From tonysounds@yahoo.com Fri Mar 27 07:09:43 2009
Subject:Was A Musician's Response, really IS: how has our profession kept up?
Thanks Simon, this is really what I think this whole issue is about: how has the earning potential of musicians kept up with the economy, and the earning potential of other professions? I don’t think the musicians union has done anything for musicians here; it (the union) has never been involved in any gig or recording that I’ve done in my 47 years of life; it has never offered me a competitive insurance plan, it has never offered me any benefits, and it has never guaranteed me a wage or a job or found me a gig. It hasn’t prevented me from working either. I don’t see the musicians union as a factor in my business at all: it is absolutely impotent. Maybe it’s different in other parts of the country or the world? I don’t know, so please share with us!
So how do your musician earnings (or your band’s earnings) compare with the earnings of say 10 or 15 years ago, if you were gigging that long ago? (I don’t know your age, so this may not be an answerable question.) Allan is right, regardless of the genre, the money paid to gigging musicians has stalled….at 1985 levels. You might think I’m exaggerating, but I think folks would tell you that I am not. When I was playing bars as a 21 year old in 1983, my band was pulling down $1200/$1500 per show on the high end and $750 on the low end. Many talented bands here in Chicago would be happy to make that now. Most musicians doing weddings/corporate events are actually making LESS money than they were in 1990.
So Simon, and those of you in other places in the world, how are things? As our industry is really an ancillary business to the Bar/Banquet Hall/Hotel business, the economy is obviously a major factor in what we are paid, but it’s not the only factor. Changing trends in health awareness (less drinking/alcohol awareness/fitness) affect alcohol consumption, which is very tied to our earnings; while expendable income on luxury items (buying music, ticket prices/cover charges for live music) has impacted us, so have changing entertainment trends like hip hop and rap, video games (not just keeping people at home, but many bars no longer having live entertainment, but Guitar Hero and Rock Band competitions), karaoke, etc.
What coping strategies have you developed to maintain your earnings?
"The meek shall inherit nothing." -FZ
"Hitting 'play' does not constitute live performance." -T
www.myspace.com/tonyorant
--- On Fri, 3/27/09, Simon Beck wrote:
From: Simon Beck
Subject: Re: [CWSG] Re: OT: A Musician's Response To The National Right To Work Committee
To: CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, March 27, 2009, 8:39 AM
Well, my 10-piece ska/funk band The Skanx (www.theskanxband. co.uk) have been earning enough money gigging to buy our own PA system, and I have a gig tomorrow depping on bass (I'm a multi-instrumentali st) with a Blues Brothers tribute band for which I'll get £50 - £100. So yes, things are OK here. Come on over - maybe this is the place...
Simon
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