[Dixielandjazz] Working In The Trenches

[Larry Walton Entertainment]

Personally I admire the musician who plies his craft and makes a living 
from it. The truth is not very shiny. If you make $200 a night or 
average that and you work a gig every day you will make $73K. From that 
you will pay 15% FICA and taxes. $73K isn't bad but consider that there 
are no benefits and if you are off a day you don't get paid. There are 
no vacations or sick days. If you factor those in you are making a lot 
less. Then the Pro will often have to travel and while sometimes you get 
expenses more often you don't. Personally I hate living out of motels 
and eating at restaurants all the time. It's almost impossible to have a 
family and do justice to your kids.

Then there is the time between jobs. Six weeks is a fairly good contract 
but what about the 7th week. Then you need a good booker if you want to 
be assured that you are somewhere that 7th week.

I did that when I was in college because I had to. I traveled every 
weekend and often a hundred miles or more to make a week night gig and 
then try to go to class and later to work. and act like I was awake. 
That life was hard on my wife too.

I had to make a decision when I got out of school to make a living for 
my family or go do what I wanted. I still make those choices every day. 
Take a gig or do something for or with my family. I usually take the gig 
because they know that I'm a working musician and that's what I do but I 
also have a sign business that allows me to have money and not have to 
be totally dependent on the music business.

I still would like to play all the time but -----------------
Larry Walton
St. Louis

Steve barbone wrote:
> Hi Russ:
>
> Hey, I am just repeating what Jessica Williams said. BUT, then most folks
> would tell you that here in Philadelphia $75 is common also and $200 a night
> imaginative.
>
> Well, not to my band. We routinely pay sidemen between $100 & $350 a night,
> $100 being for one hour. And I personally know pianists making $150 a night
> 6 nights a week at two hotels here. Meanwhile the majority of the guys make
> $75 in joints all over town.
>
> Hey guys, it depends upon which "music scene" you are wired into. Jessica is
> talking about maybe one or two hotels, and a guy lucky enough to find it,
> who would also be an EXCELLENT performer. Same here in Philly. Some
> musicians are lucky enough to get on my gigs, and or on Joe Sudler's gigs.
> He does a lot of high priced work. They make money.
>
> The others merely sing that old song; "That's Impossible".
>
> Now, Jessica Williams is nobody's fool. You may never have heard of her, but
> she is an excellent jazz musician and no doubt can back up her assertions
> just as I can mine.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve
>
> on 11/23/05 12:35 AM, Russ Guarino at russg at redshift.com wrote:
>
>   
>> I had to spoil your creative juices, but in Monterey, $75 a night is common.
>> $200 a night is, well, imaginative.
>>
>> Russ Guarino
>> Clarinet Maverick
>>
>> Steve barbone wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> In response to an off list question asking what I meant by "working in the
>>> trenches", here is jazz pianist Jessica Williams view of what that is. Note
>>> that while I agree with her concept, my sidemen make more money per gig.
>>> They are just a bit below the "excellent" pay she mentions.
>>>
>>> BTW, Jessica Williams is an excellent female jazz pianist who works concert
>>> venues such as Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall etc., and writes a Blog called
>>> THE ZONE "Dedicated to John Coltrane, Elvin Jones, Mary Lou Williams, Dexter
>>> Gordon, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams, and
>>> all who have devoted their lives to American Improvised Jazz Music."
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Steve
>>>
>>> "The truth is that most musicians who work in nightclubs and bars average
>>> considerably less than $100 a night for a full 5 hours of music (from 9pm to
>>> 2am). The bartender, waiters, and waitresses make more, much more. My
>>> gardener makes three times that much (and deserves it). This wage has
>>> changed not at all in 25 years. Some musicians make $50 a night, and most
>>> make $75. Those musicians lucky enough to land a steady hotel job in a rich
>>> area (such as Monterey, CA) may make $200 per night. That's unusual, and
>>> considered excellent pay."
>>>
>>> "And it hurts me too. Don't get the idea that I'm casting any aspersions
>>> here. I admire the musicians who work for little or no compensation 'in the
>>> trenches'. At least they're making music and turning a few people on to
>>> jazz. I can't cut the wages, the environment, and the attitudes. I get sick
>>> and depressed in that 'scene'. That's my problem. But I do admire those
>>> musicians."
>>>       
>
>
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