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About the low pay and where the gigs went, here's something I've noticed:
A lot of the same musicians who spend time dwelling and harping about the problem are also the ones most likely to be taking advantage of free downloads of other people's copyrighted works.
Just sayin'...
--Mac
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You guys forgot the part of the story where Bill Gates bailed his good friend Steve Jobs over at Apple out?
They might not even be here today had he not done that.
--Mac
You're right! And, had Steve Jobs not returned they probably would not be where they are now. Lots of factors that don't fit neatly in the book of "How to Build a Company and Succeed"!
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Quote:
About the low pay and where the gigs went, here's something I've noticed:
A lot of the same musicians who spend time dwelling and harping about the problem are also the ones most likely to be taking advantage of free downloads of other people's copyrighted works.
Just sayin'...
--Mac
Anyone in particular?
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I would like to express my appreciation to Mac, rharv and others who have helped me over the last few years.
On another note: If you want to play for free, there are places where you won't be taking away from anyone's paycheck. Rescue missions, convalescent homes, jail ministries, etc. They'll all be highly appreciative and treat you like a star.
I remember apologizing for missing a chord and an old lady looked up and said, "We don't know the difference."
Don S.
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I certainly understand how frustrating it must be for a career performer to lose gigs because someone else is willing to play for less (or even free) but isn't that precisely how our country works? The store on one side of town is losing sales to the store on the other side of town so they reduce prices to get back some of those customers. (I know there are a lot more factors than price but keeping it simple to make a point!)
If I own a small restaurant odds are I will make little to no money and likely be out of business in a few years. Most fail! So if I can find some excited young talent willing to play for free in order to gain experience while still providing an acceptable quality of entertainment to my customers I feel everybody wins. Except, of course, for the musician who feels someone unfairly took his paying gig which probably wouldn't have been a paying gig anyway.
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When conditions change, stay on your feet, improvise, adapt and overcome.
My father told me something once when I was a wee lad with a Trumpet, trying to audition into the Youth Symphony Orchestra and up against high school and college age trumpet players. He said, "There will always be room for the best. So practice hard to be the best."
I passed the audition and at the time, became one of the youngest ever picked.
--Mac
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Quote:
I certainly understand how frustrating it must be for a career performer to lose gigs because someone else is willing to play for less (or even free) but isn't that precisely how our country works? The store on one side of town is losing sales to the store on the other side of town so they reduce prices to get back some of those customers. (I know there are a lot more factors than price but keeping it simple to make a point!)
If I own a small restaurant odds are I will make little to no money and likely be out of business in a few years. Most fail! So if I can find some excited young talent willing to play for free in order to gain experience while still providing an acceptable quality of entertainment to my customers I feel everybody wins. Except, of course, for the musician who feels someone unfairly took his paying gig which probably wouldn't have been a paying gig anyway.
You might feel differently if you were the working musician losing a job to a free player, John. Trust me.
But then, this is the internet, and one can "be" whatever one wants- a musician, a guru, a genius, a songwriter, pick a delusion. One only needs to make the claim. 
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90 db, Quote:
You might feel differently if you were the working musician losing a job to a free player, John. Trust me.
I’m with you on this one. If someone wants to play for free, then there are lots of nursing homes, Senior Citizens centers, rehab and maybe even some hospitals where the audience and the staff will likely be a very appreciative bunch.
But if you play for free at a venue that normally pays their performers, you’re hurting your fellow musicians, … many of whom need the gig to support themselves and/or their family. That ain’t cool.
JMHO.
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The bottom line is I live in the US and Capitalism is the way we work.If you can't make enough money playing music because I can/do play for less don't blame me . It's the system and I love it.And BTW I bet I've played close to 10K paying gigs so I'm not just a wanabee.
Now the real reason I will play for free is to get all the gigs I can get in a tough market.I make more tips playing then I do watching TV. All my tips and income, if I get any, goes to by food, bedding etc. for the animals at our local shelter.If I take a gig away from you ohwell you can get a job at WalMart. The animals can't. All they get in the end is the gas chamber.
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Quote:
When conditions change, stay on your feet, improvise, adapt and overcome.
which is EXACTLY why I think one man acts with backing tracks are the logical adaptation in a market where 1 man DJs and 1 man karaoke have lowered the business owner's cost expectations for live music.
Don't give up.. change your strategy! See what's working for others, watch what the venues are willing to pay for and what the audiences are willing to listen to.
Then instead of feeling like you took a step DOWN, give it all you've got and raise the bar for solo acts. Make YOUR act so interesting that it's the one people want to see and the one that venues want to hire.
Quote:
"There will always be room for the best. So practice hard to be the best."
AMEN Brothah!
We talk about the high failure rate of new businesses... but it's worth remembering that some new businesses not only survive, they flourish in the same economy that others blame for their failure.
The ones that succeed are typically the ones that did their homework
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But then, this is the internet, and one can "be" whatever one wants- a musician, a guru, a genius, a songwriter, pick a delusion. One only needs to make the claim.
90db.
This is so true. It's why I tell my students to be wary of advice from people who claim to be experts, but who have no real-world evidence to support the claim.
ROG.
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I want to start by saying that my loose definition of "talent" is the ability to do something that everybody else can't easily duplicate. (People who scribble on a canvas and call it art don't meet that definition of talent, but I digress.)
We have this conversation at my house all the time! What is Art? It is kinda hard to pin down but I have come to understand that just because I don't see something as art does not mean that it is not art (except for me perhaps!)
That isn't really my attempt to define art.. it's more my criteria for respecting someone's presentation of what he/she claims to be the manifestation of talent.
When I watch the olympics, I see those athletes doing things I CAN'T DO, and that impresses me. If I went somewhere and paid to be entertained, and the act consisted of a guy eating a plate of spaghetti, I'd want my money back, because *I* can do that! ANYBODY can do that!
(Unless he ate it through his ears, in which case he's entitled to whatever they're payin' him, because, *I* don't even WANT to do THAT!!)
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Well, I haven't played 10000 gigs  , but then, I've only been doing it for 47 years. If you play for free, people usually believe that's what it's worth.
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Well, I haven't played 10000 gigs , but then, I've only been doing it for 47 years. If you play for free, people usually believe that's what it's worth.
Music has been VERY good to me. I'm now using my God given skills to try and give back. I just so happen to choose animals to help. That's all.If it now means playing for free ,I play for free.IF there were more paying gigs these days I'd go for that but I will not sit home just because.
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You might feel differently if you were the working musician losing a job to a free player, John. Trust me.
Nope I would not feel differently. I have owned a small business for over 20 years and we have had to cut our prices and even do stuff for free some times to compete. We work within the marketplace we are in and try to make our services attractive enough to be able to charge a fair price but some times a less qualified competitor comes along and would win on price if we didn't react. So rather than complain that he should not be allowed to do it for less or for free we find another way to win the customer or find other customers. Same thing as a musician playing gigs!
Quote:
But then, this is the internet, and one can "be" whatever one wants- a musician, a guru, a genius, a songwriter, pick a delusion. One only needs to make the claim.
I have no idea what your point is with this! An accusation? A confession?
Last edited by JohnJohnJohn; 01/13/13 05:45 PM.
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Quote:
Quote:
You might feel differently if you were the working musician losing a job to a free player, John. Trust me.
Nope I would not feel differently. I have owned a small business for over 20 years and we have had to cut our prices and even do stuff for free some times to compete. We work within the marketplace we are in and try to make our services attractive enough to be able to charge a fair price but some times a less qualified competitor comes along and would win on price if we didn't react. So rather than complain that he should not be allowed to do it for less or for free we find another way to win the customer or find other customers. Same thing as a musician playing gigs!
Really? The "same thing"? Have you ever been a musician playing gigs? I doubt it. If you had, you would understand what I'm talking about.
Quote:
But then, this is the internet, and one can "be" whatever one wants- a musician, a guru, a genius, a songwriter, pick a delusion. One only needs to make the claim.
I have no idea what your point is with this! An accusation? A confession?
Just an observation. Strike a nerve?
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Just an observation. Strike a nerve?
Nope. Standard internet fare. Try and discount someone who doesn't agree with you.
Last edited by JohnJohnJohn; 01/13/13 07:16 PM.
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Really? The "same thing"?
Yep. Same thing!
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Quote:
The bottom line is I live in the US and Capitalism is the way we work.If you can't make enough money playing music because I can/do play for less don't blame me . It's the system and I love it.
I agree! It is how our system works.
Quote:
All my tips and income, if I get any, goes to by food, bedding etc. for the animals at our local shelter.If I take a gig away from you ohwell you can get a job at WalMart. The animals can't. All they get in the end is the gas chamber.
Nice thing you are doing there silvertones!
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Quote:
Quote:
Just an observation. Strike a nerve?
Nope. Standard internet fare. Try and discount someone who doesn't agree with you.
How could I discount an opinion based on conjecture?
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
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Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
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Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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