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BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money?
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Subject: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Hawker Date: 11 Mar 01 - 06:22 PM In these days when the great God money seems to rear its ugly head in all we endeavour to do I ask the question....Do you play music/sing/perform purely for pleasure or money? I sing because I love singing, I play because I enjoy playing, occasionally I get paid - but overall, I can honestly say it's definately for love and not money. I am not criticising those of you who do earn a living at it, (in fact I am probably jealous!) but I cannot imagine life without music How about you? Lucy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Rick Fielding Date: 11 Mar 01 - 06:31 PM Used to do it for love. Then did it for love and money next came money ('cause I couldn't do anything else) Then I met Mudcatter Sandy Paton Since then I'm back to doing it for love....and a little money. Love beats money any day. Rick |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: campfire Date: 11 Mar 01 - 06:32 PM I've never been paid to perform. I've paid to play at a few open mikes. Usually I sing at campfires (hence the nickname), usually with my father and some friends, and whoever shows up. I used to sing in church. I'm also not (IMO) "good" enough to consider playing a paying gig, but I sing/play purely because I want to. campfire |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: nutty Date: 11 Mar 01 - 06:35 PM Lucy .... my friends and I always did it for pleasure ( sing that is )until people started offering us money This has both advantages and disadvantages The advantages are that we now get paid for going to festivals that in the past we paid to go to but also knowing that other people get so much enjoyment from what we do is a reward in itself The main disadvantage has been that we now have to take a more professional approach to performance ..... the voices have to last over the weekend so boozy late - night sings have been curtailed ..... words have to be learnt properly ( no hamming it up in front of the mics ) ... we are now aware that people are paying to hear us - so we need to give value for money But ultimately we still do it for love |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Allan C. Date: 11 Mar 01 - 06:41 PM Either will do nicely, thank you. *G* Seriously, on the few occasions upon which I have been (under)paid, it was kinda nice to walk away with a spendable token of appreciation. But I have enjoyed the free appearances just as much. Long ago I had my car fixed at a small, independent shop. When the owner handed me the bill, I was astounded at the low price. I was so shocked, in fact, that I actually told him that it hardly seemed as though he was charging enough. "I ain't out to make no killin'" he answered. This guy really enjoyed what he did for a living and only wanted to make enough to cover expenses and pay himself a relatively modest salary. If I thought I could make a dollar or two while fly-fishing, well, I'd think it was really cool! I would feel that way about any hobby. So I guess what it comes down to is that music IS a hobby for me. If I were really expecting to rely upon it for income, then I would feel quite differently, I am sure. But even so, I still wouldn't be "out to make no killin'" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: The Shambles Date: 11 Mar 01 - 06:49 PM It is a pretty big question and one I have given a lot of thought to. I have recently had a paticipatory musical event, that was staged for pleasure, made illegal.
This is because it is generally accepted that all music takes place as paid performance.
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Bill D Date: 11 Mar 01 - 07:06 PM any time money is involved, there are expectations and what is done is affected. 'Some' can truly enjoy what they do even IF they are being paid, but make no mistake, if they are trying to supplement their income, they worry about what to play when and won't always play what they'd rather. The more famous you get, the more you get requests and are expected to play your 'hits' at every concert...or feel the need to salt your performance with stuff from your latest CD.... After I heard Brian Bowers about 3 times, I could almost do his routine for him and predict his playlist...and there are others who I KNOW have hundreds of songs, but who do the same songs year after year..... Still, we gotta pay 'em or we wont GET to hear 'em much...so...*shrug* |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: ddw Date: 11 Mar 01 - 07:11 PM Money? Some people do it for money? Damn! Learn something new every day. david |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: SINSULL Date: 11 Mar 01 - 07:14 PM For money. I am often offered money to STOP singing. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Dave Wynn Date: 11 Mar 01 - 07:16 PM Our two piece band does it for the hell....and have been for near 30 years now. Our 7 piece accapella band couldn't do it for money...no folk club pays enough and we only work FC's...our ceilidh band does it for money..only money and no other reason..and it pays.... Horses for courses....Like Rick I prefer the two piece doing it for the hell.... Spot. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Sarah2 Date: 11 Mar 01 - 07:27 PM Mostly for the love of song, the music. If I wanted to make money at it around here, I'd have to start singing "Stand By Your Man" and others "dainsible" songs. When we do get paid, I turn over my share to the local Celtic Festival group -- so they can get other musicians to come to Amarillo! It's ever so much more fun, knowing I can play and sing whatever strikes my fancy, instead of worrying about whether or not the two-steppers are happy. But I'll tell the truth: I'd rather trade songs around a campfire than Perform, any day. Even those magic nights when everyone is with us -- nah, I'd still rather be on the other side of the microphone, singing along and letting someone else think of what song to do next, what witticisms and general philosophy to share while re-tuning. I guess I do it 'cause we're the only Irish/Scottish/general folk music show in town. Sarah |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: hesperis Date: 11 Mar 01 - 07:51 PM "Anything worth doing is worth doing for money." That's one of the few Ferengei Rules of Acquisition that I agree with. But I really don't agree with the whole money system. Of course, right now, there isn't anything better than the system we're using... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: DancingMom Date: 11 Mar 01 - 08:35 PM Once upon a time I planned to do it for money... life didn't turn out that way. When I came back to singing it was for the love and pleasure of it. I wouldn't even want to think about life without music, except to express gratitude for its existence. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: MMario Date: 11 Mar 01 - 09:01 PM I sing for the love of singing - but will gladly take any cash that comes my way. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 11 Mar 01 - 09:29 PM I've been playing (guitar and now banjo) and singing folksongs for about fifty years, and until recently could say I'd never made a dime at it. I said that, in fact, at a picnic recently, and a woman I knew got into her purse and gave me a dime! WAHOO!!!! I'm a professional! Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Justa Picker Date: 11 Mar 01 - 11:02 PM I play for free, but the autographs are 10 bucks a pop. :-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Ebbie Date: 12 Mar 01 - 12:00 AM When we play for a wedding, we have always returned the money as a wedding gift. It's fun to do it that way. And it also lets us stop at a fairly reasonable hour. I remember one time we played six hours at a post-wedding dance with only one break and eventually all we wanted was to go home. If we knew that playing longer would be reflected in more money it would have been much less fun. This way we presented the wedding couple with the money and in return they presented each of us the next day with a potted blooming plant. For dances of other kinds we usually add the money to a pot that accumulates over time to be used for a better sound system or sometimes to cover ferry travel to an out of town gig. Generally only those of us in the band who have incurred expenses (copying music, storage, etc) have accepted money to take home. Except one time when I played with a group formed expressly for a barn dance and there were only three of us, we all took our money home. And that was fun too. As I've gotten older I've found that for me jamming is where the most pleasure is. Second is the various nursing homes. Talk about a high seeing those oldsters get up and dance! Ebbie |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Little Hawk Date: 12 Mar 01 - 01:01 AM I do it for pleasure. I am agreeably surprised when I get any money for my efforts, but I do appreciate it very much. I profoundly admire anyone (such as Rick Fielding, for example) who is dedicated enough to actually make a living playing folk music. It's not easy, but I'm sure it's very rewarding. - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: alison Date: 12 Mar 01 - 02:39 AM Both.... I love what I do... and reckon when that love goes... then I need to find something else, or a new angle..... the money helps pay the bills *grin* slainte alison |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Gervase Date: 12 Mar 01 - 05:22 AM I used to play in the ceilidh band for money but, as nutty says, that brings with it all sorts of problems - like bitching as to how me we negotiate for a gig, what the split should be, how much gets invested in new equipment. Not to mention the feeling that we have to remain sober and unstoned as far as is possible. We did break that rule once, though, at a gig for the South Norfolk Conservative Association (MP John Selwyn Gumdrop), where the punters turned up in Woolworth's cowyboy costumes and we though "F*** it!" and got wasted and played as loud and Poguishly as we could. The punters didn't seem to mind - even when they were remined how cheap potent music was, and even when Dave, the bassist, came over loud and clear on the PA just as Gummer was about to talk bollocks: "F*** this - I'm not sitting here listening to this a***hole - who's coming outside for a large spliff!". A dim breed, your rural Tories. Not bad payers, though. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: KingBrilliant Date: 12 Mar 01 - 05:58 AM I do it for pleasure. I wish I could do it for money - then I wouldn't have to do what I currently do for money. Which would be nice. But if wishes were horses I'd probably end up with lovely roses...... Kris |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Murray MacLeod Date: 12 Mar 01 - 07:40 AM Gervase, please forgive me for not being amused by your anecdote. If you had a problem playing for a Tory Party beanfeast, then you should have declined the gig in the first place. If you accept an engagement for money, whether from the Tory Party, John Birch Society or the KKK you at least owe the client a professional performance. Murray
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Lady McMoo Date: 12 Mar 01 - 08:54 AM I started off doing it for pleasure. Then I did it for a few years for the money as well. What with a full time job as well, the pressure of three gigs a week removed a lot of the pleasure, and the money from the gigs was not enough to support a family. So I'm back to doing it primarily for the pleasure of it with the odd selective paid gig once in a while...and I feel much better again! Still...I'd love to be able do it all the time as a job... (dream on mcmoo!) mcmoo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: John P Date: 12 Mar 01 - 09:34 AM We get paid for it -- but it sure as hell doesn't pay enough to make it worth it if we weren't also doing it for pleasure. We've stopped taking gigs that have nothing to recommend them except money. But we also don't go out to play unless we are getting paid a fair bit for it. I can have as much fun getting together with friends and playing in the living room. The type of music we play (Euro/Appalachian/Medieval fusion) will never pay us enough to earn a living, but it is a nice addition to the income from our jobs. John Peekstok |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Kim C Date: 12 Mar 01 - 11:33 AM I second MMario on this. I once had a lady throw her arms around me and thank me for singing. It was the end of the day and Mister and I had been performing for tour groups at a historic site for several hours. Free. (I think we got food.) We were tired. But that was some of the best pay I ever got. One night we were hanging out with some friends and we played an original song that made my friend Patrick cry. Well, it's not that I delight in making people cry, you understand, but it touched me that something I created meant that much to him. My brother sings in a Native American drum group. We were over at my mom's last weekend, and he said, see, both your kids grew up to be performers. But what you don't know is that we'd still do it even if nobody was watching. And he was right. That being said, we do take money. If travel is involved, we can't afford to go in the hole just for fun. A little practicality has to enter in somewhere. Locally, we play for food an awful lot, which is fine with me, and usually we can sell tapes so that works out pretty well. If people want to show their appreciation with money, I'm not going to argue. But I ain't out to make no killin, either. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: GUEST,Russ Date: 12 Mar 01 - 11:55 AM I have performed for money and I find it more trouble than it is worth. As a "folk" musician I don't see how I could ever make enough money to make it worth the hassle if I were doing it only for the money. If, on the other hand, I could make the kind of money Britney Spears makes, I'd be willing to forget love and do some serious compromising. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Pseudolus Date: 12 Mar 01 - 11:56 AM I think the real question for me is, if the money wasn't there any more, would I still do it......yes I would. In fact I only started getting money for playing around 5 or 6 years ago. I do still play for free though. I play at my kids' school, some nursing homes and an occasional wedding for a friend. Not to mention that free Paltalk concert on March 22nd, but I won't mention that 7:00 concert on the 22nd because that would be shameless advertising in a thread that was clearly not meant for that purpose!! *BG* Frank |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: GUEST,JohnB Date: 12 Mar 01 - 12:27 PM You have to do it for the love when there are eight of you. No one wants to pay more for eight than they do for one, certainly not 8X$. Being paid though has probably caused more problems with our group than not being paid did. I guess our last gig will be April 7th. It does give you an easy cut off point as to whether you do a gig or not. JohnB |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Maryrrf Date: 12 Mar 01 - 12:57 PM I have done both. Back in the eighties I was a single mom having a hard time making ends meet. I could only work hourly jobs which didn't pay a lot because my kids had health problems - both had asthma and one has hemophilia as well - and I had to take lots of time off from work. I started singing in bars and pubs and then got a job as a strolling guitarist in a Mexican restaurant, which lasted a couple of years. (One of my areas of interest is Latin American folk music and I speak fluent Spanish). It was fun but exhausting. I had no mike and had to belt out songs from 7:00 to midnight Friday and Saturday, and from 12:00 to 4:00 on Sundays. I had a lot of fun but also got worn out and instead of picking up the guitar when I was at home and playing for relaxation I was always feverishly trying to learn songs patrons had requested. What used to be fun and relaxing got to be WORK. Then I got on my feet financially and went back to playing for fun. Now I am paid sometimes and like it well enough, but if it's any kind of a charity event or festival I donate my performance as part of my contribution. I mostly do Irish/celtic although I don't limit myself to that. As many mudcatters have said, we're not likely to make much money doing traditional music, so I only do what I enjoy. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Mrs.Duck Date: 12 Mar 01 - 01:39 PM Sadly noone has ever offered me money. I'm sure I'd gladly accept it but can see that it would alter the way in which I sing or maybe not-anyone like to give me a try?? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Clinton Hammond Date: 12 Mar 01 - 02:08 PM "no hamming it up in front of the mics" ????????? Damn! now I gotta find a new job!!! I count myself lucky... I'm one of the few guys I know who loves goin' to work... Even if most of my gigs are just pub gigs... I'd be playin' anyway, so I'm fortunate to have found a few stone-deaf pub owners who think they enjoy my music and are willing to pay my rent/food ect to have me play in their pubs... It's one sweet deal kids! ;-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Inukshuk Date: 12 Mar 01 - 02:39 PM |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: JeZeBeL Date: 12 Mar 01 - 02:58 PM I play for the love and enjoyment of playing, but it comes in very useful if you are a poor student and have no money left.......set urself up on the streets of Newcastle or York n ur sorted..........a few hours later I'd have plenty of money to go out with that nite, or at least get home from the city centre!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Jim the Bart Date: 12 Mar 01 - 04:05 PM I always play for the love of playing - it's getting me to show up that costs. And the cost of showing up is adjustable. If I like you, or your establishment, or your cause, or your occasion, or if you're feeding me, or etc. I may well show up for free. If I have to get all dressed up, and drag around a lot of equipment, and spend time in a room with people that I normally wouldn't abide, it could cost you a tidy amount, indeed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Mooh Date: 12 Mar 01 - 04:07 PM A fair wage for live music has not kept pace with the increases afforded to most other employment sectors. Blame it on whatever you like; DJ's, karioke, disco, muzak, other mediums, competition, related profit margins, performance quality, etc. This has forced some of us out of the full time music business, but I suspect this sort of thing waxes and wains with the times. I do it for money and pleasure. Though even for the "free" gigs one should try to get expenses covered by passing the hat or something. Charitable gigs are done at my expense. I qualify free gig assistance to musician friends as free, though I can't remember not being offered at least something. Sometimes being paid in fun is good enough, but I wouldn't want to do it all the time because I still have to pay for strings and travel and such. This, of course, only applies to gigs. Jams, sessions, and lessons are another matter. Mooh.
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Mountain Dog Date: 12 Mar 01 - 04:12 PM When it comes to playing, I do it strictly for pleasure; my own, my wife's, our friends'. (Writing is what I do for money, as well as for pleasure, to be sure. That's where I have the sort of chops I'll never acquire in the realm of music.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Kim C Date: 12 Mar 01 - 04:23 PM that was good, Inukshuk. Ditto. :-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Deni Date: 13 Mar 01 - 01:46 AM My husband and I have always played for both, but since re-discovering folk music love comes into it more and more. I spent years in a sequinned top singing disco, and pop and rock and classics, etc.. etc.. and then I heard a tape of Irish, Scottish and Welsh trad. music and song. JOY. I stay up all night learnign songs, I read about them, and sing them at every opportunity. The best thing is that when you sing for love, it shows, and people cry when you sing. Now a few years ago, if someone cried when I sang, I would have thought it was sympathy. Now I understand for the first time how deeply music effects people, becuase it does it to me all the time. Phew! Bet you wished you hadn't asked. Scarpering before I get any more mawkish. Deni from Devon |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Troll Date: 13 Mar 01 - 01:52 AM I get paid. I'm in three different bands plus I do a single act. The money is a nice suplement to a not overly-large pension. The money is nice but really, I have no choice. I can't NOT play. But since people seem to be willing to pay me, I take their money. I'd be playing if they didn't pay me, but why tell THEM. troll |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Sarah the flute Date: 13 Mar 01 - 03:37 AM With the ceilidh bands I do it for money (one of them solely money, the other one I'd play regardless of £££). But the singing group like Spot the Dog is a cash free environment (due to the nature of the folk club circuit) and it's a lot of fun. It depends on the people you're going to play with really doesn't it !!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Mr Red Date: 13 Mar 01 - 02:00 PM I never sang till the wife left home! I daren't stop now. She got the money anyway. But I got custody of the sanity. Fair deal!!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Jim Krause Date: 13 Mar 01 - 02:15 PM Do I do it for love or money? Yes. The Gas Co. gets paid, so does the Electric Co. and the TV cable co. and the grocer, the vet., and everyone else, including the mayor of my town. So why shouldn't I? I don't think of money as filthy lucre anymore, but rather as energy, much like electricity. You open the circuit (spend it, earn it, invest it) or you close the circuit (hoard it under your mattress, or in a cookie jar.) And, I had the unpleasant experience of turning down two jobs out of state because they couldn't pay me the gas & expense of coming to their location. Tough luck, but that's life. Maybe next year, they'll have the scratch. Who knows? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: blt Date: 13 Mar 01 - 02:36 PM Well, it's an interesting question. I've performed badly and been paid (I thought at the time) an outrageous amount of money; I've played profoundly well for scant tips at noisy cafes where few could hear me; I've spent lots of money feeding copier machines to dream up new flyers, photographers to take terrible pictures, sound engineers to record at a very leisurely pace recordings I don't like-- I find I'm happiest when money is not in the equation but I don't know if that necessarily means that I'm aiming for that state of affairs. I genuinely would love to be able to play music without feeling that I was selling my soul. The problem seems to be not with me and my dreams but how the US culture (my dubious homeland)regards folk musicians and artists in general. We are, to say the least, not exactly dwelling among the pantheon of the exalted. I have learned to be realistic about making a living, supporting family--I also know that balance in context matters. Class issues are insidious. I don't think poverty is a noble state, personally, I think it's stressful, dehumanizing, and ultimately lifeless. However, excess is obscene and corrupting--so what's an honest folkie to do? Maybe I've fallen into my own trap of perceiving the world as polarized when in fact there's a range of ways of living and knowing between poverty and wealth. I seem to always struggle with this. blt |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 13 Mar 01 - 03:24 PM Clearly no-one would pay to hear me (I wouldn't pay to hear me) but they have been known to stand me drinks. Probably because I can't sing/play kazoo and drink at the same time (I'm not getting drawn into the drinking/playing thread though it is common among jazz bands in clubs if not in concerts). The audience seem to drink more as well (seeking merciful release!)if they've not left already! RtS ( a face made for radio, a voice made for mime) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Jenny the T Date: 13 Mar 01 - 03:55 PM Mostly love, I'd say. Long ago when I played guitar, we had the occassional gig for which we made tiny fees. Since I started playing strictly Irish music a few years back, I've only been a session musician. The locals are that nice that I haven't bought myself a beer in a long time, but I don't see any money--only on the occassions when I go sit in with friends' bands, or something of that nature. This St. Paddy's Day, though, I have a paying gig for myself. I look at it as the law of supply and demand--when demand is high, as it especially is for my kind of music on this day, they have to take what they can get (me!). My daughter and I are going out a-busking earlier in the day; we'll feel fine if we make our lunch money. We'll be just as happy if we don't, though. Jenny |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: GUEST,Melani Date: 13 Mar 01 - 04:11 PM If anybody wants to pay me, please let me know... Seriously, I get "paid" in so many ways that don't involve money that I couldn't possibly express them all. The enjoyment and appreciation I have gotten from the music I do is priceless. My entire life has changed for the better because of it. Although just the other day, the entire audience got up and left as soon as I started singing. I guess they all must have had a previous appointment. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: GUEST,Irishjohn Date: 14 Mar 01 - 01:53 AM Started out for pleasure then found that people would pay me to sing and play. The two are not mutually exclusive! The key is to do enough of what the audience wants to hear to keep them coming back, and enough of what you want to do to keep your sanity. Suprisingly, many times the two have become the same thing, and that is the most fun of all! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Amergin Date: 14 Mar 01 - 02:46 AM This is a slight thread creep here.....but I write for love....there is no money to be made in writing poetry.....and the lyrics I write.....no one but me sings them....plus the therapy aspect of it....helps me organise my thoughts..... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Sarah the flute Date: 14 Mar 01 - 03:41 AM The odd thing is tips - why do you always seem to get a huge tip when you think you've done a pretty average performance and get nothing when you've slaved away for about 6 hours on a crowd that needs a lot of work ??? What motivates people to part with their cash ? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: reggie miles Date: 14 Mar 01 - 07:51 PM Sarah, I know what you mean. That just happened to me the other night. I thought my performance was a bit lacking but folks were all a buzz about it. Perhaps being so involved with my work, it's an easy matter to sometimes lose perspective. Being an objective observer of one's accomplishments can be difficult. It's a good thing we have audiences from which to reap feedback. Even if the messages sent are sometimes confusing. Do I do it for love or money?.................Yep, I love to do it for love and do often play for very little or just tips but I need to do it for money. Since I've not yet earned enough to live in the style to which I'd like to become accustomed, I'll keep on doing it till either I get a break or it breaks me. So far I'm pretty broke financially, I've yet to get that big break with any kind of notoriety, fortunately, my spirit is far from being broken. Just remain standing, someone once told me. Don't give up and lay down. That's what I intend to do. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: GUEST,Catlin Date: 14 Mar 01 - 08:05 PM Pleasure...pure-d,grade A, 100% pleasure. It's the only time I ever feel as though I'm in complete control of anything, and the only time that I feel truly confident and compitent. That's why. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Callie at work Date: 14 Mar 01 - 08:17 PM My ultimate aim is only to be paid through music. Not because I can put a dollar worth on it, but because it means that I can spend more time making music and less time at my other job, (in which I spend much of my time helping other people realise THEIR visions). I would never knock back an opportunity to play if the gig organiser couldn't afford to pay. I left a commercial band because I couldn't handle paying Mustang Sally every night. I'm in the perfect band now - we make music together because we want to, and people also pay us money to play. This pays for our recording habits and an upcoming UK tour. These things couldn't be possible without the dough! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: aussiebloke Date: 20 Mar 01 - 05:44 AM I play music for love, but I happen to think that a publican shouldn't get a Folk Club session for nothing. Several thousand dollars worth of musical instruments and hundreds of years of collective musical experience walk in the door for a session. If they can pay several hundred dollars for a Rock'n'roll outfit, or worse for a 'live DJ!' they can bloody well pay us - no more going cap-in-hand to a publican and asking, please may we play in your pub? The 'hard line' approach has worked, our Folk Club has, up until recently had a weekly session for around two years at one Irish pub, and we've recently moved to another Irish pub for a better deal... It is not huge money, but the principle applies that our 'product' has value, and the publicans seem happy enough. Us folkies 'drink like fish, and we don't fight'. cheers aussiebloke |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Shall Date: 20 Mar 01 - 05:20 PM I play for love, I play for money. I do gigs for big $$$$$, little $$, and 000$.I emerse myself in music, I am singing, whistling or fiddling most of my waking hours. I don't mind playing solo on the porch with a CD in the boom box, or at the train station jam in town. I play for free at schools and on sunny days I pack up the fiddle and head to the park hoping to meet a great picker.I have hit it lucky on several days.In my free time I listen to music, check out music sites, and seek out the music of other's. I love to be entertained, sometimes I even play match maker. Introducing musicians to each other and watching the notes and sparks fly.Very cool. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: reggie miles Date: 20 Mar 01 - 07:31 PM Excellent shall |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do 'it' for pleasure or money? From: cait Date: 20 Mar 01 - 08:22 PM good heavens, what a question! *caiti* a quote: (don't feel discouraged) We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out. Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Jande Date: 20 Mar 01 - 11:23 PM Quite a question. At first I thought it was a simple one. but as I thought about it, It seemed less so. Do I do it for love? What do you mean by love? I do it because I have to do it. I do it because it is need, a kind of force majeur that one simply can't ignore for very long. Is that love? It feels that way in my relationship with my partner, too, so maye that is love. If so, yes, I do it for love. I was raised with neither love nor money, and so I find this a difficult question. there is still a deprived child in me that wants to grab at every penny, at every expression of affection, but she is learning about love, and strangely enough, about money, too. there is a relationship, it seems. I have been paid to sing publiclally. Well, paid, I think. Because I perform because I need to, and I get paid for it, I think that's a kind of miracle. Somehow, I feel better about myself being paid for my songwriting, for my singing and playing, and for my CDs. On th eother hand, I tend to to get *tense* about my musicif I feel I'm going to get paid paid for it, like someone else here said. I get into a perfectionist mode and end up not doing as well because I'm "in my head" instead of in the heart of the music. I'm gradually learning to let go of that, too. I liked what Jim Krause had to say., too. Right on. But the emotional side of it is can you do it that way? Sometimes it's hard to learn to give to yourself what you need the most and what other people take for granted. Yep. Not such a simple question... thought-provoking, though. Thanks, Hawker! Jande (Seanna Rowe) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: black walnut Date: 21 Mar 01 - 02:21 PM both ~b.w. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Hawker Date: 21 Mar 01 - 04:31 PM Amergin, Know what you mean, I have written poetry since I was a kid, my dream is some day to have a book of my poetry published, but it's purely a personal thing, not for the financial aspect. I also sing my own compositions, a recent thing for me, putting music to my scribblings.....but I have been asked by other artists if they can use my material - what a kick! Other people actually liked it! Lucy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: GUEST,e Date: 21 Mar 01 - 05:24 PM |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: GUEST,Esmond Date: 21 Mar 01 - 05:30 PM Hmmm. Has anyone noticed that the less you get paid the harder you have to work and the worse you get treated. Not an absolute rule, but generally my experience. I find the money is fairly accidental. After years of making nothing at all out of folk music, someone decides to invent Irish theme bars and all of a sudden I've got a four piece band, an agent and lots of gigs playing the same songs no one wanted to pay for during the last twenty-odd years. What I am now waiting for is English theme bars so I can make money out of the rest of my repertoire. If you sing and make money, that's fine. If you sing to make money, you probably won't and you certainly won't enjoy life - and what else is life for? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Les from Hull Date: 22 Mar 01 - 07:24 AM I've done the ceilidh band thing for money, and quite enjoyed it. But I wouldn't like it to be my life. The great thing about playing and singing not for money is that people can't get you sing to songs or play tunes that you don't want to. That's prostitution, that is! So if we are in a pub somewhere and somebody demands the Wild Rover, or the Irish Rover, or any other bloody Rover for that matter, we are justified in politely declining their request. I normally respond favourably if offered physical violence, though. Les |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: Nathan in Texas Date: 22 Mar 01 - 08:46 AM Maybe she just has to sing for the sake of the song. -Townes Van Zandt |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do you do it for pleasure or money? From: black walnut Date: 22 Mar 01 - 11:55 AM Explanation of my answer above...I answered BOTH, because I teach music for a living, and because I love what I do. There is no better job in the whole wide world. Plus, I love to get together to sing and play with friends. ~b.w.
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