Anyone making any money this year Steelin?

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 13 Jul 2017 11:15 am

Is that an objective?

Jim Fogarty · Post by **Jim Fogarty** » 13 Jul 2017 12:05 pm

Niels Andrews wrote:Is that an objective?

For professional musicians it sure is.........a necessity, in fact.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 13 Jul 2017 1:11 pm

Tony Prior wrote: I don't accept any gigs more than an hour from home or any local gigs that go past 11 pm.

Ahh..This evening's gig starts at 10PM. 3 sets playing Americana/country at a hip restaurant/bar/crafted coffee shop.

I don't mind this occasionally as the crowd is young and very tuned in to the music. I like the audience engagement. Thursday nights are a "thing" around here.

30 minutes from home. I'll be wired after playing so the drive home won't be an issue.

ymmv

h

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 14 Jul 2017 3:24 am

Jim Fogarty wrote:Now......anyone making a LIVING playing steel?!?

Open the window wider,

Is anyone making a living playing Piano, Guitar, Horn, etc ?

It's not just Steel Guitars.

To make a living as a musician playing any instrument we have to be living in an "entertainment" capital, like Vegas where it all goes around non stop everyday.

OR perhaps somehow get identified and selected for an artists tour which pays reasonably well. But your home is a Bus and a Hotel room. Not many can endure that for an extended period.

Otherwise we teach, play a few gigs , maybe do some sessions etc. and make the best of it while we work our day job. Then we can enjoy our craft without worry, relax in the glory of a 3 hour gig at the Legion !

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 14 Jul 2017 4:36 am

What Tony said, above.

Chris Templeton · Post by **Chris Templeton** » 14 Jul 2017 6:08 am

Around these parts of New England I noticed beer makers have been using the term "craft beer" and usually charge an extra $2.00 a glass when they do.
Maybe the term "craft guitar" could be applied to steel guitar and become a financial windfall for steelers.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 14 Jul 2017 11:33 am

Chris Templeton wrote: Maybe the term "craft guitar" could be applied to steel guitar and become a financial windfall for steelers.

Let me know how that works for you

h

Jim Fogarty · Post by **Jim Fogarty** » 14 Jul 2017 2:43 pm

Tony Prior wrote:
Jim Fogarty wrote:Now......anyone making a LIVING playing steel?!?

Open the window wider,

Is anyone making a living playing Piano, Guitar, Horn, etc ?

It's not just Steel Guitars.

To make a living as a musician playing any instrument we have to be living in an "entertainment" capital, like Vegas where it all goes around non stop everyday.

OR perhaps somehow get identified and selected for an artists tour which pays reasonably well. But your home is a Bus and a Hotel room. Not many can endure that for an extended period.

Otherwise we teach, play a few gigs , maybe do some sessions etc. and make the best of it while we work our day job. Then we can enjoy our craft without worry, relax in the glory of a 3 hour gig at the Legion !

Actually, I live in Philly......hardly an "entertainment capital".......music has been my profession and sole source of income for 25+ years now. I very rarely tour. Guitar, mostly, but also vocals, bass, mandolin......and hopefully PSG, in a decade or two!

Basically, when it comes to music and making a living, whatever anyone tries to tell you the rules are........they aren't.

Mike Poholsky · Post by **Mike Poholsky** » 16 Jul 2017 6:31 am

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 16 Jul 2017 7:48 am

,,,,,,"if I did this for any reason other than the love of music, I would have given up gigging long ago."

,,,," But Im like you , I love the steel and love to play."

Which is WHY a person can not make a living doing it,,,,there is always someone who is willing to play,,or entertain a profit making establishment for free,,,,because they love to play!

Well,,,I'm sure the club owners appreciate the contribution.

Jim Fogarty · Post by **Jim Fogarty** » 16 Jul 2017 9:50 am

Sonny Jenkins wrote:,,,,,,"if I did this for any reason other than the love of music, I would have given up gigging long ago."

,,,," But Im like you , I love the steel and love to play."

Which is WHY a person can not make a living doing it,,,,there is always someone who is willing to play,,or entertain a profit making establishment for free,,,,because they love to play!

Well,,,I'm sure the club owners appreciate the contribution.

......and as a working professional, what ticks me off is the assumption that somehow because I make my living doing it, I DON'T love it. Which is really weird, when you think about it. Guys like us love it so much, we've made it our entire lives!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 16 Jul 2017 10:09 am

Yes Jim,,,my point exactly. When I see someone "entertaining" for free,,,or meager tips (next to free) because they Love to play,,,,helping that club owner sell 3-4 dollar beer (laughing all the way to the bank (I'm sure he appreciates it!!!),,,that is knocking a guy like you out of a paying gig,,,where the wealth is shared so to speak.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 16 Jul 2017 10:44 am

Sonny Jenkins wrote:...helping that club owner sell 3-4 dollar beer

If there's a saloon here in the Valley selling beer that cheap I would like to know about it. I may even consider playing there for drinks & tips!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 16 Jul 2017 11:02 am

Yes Jack,,,like the saying goes,,,,I guess prices "go with the territory",,,it's the profit margin (and that "margin" NOT being shared),,,,these club owners pay maybe 50 cents +/- a bottle around here. I don't begrudge anyone a profit. But are we willing to allow someone to use our talent to make a profit,,,and not expect our share? Unfortunately yes,,,there in lies the problem. What's the solution???

Dan Kelly · Post by **Dan Kelly** » 17 Jul 2017 8:43 am

What if I told you anyone could make $100,000 a month in income within a year? Thatâ€™s rightâ€”after 12 months, you could be on track to making $1,200,000 a year.

To prove to you that anyone can create a business that generates $100,000 in monthly income within 12 months, Iâ€™m going to create a business from scratch and keep you up-to-date with the progress each and every month.

OOOPS! This isn't the Humor Section of the Forum... Sorry!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 17 Jul 2017 8:45 am

How to get a million dollars as a steel player? Start with 2 million...?

David Spires · Post by **David Spires** » 17 Jul 2017 9:56 am

"Anyone making any money this year Steelin?"

Yes.

David Spires

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 17 Jul 2017 11:14 am

The old Oahu Co. ads promised money, success, and girls if you practice your steel guitar!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 17 Jul 2017 11:42 am

Love those images, Doug! Where did you dig them up?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 17 Jul 2017 12:51 pm

They're covers of Oahu Co. sheet music and ads in the Oahu magazine that was mailed to students back in the 1930s and 40s. I grabbed the images from eBay auctions over the years.