Discussions about pay and brewereies, etc.

Albuquerque NM

Description

There has been a lot of good stuff said here, and some wild dreams. First, though; I played my first gig in the late 60s, and my most recent gig, yesterday. In between, I have performed from Boston to Laughlin NV, from Alberta to Georgia. I've entertained crowds of 3, and 3000, with similar swings in pay. I've played solo to 10 piece band. Just saying, I've had a little experience of life at the lower levels of musical success. (and I'm not claiming I'm a better musician than any of you, just too stubborn to quit.) So, when there were only 3 TV channels, and no computers, and phones were attached to the wall, and some of us were young and crazy, bars did a good business during the week, and better on weekends. people packed the dance floors until well after midnight 6 or 7 days a week. And you know what? It was still hard to make a profit as a bar owner. People who have never run a business seem to think that it's 100% profit, and never consider the many costs, from rent and utilities to insurance, from payroll to supplies. They look at a little brewpub that seats 50 people, and think that there's money to pay a band 400 bucks. There's only so much you can get, before the club can't afford you. Then, there's no money at all. Do some places exploit you? Probably, to some extent. I've certainly had some run-ins with bad actors in the business. Is Albuquerque unique, and the only place in the country that doesn't support musicians? The people who claim that may never have tried playing in other states, and I can testify that there are places that are worse. This is the world we have now. And as a few people have noted, if you are really good AND have an appeal that puts butts in the seats, you'll make a bit more. And, finally, this past year took a lot out of all of us, and the pubs have been hurt, the musicians have been frustrated. But I'll take a few bucks at a brewery, because it's the playing that feeds me, not the paying.