Comments on: On the Topic of Playing Music for a Living http://www.headabovemusic.com/on-the-topic-of-playing-music-for-a-living Head Above Music Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:19:49 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nate Lanken AKA Chronic Nate http://www.headabovemusic.com/on-the-topic-of-playing-music-for-a-living/comment-page-1#comment-1098 Nate Lanken AKA Chronic Nate Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:03:06 +0000 http://www.headabovemusic.com/?p=1397#comment-1098 Great words from a great man. Paul Has not only always been a great friend to my family and played with my father for years. But he has really inspired me in my personal musical journey. Seeing someone capitalize upon there talents and there passions is the real American dream come true. Thanks to Pauls good reference i was accepted into Columbia College for Music Production downtown Chicago and i aspire to one day be stable in the music industry myself. On whatever level. Whether it be running a home studio or being a full fledged National touring Recording Artist. And like Larry Said, It beats working in a cubicle farm anyday. Great words from a great man. Paul Has not only always been a great friend to my family and played with my father for years. But he has really inspired me in my personal musical journey. Seeing someone capitalize upon there talents and there passions is the real American dream come true. Thanks to Pauls good reference i was accepted into Columbia College for Music Production downtown Chicago and i aspire to one day be stable in the music industry myself. On whatever level. Whether it be running a home studio or being a full fledged National touring Recording Artist. And like Larry Said, It beats working in a cubicle farm anyday.

]]> By: Larry Kriz http://www.headabovemusic.com/on-the-topic-of-playing-music-for-a-living/comment-page-1#comment-1091 Larry Kriz Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:00:50 +0000 http://www.headabovemusic.com/?p=1397#comment-1091 Words of wisdom from a man I know personally and who is a real electric gypsy. Paul has managed to make a name for himself here in the Chicago area based on years of hard work and perseverence. He's a walking encyclopedia of every song ever written. Beats working in a cubicle farm. Words of wisdom from a man I know personally and who is a real electric gypsy. Paul has managed to make a name for himself here in the Chicago area based on years of hard work and perseverence. He’s a walking encyclopedia of every song ever written. Beats working in a cubicle farm.

]]> By: James Wayman http://www.headabovemusic.com/on-the-topic-of-playing-music-for-a-living/comment-page-1#comment-1082 James Wayman Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:46:25 +0000 http://www.headabovemusic.com/?p=1397#comment-1082 Listen to what the man says! I'm lucky to be able to call him a good friend, and I've been incredibly fortunate to ride shotgun on many of Paul's gigs over the last 10 years. This article should prove for once and for all that he gives everything he has to audiences onstage and off; though I'd like to discuss two points a bit further... The PHRASE THAT PAYS #2 is accurate because so many people come into the performing arts are either overvaluing their talents or completely underselling them. If your act can consistently bring a fresh crowd into a venue to buy drinks, food, or service, your act has value. If your act can make the regulars stick around an extra hour (or an extra round or two), your act has value. This value can and should be parlayed into a guaranteed amount paid to the band with bonus percentages paid for reaching/exceeding certain goals. Otherwise, it is perfectly appropriate for the act to be solely paid via a separate cover charge or an overall percentage of the venue's take during your performance. Also, be realistic to your fee in relation to the size of a venue. A typical coffee shop doesn't have the size or daily revenue of a good sized nightclub. A good night for the operators of a coffeehouse may be several hundred dollars while the nightclub operator expects several thousand dollars in that same time frame. In other words, a guarantee might not be in the budget, and you'll need to count more on merchandise (CD's, etc.) and the kindness of strangers (tips) to make money. That said, there are a lot of nightclubs looking only for bands of hobbyists with large families, who are happy to perform for a pizza and a couple of pitchers of beer... PHRASE THAT PAYS #3 is also crucial. Paul and I have played inside a supermarket, on a stage constructed across 3 lanes at a bowling alley, at the Dinosaur exhibit inside Navy Pier, under a gazebo in front of the library in Bloomingdale, as strolling unplugged musicians at a comfort food restaurant, in the bedding department of a luxury furniture store, in the courtyard of a shopping center mere feet from cars whizzing through a traffic-laden intersection, and in the cafeteria of an alternative high school to entertain students and teachers before the start of their Spring Break. Paul has made this phrase pay many times for me, personally. Be open to the idea that most locations only benefit with live music. Paul has been very successful at showing people the added value of live music and working with available budgets so that client and musician(s) are happy with the results. The bonus is that both sides get a memorable tale to tell about the event. I promise you that one of your best and most memorable gigs is likely to come from a place you would never expect to find live music. Approach with an open mind, not an empty one. In addition to being talented and knowledgeable, Paul is one of the nicest and most helpful people you'll find in the suburban music scene. Paul's article took years to research, hours to write, and minutes to share. I wish all readers great success in the pursuit of their musical dreams, and encourage others to share your results as Paul's done here. Happy gigging! Listen to what the man says! I’m lucky to be able to call him a good friend, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to ride shotgun on many of Paul’s gigs over the last 10 years. This article should prove for once and for all that he gives everything he has to audiences onstage and off; though I’d like to discuss two points a bit further…

The PHRASE THAT PAYS #2 is accurate because so many people come into the performing arts are either overvaluing their talents or completely underselling them. If your act can consistently bring a fresh crowd into a venue to buy drinks, food, or service, your act has value. If your act can make the regulars stick around an extra hour (or an extra round or two), your act has value. This value can and should be parlayed into a guaranteed amount paid to the band with bonus percentages paid for reaching/exceeding certain goals. Otherwise, it is perfectly appropriate for the act to be solely paid via a separate cover charge or an overall percentage of the venue’s take during your performance. Also, be realistic to your fee in relation to the size of a venue. A typical coffee shop doesn’t have the size or daily revenue of a good sized nightclub. A good night for the operators of a coffeehouse may be several hundred dollars while the nightclub operator expects several thousand dollars in that same time frame. In other words, a guarantee might not be in the budget, and you’ll need to count more on merchandise (CD’s, etc.) and the kindness of strangers (tips) to make money. That said, there are a lot of nightclubs looking only for bands of hobbyists with large families, who are happy to perform for a pizza and a couple of pitchers of beer…

PHRASE THAT PAYS #3 is also crucial. Paul and I have played inside a supermarket, on a stage constructed across 3 lanes at a bowling alley, at the Dinosaur exhibit inside Navy Pier, under a gazebo in front of the library in Bloomingdale, as strolling unplugged musicians at a comfort food restaurant, in the bedding department of a luxury furniture store, in the courtyard of a shopping center mere feet from cars whizzing through a traffic-laden intersection, and in the cafeteria of an alternative high school to entertain students and teachers before the start of their Spring Break. Paul has made this phrase pay many times for me, personally. Be open to the idea that most locations only benefit with live music. Paul has been very successful at showing people the added value of live music and working with available budgets so that client and musician(s) are happy with the results. The bonus is that both sides get a memorable tale to tell about the event. I promise you that one of your best and most memorable gigs is likely to come from a place you would never expect to find live music. Approach with an open mind, not an empty one.

In addition to being talented and knowledgeable, Paul is one of the nicest and most helpful people you’ll find in the suburban music scene. Paul’s article took years to research, hours to write, and minutes to share. I wish all readers great success in the pursuit of their musical dreams, and encourage others to share your results as Paul’s done here. Happy gigging!

]]>