Is the Economy affecting yout Gigs?

[1kidc]

December looks pretty good but 2009 is looking BLEAK - even for my wedding / party band. Our agent said he has had 5 company holiday parties cancel this december/nye. Luckily, none were for my band....

Have you seen much economic fallout in your giggage?

[landru64]

the top 40 band i'm in had one gig canceled -- corporate holiday gig gone due to budget cuts.

[DiazDude]

In Michigan the horrible economy has cut down on gigs everywhere for several years.

[SyKrash]

Yup, I went from gigging twice a week in September to 2-3 gigs a month in October.

[JoeB63]

Yes. December is looking pretty bleak compared to prior years.

[musicman1]

Yes...I went from 35 jobs a year six or seven years ago to so far 2 this year with only about maybe 5 more for the rest of the year including New Years Eve.

[Lucidology]

Yeah it has... The money offered is less...

I'm lucky that I play in different bands besides my own, plus do solo, duet and trio gigs ...
However, right about this time I negotiate contracts for the complete new year (i.e. steady gigs)
Two out of three have been renewed thus far ...

Finger's crossed they'll have faith enough to deem the third one worth keeping in tact ...
Still waiting on word ... but also coaching myself to be unattached

The indicative of the times phenomena which has hit the clubs around here is a fixed budget ...
So whether you have a three piece band or a five piece band ....
you're getting paid the same amount and that's that ...

Needless to say, this has lead to band leaders trimming down band members ...
From two guitarists to one ... from a keyboard & a guitarist to just a keyboard player.. Horn players deemed not necessary... Percussionists say goodbye ... etc. etc. etc.
(i.e. Job less in the gigging community via za economy ...)

[Redbell]

Yes, had a good spring/summer but the winter looks long and cold.
I guess it's time to woodshed and hope for next year.

[Lucidology]

Yes...I went from 35 jobs a year six or seven years ago to so far 2 this year with only about maybe 5 more for the rest of the year including New Years Eve.


There was time ... back in the day when Clinton was Pres ...
that I would do 29 to 35 gigs a month ...
In all seriousness .... & I ain't kidding ...

[lcjc800]

I couldn't help myself...

YouTube - My Cousin Vinny - The two youths (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1V-4boT_ts)

[atomicmassunit]

Not at all.

[musicman1]

There was time ... back in the day when Clinton was Pres ...
that I would do 29 to 35 gigs a month ...
In all seriousness .... & I ain't kidding ...

Long before Bill Clinton was the prez I was doing 5 and 6 night a week gigs, sometimes with doubles on weekends.

I dont want to or need to play that much anymore. I havent been a full time musician since 1988 or around that time.

I only WANT to do a couple a month and get paid well for those. The work has simply dried up and its been a long downhill process for gigging starting with 9-11-01 to the present time.

[Jazzydave]

This is why I decided to stop sleeping on couches and hotel lobbies and get a steady job - so that I could eat and play shows even when the pay wasn't all that great! It was always hit and miss but I had a lot to do with that. The label was always getting upset with me bc I'd put off a big show to play some little coffee shop in the city for free. It always paid off for me in other ways though.

I think everything's up in the air right now with the economy. NO ONE knows that's about to happen...

[Franklin]

Yes!! :(

[franksguitar]

I think the economy is hitting everyone as evident of how many people come to hear bands when many are cutting out extra expenses of cost of drinks, gas to get there (now it's cheap for now.) Also clubs & corpororations are feeling the pinch too with loss of revenue. Many clubs lately have been stiffing bands too.

[johnrea_77]

We are only a weekend / part-time band and we are used to four to six gigs a month. A few clubs we play have closed and/or cut back somewhat. There have been a few bands in my area with a lot of overhead (sound co/lights/agent) that have it worse than us or gave up altogether. We are self contained with sound/soundman/lights which helps us get gigs at a reasonable price and keeps us busy.

In today's economy I can see us dropping back to one or two less gigs a month and likely not asking for raises (rats).

[HHB]

I'm 10-15% down on gigs and students right now, so far so good but who really knows, worry wont solve it so I just try and play well and let the chips fall

[isfahani]

Today I woke up to a voice mail that basically said "no gig next week, the place closed, finished, over with"

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

As far as venues in the Twin Cities that actually feature non-mainstream music, this was the last, or perhaps next-to-last.

[Jazzydave]

I played in the Cities for quite awhile - was working with No Alternative records and Two Fish Studios down in Mankato. I always had gigs but I guess I'm more considered "mainstream."

What closed down?

[beatnix]

Yes...it's sucking.

[gtrwrks]

My bread/butter gig is a wedding/corp party band and if the economy has hit us (as it surely will), it isn't evident yet. We're booked 'til/thru July '09 at this point. We get 50% upfront (deposit) - so it helps folks to not cancel - beyond the point that we're currently booked at, I can't help but think bookings will slow down.

Bar gig pay in this town is pretty crappy - It's so low, I'd be surprised if it dropped any lower - but you never know. At this time, it appears that clubs who have regular live music are still doing so.

[shallbe]

No. Already booked through mid-2009.

[S.W.Erdnase]

It certainly has affected yout gigs down at the "Sack o Suds".