[HAM] Is there a going rate?

[Doug Brydges]

>
> From: "Dave McCracken" <dave at folkswaggin.com>
What you guys making in your region?  What's your motivation?  Whatcha thinkin?
>
> Dave McCracken
> http://dave.folkswaggin.com
> ---

Well Dave... your query on gig money really got the chat line going. I thought I'd add my perspective for interest's sake.

I started gigging out of high school in 1967-68 in small-town northwestern Ontario. Our largest urban market was Thunder Bay (Port Arthur and Fort William back then) with a combined population of about 114,000.

By late '69 our 6-man band had progressed (musically) very quickly, writing our own original material, recording and getting our first "45"s out on the market. We concentrated on getting club dates in Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie - both college towns - and we were getting $1,000/night in Thunder Bay and $1,500/night in the Sault. On one of our Sault gigs, I recall, we opened for CCR - which was worth more than the money.

That seemed like pretty good money (Canadian $$ - when our dollars were close to being at par or Canadian was higher valued than U.S.$) at the time but - by the time we paid the accommodation and gas bills and returned home - there wasn't much left. We hauled our own equipment in two trailers using a huge Mercury Marquis (1968) and a Pontiac Grand Prix SJ (428 big block)to make our trips comfortable. We also had two really dedicated roadies with us at $50/day + food and lodging.

We split up in late 1971 when our family committments began to take precedence and music business reality (on the road full-time) started to set in. We were doing clubs and bars in the southern Ontario and New York state markets, averaging about $2,600/week + food & lodging. After costs and roadie salary, that worked out to about $330/week/member. Pretty good when you consider a licensed journeyman auto mechanic was earning about $4.50/hour in our home area (about $180. gross/week).

Through the 70s and 80s our band got together several times to do a few gigs a year by special request. By this time we had all advanced in professional careers not related to music and had little time to practice - jamming once every few months in a basement studio was about it. But we were the only live show in the region so we were always able to ask for $650 a night for dances within a 5 mile radius and would add mileage charge to go farther.

By the time 1998 rolled around, some of our old band members had moved on, and a few of us still left put together a new band when came across a Police officer (transferred into our area) who knew just about every classic rock tune ever done over the last 40 years... great singer and guitar player/arranger. A couple of us also wanted to experiment with digital recording and we had some new material we wanted to put on a CD.

Because we had such a "Solid Reputation" from the past (the name of our original group from the late 60s), once the word was out that Hi-Way 584 (our new name) was ready to gig, we were swamped with booking opportunities. We had to juggle and pick & choose since we also had full-time jobs and other things going on.

Up until I left the band last year, our flat rate was $1,200 per night within a five mile radius, with mileage added on for gigs further from home. NYE - $2,600 + food & lodging for us and our spouses (we would never get away with doing NYE without bringing our spouses along).

The main club in town was owned by one of our "old days" roadies and he chomped at the bit to have us become his house band. Our rate was $650/night on a 3-night run (Thurs-Sat.) and the club was located less than 2 miles from our studio - minimal moving and set-tup/ tear-down time.

Naturally, there were a few gigs that we did for a lot less. Like a wedding in Thunder Bay for our Police officer/lead singer, for his boss's daughter's wedding. Cheap hotel, bad food, and only $1,000 for two days away from home. And just good old jams at private lakeside parties, etc.

Our goal over the past five years was to at least make music pay for our equipment, upgrades and travel. On stage - we were always just there for the enjoyment of playing live together - good friends and buddies having a great time away from the hum-drum of every-day working life. For me... getting that tingle down the back of the neck when the music realllllly cooks - the rush - the good vibes - that's what it's all about.  Certainly not the money.

Over the last couple of years I left the good boys behind, sold my business interests, retired, moved south to the North Bay area (Ontario) and built a new home. still working on it. This home has a dedicated 14'x28' fully-equipped shop and an insulated, dedicated music studio, complete with several amps, guitars, keyboards, and my recently acquired M3.

I've networked with a few good musicians in the area and will eventually get back into gigging again I'm sure - either the blues or classic rock veins or both. But first - it'll soon be time to supplement my investment earnings. A good friend (in the big concert sound & light business) and I want to start a new business. He's made some great developments in speaker enclosure technology for industrial strength outdoor concert sound systems. Our intention is to take his field-tested prototypes and get into building custom systems and custom road case product lines, and do contract manufacturing of specific products for other clients. We both have great well-equipped home-based shops to work out of so start-up costs will be easy to handle.

So... for now... my gigging activity is limited to jamming in the studio with my son and a few buddies whenever they happen to drop by for a brew... or when I'm in the 'solo' mood.

Doug Brydges