing them. Actually I'm jealous.
I've been playing for years and always to favorable response but gigs are few a far between here for live music, especially the one-man-band thing. I love the restaurant/bar ads that say "Live DJ' as thought its exciting to see someone stand there and put CD's on or play with their laptop. When it says "Dead DJ" I'm goin IN!!
I'm retiring from teaching this year and would love to play a few gigs a week.
Where do I have to move to????

Bill NJ

Persnickety... Got to remember that one LOL

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- THE DUTCH KEYBOARD FORUM
http://www.keyboardforum.nl
Happy owner of a Roland E-80 V2

Don't worry, son, we'll remind you.

Persnickity? Guilty as charged! It's the same thing as being an old Fart set in his ways. Or, being the "standard bearer" and not selling out! It's the difference between being primarily a musician instead of putting the emphasis on being an entertainer.

Whatever floats your boat...whatever works.


This works for me,


R.

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 04-08-2009).]

Bill, there are probably lots of jobs around you, you just have to look for them and maybe adjust your thinking just a little. I, and a lot of guys here play retirement communities. These jobs are short, usually one hour although the big places schedule regular dances that are longer. The pay is good, $100.00 to $150.00 per hour and they are really fun jobs. Also, family members are often present and ask for business cards. I get quite a few private parties this way. You might not have considered this before, but I and many others find this market very lucretive and rewarding.

Joe

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Songman55
Joe Ayala

Russ, Guilty as charged? That's not a bad thing. It was only an observation. Play on!