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<...snip...>
I've been in the bands that had the attitude that we're strictly a country rock band, and we don't play pop country and heck no we don't do MOR pop. That's a hard, lean road because you run out of places that will hire you pretty quickly and those one time gigs are not the road to success. <...> It helps to be a chameleon and learn to play many different styles unless you are in a big enough city where there are enough venues asking for the same kind of music. I played in a jazzy-pop band and somebody came up and asked for Patsy Cline's "Crazy". The keyboard player refused to play it. We didn't get fired, but we never got re-hired there. Not for that one song, but for his general attitude. And of course, you have the musicians who won't play "Brown Eyed Girl", "Mustang Sally" or "_____________". Some people think playing songs that are beneath their self-valued artistic integrity is a sell-out, and they have every right to think that way. Others think that taking a day-job so that you can play your 'art music' once a week for drinks and tips is another form of selling out, and they have every right to think that way. But if you want to make a living at this, you must be commercial. Of course commercial depends on the market. Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Bach, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery, Led Zeppelin, and just about every other successful musician or group is/was commercial. If you are a great chef and you want to open a restaurant in a small, unsophisticated, rural town that loves it's hamburgers and BBQ you might not be able to make a living cooking French Cuisine. The choice would be to move to a town that supports your art, or start cooking burgers and perhaps put a special of the day with your art food. We play commercial music. We save requests, and the songs that get requested most frequently get learned first, that is as long as we can cover them. Why? I have fun playing music, and it really doesn't matter to me that much what I am playing. I just put on whatever attitude I need for the song, and give it the best I can while losing myself in the music. On the other hand, we do sneak in an occasional song for us. Once you have the audience on your side you can slide something in as long as it isn't too hard-core in the wrong direction. A few suggestions if you want to make a living at playing music (in no particular order): - Show up on time - the manager knows how to tell time more than how to judge artistic integrity
- Don't take long breaks, in fact, if the crowd is jamming, consider skipping your breaks or playing a little later - give a little more and you will likely get more in return. I've played many a club where we played straight through and late when the club was jamming and the manager sent us home early on dead nights.
- Be nice and pleasant with the management, staff, and the customers -- even if they don't deserve it. The staff will be on your side if you work nicely with them and if you p1ss off customers, you aren't coming back
- Remember, whatever is good for the house is good for the band. They hired you to help them make a profit, and never forget that's your job. Knowing a customer's favorite song, remembering their name, promoting the special of the day, skipping a break, or whatever. I repeat, what is good for the house is good for the band.
- Be commercial for that club. Play what the audience wants to hear and do your best to pace what you play and when you play it to fill the needs of the audience.
- Dress appropriately for the gig, whether it is torn blue jeans or a tuxedo
- Play at appropriate volume levels, that can be loud or soft depending on the demand
- Make sure your gear is in good shape. Nobody wants to see you struggle with equipment. Of course, things happen (it's usually a cable) so carry spares of whatever you can, cables, extra mic, if your act depends on a synth - an extra synth module, guitar strings, and so on. The show must go on.
- Smile and/or look like you are having a great time playing music - it's contagious.
- Promote yourself - but that's the subject of an entirely different post
The market for musicians are shrinking, the competition for the entertainment of the public has many new entries, I see live music as a declining market right now, so get creative, give extra, be commercial, and do a better job than your musical competition. Or get a day job and play what you want to when you want to if you can find a place to do it. There is no wrong answer. Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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That particular "country rock only" band was short lived and filled with strife. Talk about the proverbial "poor musicians"... we embodied that. I remember setting in my living room bundled up in coats, because I couldn't afford heating oil for the furnace, learning yet another non-danceable country rock song.
After that band broke up, I was hired into a working band that drew large crowds everywhere they went and we played a wide variety of music. The drummer at the time didn't sing but had a mic and the gift of gab so he was constantly talking to the audience and pushing the bar specials between songs. I could afford to heat my home, pay the rent on time, and eat regular meals.
Everyone was having a good time, the place was packed and the feeling was contagious. The owner was happy with every ring of the cash register and paying customer so things were good.
If people had a special request and we even halfway knew the song, we would attempt to play the song and most times it came out just fine. we'd start by saying "we really don't know this song but we're going to try it anyway..." and even if the song was not perfect, the person who requested it always, always appreciated that we attempted it for them. Most often the requests were songs that everyone knew and were often on our songs list anyway.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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A few suggestions if you want to make a living at playing music (in no particular order): - Show up on time - the manager knows how to tell time more than how to judge artistic integrity
- Don't take long breaks, in fact, if the crowd is jamming, consider skipping your breaks or playing a little later - give a little more and you will likely get more in return. I've played many a club where we played straight through and late when the club was jamming and the manager sent us home early on dead nights.
- Be nice and pleasant with the management, staff, and the customers -- even if they don't deserve it. The staff will be on your side if you work nicely with them and if you p1ss off customers, you aren't coming back
- Remember, whatever is good for the house is good for the band. They hired you to help them make a profit, and never forget that's your job. Knowing a customer's favorite song, remembering their name, promoting the special of the day, skipping a break, or whatever. I repeat, what is good for the house is good for the band.
- Be commercial for that club. Play what the audience wants to hear and do your best to pace what you play and when you play it to fill the needs of the audience.
- Dress appropriately for the gig, whether it is torn blue jeans or a tuxedo
- Play at appropriate volume levels, that can be loud or soft depending on the demand
- Make sure your gear is in good shape. Nobody wants to see you struggle with equipment. Of course, things happen (it's usually a cable) so carry spares of whatever you can, cables, extra mic, if your act depends on a synth - an extra synth module, guitar strings, and so on. The show must go on.
- Smile and/or look like you are having a great time playing music - it's contagious.
- Promote yourself - but that's the subject of an entirely different post
These are amazing tips! This should be hung in every green room nation-wide.
Will - PG Music
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Facts are stubborn things. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes272042.htmPercentile 10% 25% 50%(Median) 75% 90% Hourly Wage $9.20 $13.20 $24.20 $44.01 $68.98 There ain't no money in playing music. Never was. Never will be.
Last edited by 90 dB; 03/28/17 12:41 PM.
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The hourly wage ain't great, but the time off sure is fun ..
If that figure 90db posted is based on a 40 hour work week I'd consider the position.
If it's based on actual 'booked hours' that's a horse of a different color.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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It's really nice to make a good hourly wage ...say like $40 or so. However, for that to be meaningful, you really need to work a full week (40 hrs) and not just 8 hrs on a weekend.
If you hold down a Monday thru Friday 9 to 5, that is some nice (tax free) walking around money for a few hrs work on Friday and Saturday night.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Our basic rate as a duo in our market is $150/4 hours. That's $37.50/Hr. (divided by 2- $18.75/Hr. each). Then if you deduct setup and tear-down time (3 hours), you're really talking about 7 hours of work/$150, which brings it down to $21.42/Hr (divided by 2 =$10.71/Hr. Each.)
And that doesn't cover the cost of a full PA, lights, three guitar amps, laptop, the trailer to haul the equipment, the truck to pull the trailer, gas, etc.
The only musicians who ever made decent money were the wedding bands, but that market has largely gone to DJs.
Regards,
Bob
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Our basic rate as a duo in our market is $150/4 hours. That's $37.50/Hr. (divided by 2- $18.75/Hr. each). Then if you deduct setup and tear-down time (3 hours), you're really talking about 7 hours of work/$150, which brings it down to $21.42/Hr (divided by 2 =$10.71/Hr. Each.)
And that doesn't cover the cost of a full PA, lights, three guitar amps, laptop, the trailer to haul the equipment, the truck to pull the trailer, gas, etc.
The only musicians who ever made decent money were the wedding bands, but that market has largely gone to DJs.
Regards,
Bob
Ahhhh yes...and you forgot TAXES. Remember, all income is taxable and your federal business partner wants their unfair share. Some states also want their percentage. There's also property taxes on the vehicles and trailer, license and registration... it all adds up. By the time you calculate everything out, many times, you are paying to play.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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That pay chart reminds me of the old quote, "there's lies, damn lies and statistics"
$30-50/hour for a 4 hour gig is about right but who's doing that for 40 hours a week? Even 30?
Gimme a break...
And Bob Norton, your comments are always right on but you have one huge advantage:
You married the chick singer. Double the money, double the fun.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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"That pay chart reminds me of the old quote, "there's lies, damn lies and statistics" $30-50/hour for a 4 hour gig is about right but who's doing that for 40 hours a week? Even 30? Gimme a break..." That was the point.  Regards, Bob
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<...>
And Bob Norton, your comments are always right on but you have one huge advantage:
You married the chick singer. Double the money, double the fun.
Bob After the first marriage failed, I decided that if I ever got married again, it would be with someone in the biz. Then I met Leilani who was singing/playing in another band. More than double the fun, and double the money. And you're right, it's delightful. She is a fantastic singer plus she plays guitar and synth. In addition she has hard work ethics, always acts professionally, and has a great time on stage. How lucky am I??? But I did make a living for the 10 or so years before Leilani without being married to someone in the band. But as many find out, a day person married to a night person is a challenge to a relationship. Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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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 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
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These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
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Note: 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.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
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Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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