How much do you gig? [POLL]

[tb-player]

So I screwed up. I didn’t include a poll on my How many TBers do not gig? thread (Sorry!)

So I’m gonna try something. Here’s the poll thread many of you have been asking for. You can vote but also make a comment so everyone will see this thread. If we get enough responses, maybe an admin can merge the two threads and we’ll have achieved success, in a roundabout way.

(Something tells me this is not going to work )

 

[G On Bass]

Back in the day, I had a self-imposed goal of gigging no more than once a month, with an occasional twice-a-month thrown in. The break that Covid has forced on us has made me realize that playing in the-same-old-tired-ass-songs Classic rock bands (that always tend to have at least one really weak link) just to get out and play is now a chore and not remotely satisfying. So I'd rather do 2-4 really good gigs a year in an originals project than pack a tiny stage in a dive bar in a crappy band once a month or so. There are already plenty of bands of that caliber filling the dive bar niche in my area...YMMV

 

[1st Bass]

If church counts, then weekly, for the last 20+ years, plus Christmas parties, weddings, etc. Not for pay, so maybe it doesn’t count?
Besides, I am only playing a MIK Breedlove 12-string, not a bass.

I build the occasional double bass, which is why I ended up on Talkbass at all...

 

[Nedmundo]

Since my last band dissolved in 2018 due to the leader’s untimely passing, I’ve played two memorial show in his honor and one impromptu set at a private party, but that’s it. I would like to join another band, but nothing has worked out, and I think it will be difficult to find something that ticks all the boxes. I’ve started to think I might be done playing gigs, but I really do love it, so I’ll start the search again soon.

 

[2saddleslab]

Two to four gigs a month.

 

[LBS-bass]

I selected "weekly" and "a few times a month" because I usually end up with one weekend off each month but then also a weekend like this one with both Friday and Saturday booked.

Many years ago it was 3-5 times a week, which is essentially a full-time music job. It was great when I was in my 20's but at 62 I am pretty much tapped out with the schedule I have now.

 

[tb-player]

If church counts, then weekly, for the last 20+ years, plus Christmas parties, weddings, etc. Not for pay, so maybe it doesn’t count?
Besides, I am only playing a MIK Breedlove 12-string, not a bass.

I build the occasional double bass, which is why I ended up on Talkbass at all...

Church technically counts in my mind. However 3-4 songs a week vs 30+ is a different kind of gig. I do/have done both, but the 30+ tune gigs require much more of me than the few, similar (I vi IV V) church tunes per week.

 

[feterpatch]

Pre-covid my band gigged once or twice per month. We have not played out since March of 2020. I miss it dearly even if it is just a rock cover band. For well over 40 years I have been very fortunate to play in bands with both talented and professional minded members. Most of the horror stories I read on TB are foreign to me. I'm one of those weirdos who will still pack an SVT into a dive bar, play for 50 appreciative audience members, and end the night with a smile on my face. Yep, load out sucks but I don't care. Can't wait to get back at it.

 

[JRA]

since retirement, before covid: ~40 gigs a year (not enough --- it could've been twice that for me!)

covid (~15 months): no playing, 3 outdoors production gigs.

since april vaccinations: i've gigged twice (playing), and i've done a half dozen PA/FOH jobs.

 

[tb-player]

Pre-covid my band gigged once or twice per month. We have not played out since March of 2020. I miss it dearly even if it is just a rock cover band. For well over 40 years I have been very fortunate to play in bands with both talented and professional minded members. Most of the horror stories I read on TB are foreign to me. I'm one of those weirdos who will still pack an SVT into a dive bar, play for 50 appreciative audience members, and end the night with a smile on my face. Yep, load out sucks but I don't care. Can't wait to get back at it.

I’ve been fortunate as well to have avoided lost if the band drama, with a few minor exceptions. But even that was just personalities crossing. Definitely makes it more worthwhile.

 

[tb-player]

Back in the day, I had a self-imposed goal of gigging no more than once a month, with an occasional twice-a-month thrown in. The break that Covid has forced on us has made me realize that playing in the-same-old-tired-ass-songs Classic rock bands (that always tend to have at least one really weak link) just to get out and play is now a chore and not remotely satisfying. So I'd rather do 2-4 really good gigs a year in an originals project than pack a tiny stage in a dive bar in a crappy band once a month or so. There are already plenty of bands of that caliber filling the dive bar niche in my area...YMMV

That’s where I ended up. Cover bands got old quick… even though we were covering Red Hot Chili Peppers and the like. My main gig for the last 7 -8 years has been a singer songwriter who will throw in the occasional Allman Bros or Joe Cocker tune just for fun. And since his originals are great, we really have the room to get creative. That’s the best part for me.

 

[two fingers]

For a couple decades I played for a living off and on. Couple hundred shows a year.

These days, I have a day job and kids. My band is perfect. We're all good friends. We're all parents with day jobs and lives outside of music. And we're all really good at what we do on stage. We gig a few times a month. We never drive more than 18 miles for a gig. And we knock em dead every time out. It's perfect.

 

[funkinbottom]

There has been many a year that I made my living playing music, but these days, a couple times a month.

Edit: Thats pre-vid. Only did 4 out door gigs this summer.

 

[jimmydean]

Have played four gigs in the past five weeks after being off the past twenty months .

 

[BOOG]

So far, this year, three community gigs to donate our time/effort in support of artistic events and two bar gigs.
Between now and the end of the year, we’re doing three other bars for a total of four dates.
Through the winter, the plan is to aggressively build genre blocks of repertoire and set up gigs for next year.

 

[tb-player]

For a couple decades I played for a living off and on. Couple hundred shows a year.

These days, I have a day job and kids. My band is perfect. We're all good friends. We're all parents with day jobs and lives outside of music. And we're all really good at what we do on stage. We gig a few times a month. We never drive more than 18 miles for a gig. And we knock em dead every time out. It's perfect.

That’s sounds perfect!

 

[Lesfunk]

150+ a year. Still going

 

[Flatwound]

Our goal is to gig 1-2x/mo. We had started gigging, and then threw out the BL. So we’re starting to work with the new guitarist tomorrow, and he seems like a quick study. Here’s hoping.

Oh, and we’re a cover band.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

So I screwed up. I didn’t include a poll on my How many TBers do not gig? thread (Sorry!)

So I’m gonna try something. Here’s the poll thread many of you have been asking for. You can vote but also make a comment so everyone will see this thread. If we get enough responses, maybe an admin can merge the two threads and we’ll have achieved success, in a roundabout way.

(Something tells me this is not going to work )

About 7-10 times a year. We’re a 12 piece band and it takes about $3-4k to get us off the sofa. Not many of those kind of gigs out there. So what do we do in the meantime? We record. We’ve put out two releases in the last year. Another is in the can for next year but still awaiting artwork, and currently working on the next one. I just had a 3 hour remote session with the engineer yesterday. Being honest, it wasn’t all about music, it was getting the technology to communicate. Man I absolutely despise Windows!!!!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Lots of gigs, very busy. Sometimes I feel I’m in over my head because I’m working with so many groups. Gotta eat somehow!