What is your asking price?

[drumaddict]

Rhythmatist,
We must work in the same place! Your rant is pretty much right on the (lack of) money.
Having a day job relieves the stress of the casual gig. You can take the gig if you want to and enjoy the process without the pressures of making rent. I've done both as well and found that having a 401K, steady income, health benefits, and paid holidays makes more sense for my family and future. I played in the beginning because I loved the process but later tried to survive on it and lost my initial love of the process. Now I can enjoy playing for the sake of playing.

[PocketPlayer]

IMO, this is an AGE related issue. When you're young (18-24) you go for it and play with as many quality cats as possible for whatever change you can scratch. Hopefully you got some drum goods and your name will rise locally. It's called paying dues. Most of us aren't so fortunate to start playing in a group (Aerosmith) and have a job for 20 plus years. Yopu have a better chance of winning the state lottery twice!

After a certain age, playing for free (unless it's a gig w/buddies, etc.) or you are in the "hobby" stage of life decreases, especially if someone wants lots of rehearsal time...that's the killer!

If you are "into" a certain scene, the money thing is fairly obvious because it is a known thing with the other players. Nobody I know here in LA does a wedding gig for free if they are a jobbing drummer. If a bandleader can hire a hobbyist drummer, they usually don't. Most of the guys I know stick with a group of players they can rely on.

[Groovemeister]

Yeah,

Rehearsals is a whole different matter. I usually ask for 1/2 the gig rate unless it's preperation for a tour, then we'll arrange something more long-term...

MP

[Rhythmatist]

I think of it as having two careers, definately not a hobby (the majority of the time I'm gigging more now than I did when it was "for a living"). I have the luxury of being able to take a vacation day to do those daytime gigs that pay well and I get the paid day off as well. It's actually a pretty sweet situation (and with health and retirement etc. thrown in). Yes, the corporate world has taken a lot from me, but it has also given me flexibility that I didn't have before in terms of being selective about what gigs I choose to take (of course I whore myself out once in a while, who doesn't). It's all in what you make it.
No, I can't do the big tour anymore, but I'd rather stay home with the family at this point anyway and there are plenty of mini-tours that come around to get me out of town now and then.

I think the last rehearsal I did for a freelance gig was about six years ago (for about $150 for a two hour concert run through). People know me well enough to know that I'll get the job done. This is what paying your dues does for you over time. I had a guy insist that I attend a rehearsal with his band for a one night subbing gig . I asked him to make a couple calls to some mutual friends and he called back and said don't bother with the rehearsal, see you at the gig. I told him if it made him feel better he could send me some tapes and I would make sure I had all the intros, endings etc. together so he didn't have to worry. the gig was seamless. I also remember subbing a gig two years ago with one of those radio station bands that I subbed for awhile back. The radio personality I had worked with before asked if I still remembered his tunes. I told him I still had the charts I made on file and he said good enough, see you at the gig. After it was over his on-air partner was just freakin' out over the fact that I could walk in and sub the gig as if I had been playing it for years. It's called being prepared and being professional.

I hate rehearsals anyway. you have to sit around waiting for the p a to get tweaked and for the other players to get their instruments together and vocal parts to be run through etc. etc..... All this after dragging a full kit up or down stairs and being the first one there, set up, ready to go while waitng for someone else's rude ass who's an hour late to arrive. "Sorry dudes, I had this other 'thing' I had to do (talk shit with his girlfriend on the cell in his car), really important." For me, send me tapes, I'll make charts in the comfort of my home and I'll play the gig like it was mine.