From dougb415@yahoo.com Mon Oct 28 12:50:24 2002
Subject:Re: OT return on investment


--- Dan Sevush wrote:
> As we make jokes about our Gear Acquisition Syndrome
> I'm wondering how many of us see a financial return
> on our investment and
> just how much of that return is in satisfaction
> (sound, playing, etc.)

I bought an Alesis QuadraSynth Plus back in '96, still
use it, and at the time was playing in a band that was
making anywhere from $100-300 per weekend per member.

I moved out to California, took a year or so off from
playing, then in Jan '99 bought a new VK-7 (and a used
Peavey keyboard amp) because I could not handle the
organ patches on the Alesis... and because I was
living in Marin County, I also wanted my rig to sound
as good as possible. I also bought a brand-new KBR-M
in Sept 2000. Add a few odds and ends here and there,
ot all came up to around $3000 that I've spent in the
past 3 years.

However, I was not prepared for the extreme low
financial return on investment (ROI). There are so
many musicians and bands in the Bay area that many
clubs will just allow you to play for the tip jar and
whatever comes in at the door - IF they charge a
cover! I've made as little as $2.00 for playing a full
4 hr gig with some of the jam bands I was in. Sure, it
was great playing with a lot of those guys, but there
was no money to be made. So I quit most of those bands
and now I play in a band that does weddings, etc and
while the jams aren't there, we do play some cool
funky oldies, and we're actually making some money - I
usually come home with anywhere from $250 - $400 per
gig. That's more than what some of my other bands made
for an entire year ;-)

The funny thing is, the bands that play for
practically nothing do not seem to have an issue with
making nothing - they're "artists" (yeah right), and
somehow the notion of making money does not even occur
to them. It's almost like they wear it as a badge of
honor.... "If I want to make money, I'd play in a
Holiday Inn band" is a direct quote from one of those
guys. That attitude has always floored me... they
certainly would not do their day jobs for free, but
they'll think nothing of hauling gear, setting up,
playing for 3-4 hours, tearing down, getting home at 4
a.m.. maybe taking a vacation day if the gig is on as
Thursday... and then have nothing to show for it.
Amazing.

-Doug

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