Trip McNealy
Gold Member
I'll try to keep it as brief as possible, but I felt the need to ask the community here for some insight and advice. I've been thinking a lot about this slowly over the past several months, and usually when I do things like this, it means it's bothering me and is not making me entirely content. So here goes...
I am the drummer in three bands in my area: two originals and one cover band. One of the original bands is kind of on a semi-hiatus right now, so they are out of this conversation. I also maintain a full-time, Mon-Fri professional corporate job (I am 34 years old).
For sake of story, let's call original band "Band O" and cover band "Band C". I've been in both these bands for about an equal length of time (~ 4.5 years) and am not a founding member but am now I guess, a permanent fixture in them.
Band C is currently enjoying a fruitful run playing 2-3x per week and often in very convenient locations, most within a 20-40 minute drive from my home. I make good money with this band and it pays for my gear, G.A.S, and whatever else I need it for in addition to my regular job. We have ZERO drama in this band and everyone contributes equally to it's success. I will do my best to never leave this band, it's way too much fun so far! The other guys in the band also have full-time jobs, so right now. it's more or less a "hobby that pays" but I would venture to guess if all the stars aligned and we could make a decent living off of it (like The Nerds or The Benjamins), we would.
Band O is starting to [slowly] blossom into a more recognized band, albeit we are in the NYC area where the music scene is so saturated. We have two albums on iTunes, we've been played on college, mainstream, and satellite radio, and I am the sole person who writes and performs all the drum parts. We typically play out 2-3x per month but a lot in NYC or out-of state. I contribute my home as our practice space every week too. I am the oldest in the band, the rest of the 4 members are in their late 20's. I can tell you from the 4.5 years I been with them, aside from the very first gig I had (which was a recording session for the first album which then lead to me being part of the band), I have never received a PENNY in my pocket from any gig or event I've played with the band. Not even gas money or toll money (mind you, it costs $13 to pass over the GWB Bridge into NYC from NJ!) in return. The most maybe, is a couple of free drink tickets or free stay in a hotel room over the years... I've never really made a huge stink about it b/c I know we get little from door charges and such. But what bothers me most is I'm spending my own hard-earned money to bust my a$$ in NJ-NY traffic and haul gear just to get to a gig where I get no compensation in return and play for 40 mins.. sometimes less! and sometimes to a 3/4-empty room! All of the out-of-state gigs too, I have received no monetary compensation. No $$ from any album sales (not that there is a huge amount). I also feel like I'm not being rewarded for any of my "creativeness". It's like if I showed up at my corporate job and told my boss "I'll work for free today". As far as I know too, none of the other members of the band are receiving money in their pockets and anything we get is paying for merch, CD printing, website. etc. I fully understand there are revolving costs to maintain this band but it's really frustrating at times... I'll throw in that lately, we have nailed some higher-paying gigs (upwards of $600-900), so any advice how I break a question to the others about maybe getting paid is welcome. I don't want to come across to the others as a money-hungry bastard (which I am not at all) but want some fairness moving forward.\
So really in short, it's how much more time do I gotta give this Band O a chance to hit it big and be able to follow my dreams of drumming in a rock band (be it so 'typical' a dream, HAHA!)? Again as I've stated in the intro, it weighs heavy on my mind how much time, creativity, and energy I'm devoting to something that isn't even guaranteed in the long run? I'm not old by any means, but I'm not getting any younger
So I plead for some advice here folks, with Band O, do I continue to stay on this train in hopes that one day we make it with a recording deal and I get to grace some large stages and venues that my dreams contain? I HATE "What-ifs" but in the end I know I have to do what is best for ME and my life. I love playing the drums with all my passion and heart and want to do nothing else than to play for a living. I can't imagine some of you haven't been in this situation before!
Thanks for reading, and for your comments.
I am the drummer in three bands in my area: two originals and one cover band. One of the original bands is kind of on a semi-hiatus right now, so they are out of this conversation. I also maintain a full-time, Mon-Fri professional corporate job (I am 34 years old).
For sake of story, let's call original band "Band O" and cover band "Band C". I've been in both these bands for about an equal length of time (~ 4.5 years) and am not a founding member but am now I guess, a permanent fixture in them.
Band C is currently enjoying a fruitful run playing 2-3x per week and often in very convenient locations, most within a 20-40 minute drive from my home. I make good money with this band and it pays for my gear, G.A.S, and whatever else I need it for in addition to my regular job. We have ZERO drama in this band and everyone contributes equally to it's success. I will do my best to never leave this band, it's way too much fun so far! The other guys in the band also have full-time jobs, so right now. it's more or less a "hobby that pays" but I would venture to guess if all the stars aligned and we could make a decent living off of it (like The Nerds or The Benjamins), we would.
Band O is starting to [slowly] blossom into a more recognized band, albeit we are in the NYC area where the music scene is so saturated. We have two albums on iTunes, we've been played on college, mainstream, and satellite radio, and I am the sole person who writes and performs all the drum parts. We typically play out 2-3x per month but a lot in NYC or out-of state. I contribute my home as our practice space every week too. I am the oldest in the band, the rest of the 4 members are in their late 20's. I can tell you from the 4.5 years I been with them, aside from the very first gig I had (which was a recording session for the first album which then lead to me being part of the band), I have never received a PENNY in my pocket from any gig or event I've played with the band. Not even gas money or toll money (mind you, it costs $13 to pass over the GWB Bridge into NYC from NJ!) in return. The most maybe, is a couple of free drink tickets or free stay in a hotel room over the years... I've never really made a huge stink about it b/c I know we get little from door charges and such. But what bothers me most is I'm spending my own hard-earned money to bust my a$$ in NJ-NY traffic and haul gear just to get to a gig where I get no compensation in return and play for 40 mins.. sometimes less! and sometimes to a 3/4-empty room! All of the out-of-state gigs too, I have received no monetary compensation. No $$ from any album sales (not that there is a huge amount). I also feel like I'm not being rewarded for any of my "creativeness". It's like if I showed up at my corporate job and told my boss "I'll work for free today". As far as I know too, none of the other members of the band are receiving money in their pockets and anything we get is paying for merch, CD printing, website. etc. I fully understand there are revolving costs to maintain this band but it's really frustrating at times... I'll throw in that lately, we have nailed some higher-paying gigs (upwards of $600-900), so any advice how I break a question to the others about maybe getting paid is welcome. I don't want to come across to the others as a money-hungry bastard (which I am not at all) but want some fairness moving forward.\
So really in short, it's how much more time do I gotta give this Band O a chance to hit it big and be able to follow my dreams of drumming in a rock band (be it so 'typical' a dream, HAHA!)? Again as I've stated in the intro, it weighs heavy on my mind how much time, creativity, and energy I'm devoting to something that isn't even guaranteed in the long run? I'm not old by any means, but I'm not getting any younger
So I plead for some advice here folks, with Band O, do I continue to stay on this train in hopes that one day we make it with a recording deal and I get to grace some large stages and venues that my dreams contain? I HATE "What-ifs" but in the end I know I have to do what is best for ME and my life. I love playing the drums with all my passion and heart and want to do nothing else than to play for a living. I can't imagine some of you haven't been in this situation before!
Thanks for reading, and for your comments.