Hi,
I read through all this setting here in the The ICU after surgery that has gone well.

I have always liked plying guitar

It has almost always been fun
I have been lucky to own my own business and make enough money to not be concerned with what I made playing music

How much you get paid is not always in your control other than to say yes or no

I have played in many places for free just because I liked the people and the place
I always payed my guys no matter what
I always hear about playing in bars. The truth is not many bars make enough money to pay a band
We set a rate of 2500
If it was a five piece everybody got 600
If it was a six everyone got paid 500 except me.
The agent generally arranger for air travel and hotels plus back line equipment

Ther is nothing more disheartening than having your drummer tell you he is to scared to fly the night before the plane is to leave for Japan
I was able to replace him at the last moment but by the time I payed to get him dress and there it took a lot of the fun out of a life long dream to play in Japan
It did turn out to be a night I will never forget

Everyone should go operatorate how they they see fit
On the day job issue I never had one those, had to work both night an day

A long time ago someone told me if I wanted to make a lot of money I would have to work a lot harder than I could dream was possibly at the time
That turned out to be more than a little true

No gig is worth money alone
There has to something more than money
Don’t ever let anyone talk you out of your dreams

Billy

“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”