Originally Posted By: eddie1261
All comes down to what you want out of it. If you want people to leave drunk and roaring about how messed up they got listening to you, then you can play cliche garbage all night. If you prefer that the crowd leaves saying "Wow. Those guys can play and sing!!!" then you play more complex music that shows your skills.

I prefer the latter.

Standard disclaimer is that I do not play music for a living. If I did, I probably would do whatever it takes to get gigs and make money and try to not feel bad about being what I consider a musical wh0re that does anything for a dollar. All about what you are after.


I had both types described in your fist paragraph. I've even played on stage with thousands of cheering fans paying attention and receiving thunderous applause at the end of each song.

I rarely get the roaring drunks since I mostly play yacht clubs, country clubs, private clubs, private parties and the like. More often than not I get people come up to the stage and thank me for giving them a wonderful evening. I get applause every 4-5 minutes, I get smiles from the audience, I get dancers on the dance floor.

We do a weekly afternoon gig at a marina for retired folks from October until the rainy season starts. We just finished our 7th year. The audience is like extended family, we know their names, we know their favorite songs, and many of them hug and kiss us on the way in and out. We've mourned the passing of some, encouraged the healing of others, congratulated accomplishments of some, and celebrated significant events of others.

And no, I don't do anything for a dollar, we do no rap music and no heavy metal. I don't do weddings unless it's an older couple doing a second or third wedding and I'm sure there will not be a Bridezilla running the show.

If there is a gig that I think will not be enjoyable, I simply quote them a high price. That way I don't have to say no. And if they go for the price, it means they really want us, and it also means I'm getting good money for the less than optimal gig.

There are cover songs that other musicians don't want to play. Sure, we've done them a zillion times and there is nothing left to explore. I have only one or two of those. We only do them when requested and a funny thing happens. As soon as I put the sax in my mouth, the guitar in my hands, or the mic in my face, I forget all about not wanting to do the song and have a great time playing it. The music starts and I go into that place where there is no space or time.

But if you want to consider me a wh0re, it's your prerogative.

Personally, I'm having a great life doing music and nothing but music. I've played in dives, supper clubs, strip clubs, 5 star hotels, private homes, cruise ships, and just about everywhere else a musician can play. I've even played with super-stars and have been treated as an equal by them.

I've had two real jobs in my life (played as a weekend warrior during those gigs). I was testing out what the normal person does. And as far as I'm concerned, a bad day at playing music is better than a good day at any day job.

As far as I'm concerned, working a day job so one can play 'art music' for little or no money is a sell-out - unless he/she would rather do the day job instead of playing 'art music'.

If I'm a ho, than I'm laughing ho, ho ho.

A wise man once said, "If you do for a living what you would do for free, you will never work a day in your life." And except for the 2 day jobs I tried, I've never worked a day in my life.

I'm at an age that I could retire. However, as long as I can fog a mirror, and as long as people want to hear what I do, I'll be gigging.

It's my second favorite thing to do (and since this is a family forum, I can't tell you what's first <grin>).

So what is a sell-out? It should be something one person decides for himself/herself, and not a judgement call that one person makes on another. What a sell-out is to Eddie, might be bliss to another. If I had to take a day job to support my 'art music' habit, I'd consider myself a sell-out. We're both right and we're both wrong.

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