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Do You Qualify?
Record Label Realities
Lifestyle of Freedom
Income Streams
Music Business & Money
How Much Money
Getting Started
Pro or Amateur?
Common Pitfalls
Do You Qualify?
Record Label Realities
Lifestyle of Freedom
Income Streams
Music Business & Money
How Much Money
Getting Started
Pro or Amateur?
Common Pitfalls
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Professionalism Are you an amateur or a pro? The purpose of free gigs Why would a full-time musician play a free gig? "I'm a rock-star!" So you wanna be a rock star? Good song selection Do you play cover songs or just originals? |
| Tip jar To tip or not to tip...that is the question! It's party time! Are you ready to party? Your gear Your equipment can make you or break you! |
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Professionalism
Full-time musicians are total Pros. I can always spot them when we go out to see live music. They stand out for reasons you will learn about in this section.
Do not confuse a Pro's behavior with Big Time Musician's who get catered to (and controlled) by their bosses at the record label they work for.
A true pro doesn't show up late and doesn't take long-ass breaks between sets. A pro doesn't carry more gear than is necessary and doesn't take forever to do a sound check.
Real pros do not consider themselves as the Big Time Musicians do. They have usually been pretty humbled while working their way up.
They are polite to the patrons or guests. Pros play the whole show no matter how thin the crowd is. They have even played to an empty room and a bartender...sometimes more than once.
When I hear a musician claim they have never played to an empty room, I know I'm dealing with an amateur.
Pros have played gigs in front of a room full of people that don't appreciate them. Pros have learned how to balance pleasing the crowd while enjoying what they play.
But most importantly of all Small Time Musicians GET PAID TO PLAY!
A group or an artist shouldn't get his money until his boss gets his.
-Bobby Darin
The purpose of free gigs
Free gigs are only done to 'test' your talents amongst strangers when you are starting out. They are as hard to get as paying gigs, but we did them in the beginning. If you have never played out in front of strangers before I recommend doing as many open mic's as you can. Afterwards do a few 'free' gigs to develop your act.
Once you have mastered your act, then you will be ready for our email training series called BOOKED SOLID IN 30 DAYS!
Once you have proven your talent in front of strangers then why would you keep doing free gigs? Remember that people do not put value on things that are free. We especially don't play private parties for free.
You may decide to donate a gig. We have done this for homeless shelters, churches, etc. If I can spin it for free publicity I'll consider it. But honestly we turn down most of these requests.
But don't buy into the 'you will get a lot of exposure' crap. That crowd isn't really there for live music. You will get better exposure playing paid gigs in front of people who are.
Bottom line we are talking about making money playing music. Sometimes you can spin a free gig into future cash but don't count on it. It's best just to turn them down.
I show up ready to play, so I normally try and fit the situation.
-Matt Cameron
"I'm a rock-star!"
So you wanna be a Big Time Musician? I'll tell you again that you are on the wrong website. We are small time musicians and live in the real world with real people.
T always says the toughest part about this business is dealing with people. Well I got news for you...that's the hardest thing in business, family and life. Welcome to the world!
That's why it surprises me when I see amateurs have what we call a "Rock Star" or "Diva" attitude. This is an entitlement mentality...God how I hate the entitlement mentality!
It causes them to do stupid things or treat people poorly. Some of them expect the others in the band to handle everything. Some get pissed if no one buys them a drink.
Some always show up late to the gig. Some avoid talking to people between sets. Some are just plain drama queens!
The problem lies in thinking that the gig is all about them when it's really all about the crowd you are there to entertain. They have a false sense that their gift makes them better than other people.
Not all amateurs have this problem. But I've never met a full-time musician that had not been humbled by what they went through to build up their own music business.
Pros are just happy to have the opportunity to entertain and get paid to play.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.
-Bill Gates
Good song selection
Song selection is the most controversial topic for an amateur musician but the most agreed upon by full-time musicians.
Once T opened for a band called SWERVE. The lead singer was a great performer and vocalist. He was definitely the star because the other musicians were average at best...(and I'm being nice).
All the wrong notes were about to make my ears bleed when I noticed something. I was really into it! This was strange since I am super hard to please when it comes to music.
I noticed the crowd was into it too. Then I realized that it was because of their song selection. They were playing great cover songs that you had forgotten about because radio and other bands don't play them that much.
This is the part that NO original artist wants to hear...YOU MUST PLAY COVER SONGS! But not to worry...we sell thousands of TMoody's original CD's because he has mastered the art of song selection.
Before you start to argue with me about this please remember we are talking about FULL TIME INCOME...not playing for your family and friends.
Most people in an audience (other than family and friends) will remember you for your song selection.
"But I hate playing cover songs!"
Not convinced? I know this is hard for some of you. Let explain the need for cover songs.
Cover songs pay the bills
When you sell gigs you are selling the type of music you play. If you don't have cover songs to 'sell,' the guy booking you doesn't know if he wants you or not.
His customers are who he cares about...not your 'unique sounding' original music.
Steady gigs are the best gigs to have for a small time musician. You will never get steady gigs without playing covers because you won't get asked back.
If you simply refuse to learn and perform cover songs, you will NEVER be gigging full time...PERIOD!
Recognizable covers draw tips
With cover songs, you connect with the audience. People tip according to what they like, and most of them like familiar songs.
If you are a Small Time Musician you don't risk losing tip money...you figure out how to earn more.
You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.
-Zig Ziglar
Tip Jar...to use or not to use?
Every full-time musician I have met uses a tip jar. Some may think it's tacky but this ritual goes waaaay back. Appreciative people want to tip you...duh!
T once opened for a band and did his thing. He has a tip bucket I made especially for him. This tacky thing draws attention and he always places it front and center! He knows how to 'work' it too.
When the (amateur) band came on after him they did not have a tip jar at all. T had the people so well trained from his performance that they went up to the stage to leave a tip for the other band too.
Upon finding the band had no tip bucket most of them walked away. Only 2 people actually just laid their tip on the stage. This band had the crowd going so why leave money on the table like that? Pride, fear or ignorance?
There are exceptions to the rule. The only time we do not use a tip bucket (tip JAR for the classier folk) is during a corporate event, wedding or private party. But our performance fee is higher for those gigs because of it.
Recently T played at the Boulder County Fair. He was the only paid artist there. (They tried to get him for free but TMoody is smarter than that.) Circumstances made us decide to NOT use the tip bucket for the 90 minute performance.
Big mistake. Even though they had not done it for any other entertainer, the people started bringing tips to the stage. T glanced over at me and I just shrugged.
We should have put the tip bucket out. T ended up making a lot in tips but could have made 3x as much with the tip bucket. We can still screw the little things up. :)
T makes more money in tips, every week, than people working 20 hours part time. The best part is that he doesn't have to make any extra effort for it. He's already there getting paid a performance fee.
When it comes to tip jars...pride, fear and ignorance costs you money!
Most times we would make more money in the tip boxes than we were getting paid.
-Little Milton
It's Party time!
Having a few beers during your gig is one of the benefits to being a full time musician.
You want to have a good time while you are entertaining people and they usually want to buy you a beer or a shot!
But when we see musicians power slamming Jager Bombs during a gig, it is obvious they are there to party. That means they are there for themselves and not the crowd.
They honestly believe that their performance does not suffer while wasted. This is rarely true so why take the chance of blowing it?
Just because some of the crowd is too intoxicated to pick up on the poor performance doesn't mean they all are. There usually are people there just to hear live music.
I'm one of those people and I love live music. But I have a distinct ear and wince at every wrong note.
Ultimately I have discovered that drunk up, doped up musicians really suck! So I usually write them off and leave to find another band elsewhere.
Just know your limitations. Better yet ask your buddy who is always truthful with you. You should be well aware of how much beer, weed or liquor you can handle before your motor skills begin to suffer.
Be a pro...play music well and keep your shit together. Besides, if you get a DUI, your gigging career is pretty much over.
We use T's day off for 'Party-Time'. If we're going to get wasted it will be at some one else's show! :)
I believe in professionalism, but playing is not like a job. You have to be grateful to have the opportunity to play.
-Wynton Marsalis
Your gear
When a band comes in with enough equipment to fill a trailer, we have to laugh. It's as if they are playing a big stadium and have 14 roadies. Why make it so hard on yourself?
Full-time musicians carry around the least equipment to make the best sound. Just because you are loud does not mean you sound good!
When it comes to equipment, Pros buy quality not quantity. Full-time musicians are more concerned with tone, durability and functionality than loudness. In order to have a professional show, you need good gear.
You are only as good as your equipment. Cheap gear, too much gear or the wrong gear can ruin your performance and make you look like an amateur. If it's time to upgrade your eqipment, check out our Gear Savings Page.
Pros have to haul their gear around and set it all up 5-6 times per week. They don't want to waste time and money on a trailer.
Full-time musicians are also speedy at setting up because they do it so much. Pros don't need to arrive 2-4 hours before the gig just to set up. That would turn in into an 8 hour event when all is said and done.
A full-time musician could play a whole other gig with that kind of time. Take a good look at streamlining your gear to make the most of your sound. Keep your gear simple but buy quality stuff...used if possible!
Although my early equipment was very modest, later I made my own and they were more powerful.
-Clyde Tombaugh
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