I can make money playing originals?! WHAT?!?!?!?

[Neil Folkard]

So. I'm that guy who took up bass playing pretty late (at 50) and have worked hard to become at least a passable player. As I do okay with my day job, and I'm just wired that way, I've only ever been interested in playing originals.

Now, I just got used to the fact that this would always equal zero to very little money and a free drink, maybe, at best and I have been completely okay with that. What makes it satisfying to me, is to hear people actually cheering (more than polite applause), even wanting encores for music that I helped to create. It's an amazing feeling.

The fact that many here like to play in cover bands and make money is very cool, and IMO anyone playing live music is winning.

Lo and behold, I recently joined a new power trio and we are actually getting paid, so far, at gigs. Not that much, certainly...$60 here, $80 there, but at least enough to cover the gas to get to the venue.

And people have responded really well to our material, to boot. I guess that I just want to say that I feel lucky and happy about this. And quite surprised, haha.

 

[BatBasstard]

Yup. It’s totally possible. It just takes a ton of work and determination

 

[WG Plum]

Last regularly gigging band I was in could pull in $600 to over $1k depending on the venue. Never saw a dime as it went to recording costs and the unemplyed BL who did all the 'networking.' Never having seen any accounting I don't know what really happened to all the money we generated.

Regardless, you can definitely make money playing originals depending on genre and location.

 

[ArtechnikA]

I agree anyone getting paid to make music is winning.
I'm not even looking to split economic hairs by asking if less than net-zero is 'making money.'
There are lots of people making great money playing originals and by lots we mean literally dozens...
It is a lot of work and that's just to build a critical mass of followers to get you to where the real money lives - publishing and merchandise...
There is money to be made in live performance, but you need to appeal to age 15-25 women or high-earning professionals.
Just ask Taylor Swift and Eagles. And those are huge-money productions that I'd guess don't net as much as you'd think.
It seems to be pretty easy to get out over your skis once you get a taste of success. Stay grounded financially and read all of Martin Atkins' books.

 

[TheReceder]

IMO, it's as much about being a salesman as it is a musician. If you're good, (or very lucky), you'll write music that appeals to the demographic you draw.

A perfect example... Oliver Anthony, although, I'd say he was on the lucky side.

 

[Neil Folkard]

IMO, it's as much about being a salesman as it is a musician. If you're good, (or very lucky), you'll write music that appeals to the demographic you draw.

A perfect example... Oliver Anthony, although, I'd say he was on the lucky side.

Bizarrely, we keep getting asked back to play at a club that books a lot of metal bands...even though we are not that. A lot of these band have growling vox even. But, for whatever strange reason, they seem to like us and we get our cut of the door money and have supported a few acts on tour. By no means big acts, but it's still pretty cool how welcoming and supportive other metal bands seem to be.

 

[51PRI]

So. I'm that guy who took up bass playing pretty late (at 50) and have worked hard to become at least a passable player. As I do okay with my day job, and I'm just wired that way, I've only ever been interested in playing originals.

Now, I just got used to the fact that this would always equal zero to very little money and a free drink, maybe, at best and I have been completely okay with that. What makes it satisfying to me, is to hear people actually cheering (more than polite applause), even wanting encores for music that I helped to create. It's an amazing feeling.

The fact that many here like to play in cover bands and make money is very cool, and IMO anyone playing live music is winning.

Lo and behold, I recently joined a new power trio and we are actually getting paid, so far, at gigs. Not that much, certainly...$60 here, $80 there, but at least enough to cover the gas to get to the venue.

And people have responded really well to our material, to boot. I guess that I just want to say that I feel lucky and happy about this. And quite surprised, haha.

That's great!

 

[micguy]

My favorite memory of one of my all original bands is the guy who came up and told us "I liked that Blondie tune". When that happens, the correct response is always "thanks" - and no more. If someone likes something you did, no matter how mistaken they are about details, you say thanks and move on - when you're playing to dozens of fans, you can't afford to alienate any of them.

 

[Killing Floor]

IIRC The Knack and Cindi Lauper and MTS and maybe some other people have made money from originals. Let me know who I skipped.
I paid for most of my engineering degree from originals.

Plus in the end of days we’ll all be judged by how we respond when someone wants you to play Brown Eyed Girl. I can sleep in peace knowing I’m on the right side of that trial.

 

[pfschim]

cool man, go get it.

About 20 years ago, I made a decision to stop playing cover music primarily. I have been making money playing original material for pretty much all of that time. Stylistically, it's been fairly wide music style options for me ... Americana/rock, jazz/world-music fusion, Celtic Rock, "singer songwriter", etc. All of these bands have had setlists that were at least 75% original (some are full on 100% original) I've made some good money, some meh money, and everything in between, but there is definitely a market for original music played well. Personally, I've been very happy chasing these kinds of projects. I still sub in cover bands in the right circumstances (great players and/or more interesting covers)

Just keep in mind, that all cover music is original at some point .. it has to start somewhere.

enjoy!

 

[51PRI]

IIRC The Knack and Cindi Lauper and MTS and maybe some other people have made money from originals. Let me know who I skipped.
I paid for most of my engineering degree from originals.

Plus in the end of days we’ll all be judged by how we respond when someone wants you to play Brown Eyed Girl. I can sleep in peace knowing I’m on the right side of that trial.

Why is Brown Eyed Gitl the line of demarcation? There are worse songs.

 

[Scott Bland]

Why is Brown Eyed Gitl the line of demarcation? There are worse songs.

Because Brown Eyed Girl is the gateway drug to Mustang Sally.

 

[ardgedee]

Why is Brown Eyed Gitl the line of demarcation? There are worse songs.

Everyone has their own line in the sand.

 

[LBS-bass]

So. I'm that guy who took up bass playing pretty late (at 50) and have worked hard to become at least a passable player. As I do okay with my day job, and I'm just wired that way, I've only ever been interested in playing originals.

Now, I just got used to the fact that this would always equal zero to very little money and a free drink, maybe, at best and I have been completely okay with that. What makes it satisfying to me, is to hear people actually cheering (more than polite applause), even wanting encores for music that I helped to create. It's an amazing feeling.

The fact that many here like to play in cover bands and make money is very cool, and IMO anyone playing live music is winning.

Lo and behold, I recently joined a new power trio and we are actually getting paid, so far, at gigs. Not that much, certainly...$60 here, $80 there, but at least enough to cover the gas to get to the venue.

And people have responded really well to our material, to boot. I guess that I just want to say that I feel lucky and happy about this. And quite surprised, haha.

It's very rewarding to do originals and get a little pay for it. But yes, that's gas money, and when I was young I made a good living and bought a house doing covers. What you and I mean when we say "making money" are two different things, however, I'm happy to see anyone enjoying what they do with music and making it work for them. Doing originals can be a ton of fun but you have to keep your expectations in line with reality.

 

[Neil Folkard]

It's very rewarding to do originals and get a little pay for it. But yes, that's gas money, and when I was young I made a good living and bought a house doing covers. What you and I mean when we say "making money" are two different things, however, I'm happy to see anyone enjoying what they do with music and making it work for them. Doing originals can be a ton of fun but you have to keep your expectations in line with reality.

Well, of course, I'm being a tad facetious when I say 'making money'. I just relate it to the thought that I never expected to get paid anything, beyond a free cranberry juice haha, to play music that I composed and/or contributed to.

 

[LBS-bass]

Well, of course, I'm being a tad facetious when I say 'making money'. I just relate it to the thought that I never expected to get paid anything, beyond a free cranberry juice haha, to play music that I composed and/or contributed to.

It's not quite as bad as everyone makes it out to be, if your band is good. A lot of what you hear comes from people who are grinding away at this when they probably ought to be doing something else. I think if you assemble a tight group of competent players and you write good songs, you'll find your audience, and you'll find that they'll reward you.

 

[Mastermold]

My band is an "originals" band. We write our own songs, produce our own recordings, and make a little money when we play out. I agree it's much better playing concert venues than bars, but we do both. The concert venues are where people appreciate the show and that's a better scenario than a bar where no one really cares who's playing or how good (or bad) they are.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I've done it all in the past 30 years. I remember a show in upstate NY where we were opening up for ReignDance. Our drummer/BL was an affable sociopath and we were going "straight to the top". The venue owner basically didn't pay us, he offered us food then took it off the "pay"...original hard rock band.

I had a drummer a few years later who was a jazzhead. Came into rehearsals one Sunday night on cloud 9. "I just played the Blue Note!"
"What did you make?"
"$40"
...
The gas for his truck was $20 roundtrip. The tolls were at least $10 back then (GW bridge).
He got a sandwich.
Music business is hard.
I'm glad your recouping some of your expenses.

 

[Vincent Van Low]

...playing the blue note...priceless...(sounds like to him)

 

[Lance Bunyon]

...playing the blue note...priceless...(sounds like to him)

I agree! At the time everything was about the bottom line to me. I had a crap job so every penny I made on weekends in clubs actually went to my household bills.
Sometimes I forget how broke I was, dressing out of thrift shops. Buying a junk house in the ghetto for chump change.
Picking crack bags out of my "lawn".
The good old days were actually the bad old days.
I was bitter at the time because I couldn't afford the trip into/out of Manhattan from an hour Upstate.