Gig Market?

[CongaTick]

Thought this might stir some discussion and perhaps a few good hints. The gig market in my suburban area is dominated by bar/rock/cover bands. I've had some good gigs with one band and with quite a few "accoustic duos and trios " who want a percussive complement to thier sound, but overall, the paying gigs for skin-thumpers are far and few between. In Philly it's mostly "gate-dependent", meaning your gig fee depends on how many friends and relatives you bring in to the house. Not my cup of tea, thanks. So, questions are: Putting aside for the moment the monster gig schedules of the upper end pros like Johnny Conga, what is the gig scene in your town? Are you getting paid? How much? How do you get your hookups/promote yourself? Do you find open jams beneficial as means of networking or just soul-fulfilling? Do you get to play the kind of music you love, or are you (like myself, I admit) a percussion prostitute? How much time do you devote to promoting yourself and how do you do it if you've got a day job, business or career? Anybody?

[onile]

Alafia Abure CongaTick!
This is a great topic, and one I believe had been partially discussed in another thread, but I can't remember which.

I recently retired from my "day gig" with the City of Phoenix Municipal Government, all the while however I had been working evenings with various groups throughout the valley. About a hundred years ago, I worked with a group of drummers which called themselves "Integre", a guy named Eddie Katz (?sp) was the leader. Well he branched out into the local "corporate" gig scene (the gigs that are at the local 5 star resorts, as well as special functions for out-of-towners). I continued to work my day job (afterall "real musicians have day jobs", don't yell at me, this was a poster I saw once and thought it was 2-kool-4-skool).

One day, Eddie couldn't do a particular gig and he gave the "agency" my name and contact info, I showed up (without a rehearsal), nailed the gig and got great feedback from the group, that they began to rotate their gigs between Eddie and myself. Slowly but surely, I began working for more and more agencies (word of mouth). It's not cool to hand out your cards on "corporate gigs", unless you are giving them to another musician, which is what I did.

These gigs are what is termed in some conga circles as "fairy tapping" gigs (you barely even hit the skins), and yet the $ is far greater than the Salsa and Latin Jazz gigs. On a corporate gig I will draw down from $200 to $250 for a 3hour gig (what with the announcements and stuff, sometimes we wind up playing for an hour and a half total. If we're really fortunate, with my spanish speaking finess, I can get us fed even. Have you had "resort food?" Fantastic my brother!

Okay, so here is what I'm suggesting; don't try to make your money on just the Latin Jazz or Salsa circuit in your town, branch out, and as the investors say on Wallstreet...."diversify"!

Hand your cards out to agency representatives whenever the opportunity presents itself and don't alienate yourself from other percussionists, it could be them who refer you to your big opportunity.

Above all else remember to "SMILE" while you're on stage, people like it when musicians look like they are having fun, it also makes the music look effortless that comes out of your drums! If you have a great attitude and you exude postiveness and great skill level on your instrument, the groups you come across may just give you a call more times than the other guy/gal!

I also have a Latin Jazz gig which several congueros here in the valley come to, usually around the last half of the second set, and part of the third, I invite them up on my congas (Please understand however, I do this with the knowledge that they are skilled players, not amatuers). Just as Eddie did for me so many years ago, I do for my conguero brothers today. There is enough for all to eat, just remember to share whenever possible, it will come back to you many times over!
Suerte mi hermano

Onile!

[congamyk]

I play with 4-5 different bands and my duties and responsibilities change, as does the PAY!

My favorite group makes the least amount of money. I make $100 to play percussion, sax and sing but the outdoor venue is absolutely fantastic.



When I sing with a local "cover" band for a corporate gig I can make $450-$600 for a few hours. Of course singing "Brickhouse" (Commodores) and "Kiss" (Prince) is hardly rewarding in a musical sense. And of course smiling is required at all times.



Edited By congamyk on 1179113432

[JohnnyConga]

Ok I guess i can put in my 3 congas now...YOu have to multi task today to be a full rounded musician...That means making money as an
Arranger
Producer
Doing Transcriptions
Engineer
Session musician
Touring musician-"sideman"
Teacher
Symphony(pit player)
Cruise ship musician
Military musician
Circus musician
Cirque du Soleil musician
Television musicians on (American Idol-Jay Leno- Dave Letterman),etc...
Drum Facilitator
Drum therapist
Ethnomusicologist
Booking Agent......if u guys can think of anymore music jobs I'd like to know...I have had every job I just mentioned xcept Television musician, Circus musician and transcriber.......so being in a band is just ONE aspect of being a musician.....make your choice while your young...."JC" Johnny Conga...

[korman]

JC, do you mean drum circle facilitator? I wonder how good business it is .. it seems to be a growing trend in USA and UK, maybe I should start something like that in my country as well:)

[CongaTick]

WOW!! All you guys gave me-- and I'm sure those listening in the wings -- a lot to think about. Thanks for such great insights and advice. Wish I could say the pay is comparable out here, but it ain't. Now, I haven't hit the corporate circuit, but certainly will research what's in the market. Pay here is anywhere's from $90 - $120 for a ball-bustin 9P - 1A bar gig playing covers, and management is ALWAYS reluctant to part with the money. Okay, I know there are other interesting viewpoints and opinions lurking in the wings from the rest of our forummers. How about it, guys (girls?)

[Jongo]

I have had more luck playing gigs that were not in bars and clubs. Tourism is a big industry here and there are always events being put on to "showcase" the city and they have a nice budget for entertainment. I have been lucky and have been able to play a lot of corporate gigs. They are my least favorite but they generate the most money.
What I have been doing lately that I really enjoy is drumming for dance classes. I have a lot more fun and find them more challenging than the corporate stuff but the pay is really low. A set rate per hour + tips from the dancers. You really have to do it more for the fun of it than the $ on those. The dance teachers know what the various rhythms are supposed to sound like and they will crack the whip if you are not playing it right or with not enough energy. I also teach some classes and do some other stuff.
I have a day job and I always will. I'll never be a touring pro but I love to play congas and other percussion and play whenever I get the chance!

[Charangaman]

I'm a bit of a "whore" at the mo.. Playing with a covers band for the dollars, music isn't horrible but not my bag.. Getting tired of it, will play for free in good venues with friends.. Used to DJ, that was an earner and comparativley to playing congas - a walk in the park...

[zwar]

in the band were i play now (rhythm in fusion formation/rhiff) we are 4 persons and agreed not to play under 100 € each. difficult to get more than 500 for percussion and voices.
we got 2000DM for less than twenty minutes in herford on a streetparty just playing blekete and talking drum, we also made workshop over two weeks on naturtage 1985 and got nothing. the management bankrupted.
feed a family by making music was a tough business. no chance to leave anything out because its no fun.
now i am in the lucky situation to have the money i need without working too much. so i am able to tell the people there is no need for any congaplaying while singing "500 miles" at 60 bpm.
good thing is, to be skilled in studiomusic and chartreading. easy then to hop in just for one or two jobs, often better payed than the whole rest.

zwar